Laura Zera

Stories to Connect Cultures

Happy 94th Birthday, Nelson, and Good Luck to Me

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My new wristband

My husband knows me too well. Starting Thursday, I’m off to spend four days at the Pacific Northwest Writers Association (PNWA) conference, and it will be the first time I’ll pitch my current book to literary agents and publishing editors. Francis thought to himself, ‘hmmm, what could I get her as a good luck present, something she could wear or keep close to her at the conference?’ And he picked the absolute most perfect thing: a 46664 wristband.Continue Reading

Why I Love Nelson Mandela

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Like Georgia, Nelson Mandela has been on my mind lately. Alright, truthfully, I think about him a lot all the time, as I’ve had a minor crush on him as far back as I can remember. My husband finds it quite amusing that he must compete with a 93-year old for my affections. In these times of political polarity in the United States, though, Nelson (I agree, it’s creepy that I think that we’re on a first-name basis) emerges in my daydreams most often for some of the things that he did as a nation builder in post-apartheid South Africa.

Let me start by saying that I have been to South Africa three times now, but have written very little about it. By far, the most important of my visits was from 1993 to 1994. Living in Johannesburg, I worked as an intern for a local non-profit called the Grasmere Community Development Trust. I was there from December through July. South Africa’s first fully-representative democratic election was in April, and Nelson was inaugurated as president in May (an inauguration which I attended). I was also an accredited election observer for South Africa’s electoral commission.Continue Reading