In this second episode of my intercultural podcast, I take you with me to South Africa for one of the most surprising moments of my solo round-the-world journey.

While working in Khayelitsha, a township near Cape Town, I found myself alone on a bus, a bit nervous… until a simple question about Xhosa wedding traditions sparked a full-bus debate in Xhosa!

What began as a stressful ride quickly became a timeless moment of connection, laughter, and cultural discovery.

During this journey, I was collecting stories from children in seven countries—an adventure that led me to create my NGO, Konstelacio.

One of the themes I explored with them was “the wedding,” and it opened fascinating conversations about rituals, symbols, and traditions.

In this episode, I share what I learned about the two stages of Xhosa weddings, from the traditional ceremony and its beautiful attire to the “white wedding,” and even the tradition of pouring brandy around the house to welcome ancestors.

I also reflect on three key lessons I’ve learned while traveling: relying on locals to understand safety rules, asking open questions to create genuine connections, and remembering that culture is never homogeneous—every person has their own version of tradition.

If you’re curious about cultural diversity, storytelling, or solo travel, this episode is for you. I’d love to hear your reactions and your own travel stories on Instagram or LinkedIn. And stay tuned: in two weeks, I’ll take you with me to Tunisia for the next adventure!

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Intercultural Surprises is the podcast that takes you on a journey to better understand the world’s cultures.

🎤 I am Charlotte Courtois—speaker on cultural diversity and founder of the NGO Konstelacio, which helps children around the world learn about intercultural dialogue.

I am also a UNESCO Young Leader for Peace.

To learn more about who I am and what I do, to collaborate, or to share your own travel stories with me, visit:

👉 My website: ⁠www.charlotte-courtois.com⁠

👉 Konstelacio: ⁠www.konstelacio.org⁠

👉 My Instagram: ⁠www.instagram.com/charlottecourtois_off⁠

👉 My LinkedIn: ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/chacourtois⁠