I was enjoying dinner with an aunt and uncle of mine as well as with my older brother. My my, how different the worlds are that we each inhabit. Not only generational differences, but gender differeces. IT got me thinking, how can the world change if our parents are still teaching us the same bullshit they learnt,like as my uncle believes, its better for his son to be promiscuous than for his daughter. What was most startling however is how this man, and men of his generation, like my father, insist on living an illusion. They say things like "you can do whatever you want as my child, but just don't do it infront of me-leave it at the gate." So no matter what "deviant" behaviour you may be engaging in, like having a boyfriend, as long as you pretend to be virginal and "pure" then its considered respect towards your parents. Is this a typically African attitude, a male attitude, a generational attitude? In a world were one is confronted by so many ways of existing, I have realised that it is harder to be all the facets of me with my family, the very people who are supposed to know me and love me for all that I am.When I am at home, wearing a mask becomes the only way of maintaining the delicate equilibrium that is family life.What a dinner!!