ABBO on toast

South Africans and racism are like salt and pepper, even though they have their place on their own; they are constantly associated with each other. As an African myself don't worry kids, i'm allowed to criticize my own birth country (New Zealand;s my home though) Back to the point, unfortunately most south Africans are to some degree racist, if they are not, the are severely familiar with a racist culture. My South African Aunt enjoys traveling and was placed in a highly awkward predicament when she visited Australia for the first time. Sitting in the airport cafe, she felt peckish and asked the waitress for a flat white and some "Avo on toast". The Australian waitress was extremely offended, walked away to only stare at my Aunt and whisper to her manager with disgust. Upon delivering the coffee, my Aunt asked how far away her Avo(cado) on toast was, and the waitress burst into flustered laughter. She eventually admitted that she'd been extremely offended when she heard someone wanted to take the piss and have some "ABBO'' on toast. She was clearly unaware of the Avocado slang. (rookies ahe??)

An airport would be a prime example for a field trip study for this paper; a waterhole of racist comments-assumptions-defenses, institutional and personal prejudice, ethnic tension, cultural clashes, language and traditional barriers etc. What a spectacle! I wander what was the most prominent influence in the awkward situation my Aunt had, which many of us have experienced in different contexts;
1) The accent and thus reputational assumptions following this (racist South African)
2) Innocent mishearing
3) Tension within Australian indigenous and international/ colonizers creating a sensitive subject
4) They had no avocados... (I kid)

Take a quick glance at Trevor Noahs short comedy skit. He laughs at himself first, as well as his ability to enter another country and for language to confuse, connect and find comedy in. 

                                                        
                                                      Tacos and Trevor Noah Woes


The truth of the matter is that this one instance, reflects instances all over the world where our backgrounds, cultural ideology, political access and social standing influence the signifier/signified - the decoded and the encoded aspects of life. Much of ethnic and racial tension brews upon ignorance, mis-information (propaganda) and power. Sometimes its nice to laugh at these things, 'if you don't laugh you cry'; comedy can alleviate the friction that lack of communication and understanding creates. However, credibly, many go over the line into regressive comedy and there is nothing progressive or uplifting about it. Although admittedly, the line can look like a ladder separating individuals holding individually subjective views of digressive and disrespectful comedy. With this confusion, we are left with the intent of our everyday conversation which so silently penetrates into our beliefs; yelling "i bet they're Asian" when you're cut off in traffic and presenting amusing culture contrasts out of respect and pure humor, are two very different reactions to life. Your intention with what you're saying, as a joke, comment, argument or observation can either be constructive or destructive. We often think 'oh boo-hoo, people who don't even belong here are going to feel uncomfortable , what do i care, its a harmless comment said behind their back''. however if New Zealand wants to truly welcome internationals and become a multinational country, eradication of intolerance's needs to begin with us; the upcoming generation of our time. In the same regard, we need to 'talk in' and work with those that have built and invested and loved New Zealand for us, respecting our history and heritage in order to prevent segregation among our own, before we need to sort out segregation resulting form those wanting to join the Kiwis.... 

and who can blame them really, we're bloody brilliant!