It's been a while since my last post (well first post, but who's counting). Things came up, a little bit of life happened and before I had a chance to wipe my eyes out I thought "Holy shit it's almost Christmas!!" Whoever said time flies has never flown from Johannesburg to Sydney in one go. Believe me when I say that time does not fly. It drags by kicking, screaming and throwing temper tantrums in the seat behind you!
As you may have gathered, I've been on an international trip. I had the opportunity to visit New Zealand for a three week whirlwind tour of the country, meet and visit with all my relatives and in general just scope out the place to see if it is somewhere I would like to call home one day. With the high levels of crime and corruption in South Africa at the moment, it seemed like the only logical thing to do. I hold a New Zealand passport and anyone with half an opinion was telling me to get out of town while I still could.
Well I made the trip, strolled through customs with an open mind, ready to experience anything and everything that NZ has to offer. I saw lovely clean streets, efficient public transport and mostly friendly people in a picturesque setting that has thousands of postcards under its belt. I did all the regular touristy stuff, saw the sites and drank in the culture (they like their beer over there too haha). I met my relatives and got reacquainted with those who I hadn't seen since I was a kid. All in all it was a fantastic trip and I will carry the memories with me for the rest of my life.
That being said, I came back to South Africa with a new found patriotism. All my life I've been wondering which side of the coin I belonged on, what heritage do I identify with the most. It took me all of three days in Auckland to answer that question. I am South African and proudly so. I was born to Kiwi parents and raised the Kiwi way, but I grew up to be South African at heart.
I was surprised to find how much I missed home, missed the variety of people and just the general way of life that I think a lot of South Africans take for granted. Yes, we've got problems with crime and corruption, poor education and poverty. But they're problems found worldwide in one form or another. One day, when the Colonial cock-ups of the past have been relegated to the history books where they belong, South Africa will be that shining gem on the map that everyone wants a piece of. It took an overseas trip for me to open my eyes and have a good look at what I have in my backyard.
The sheer natural beauty we have on our doorstep, that spice in the air that can only mean you're breathing on African soil. From the bush and game reserves to the snow capped mountains to the sun drenched beaches to the wide open plains, we've got it all. We've got to be the most culturally diverse nation on the planet with eleven official languages and as many if not more completely different cultures all living under one big, deep blue sky. The weather in South Africa is second to none. Even in the middle of winter you're still able to stand outside in short sleeves and flops and engage in that iconic South African past time - The Braai!!
I could go on and on but I feel I've gotten enough off my chest for today. As much as I would love to be closer to family and be able to spend more time with them, I couldn't ever leave South Africa. This is my home and it always will be!
As you may have gathered, I've been on an international trip. I had the opportunity to visit New Zealand for a three week whirlwind tour of the country, meet and visit with all my relatives and in general just scope out the place to see if it is somewhere I would like to call home one day. With the high levels of crime and corruption in South Africa at the moment, it seemed like the only logical thing to do. I hold a New Zealand passport and anyone with half an opinion was telling me to get out of town while I still could.
Well I made the trip, strolled through customs with an open mind, ready to experience anything and everything that NZ has to offer. I saw lovely clean streets, efficient public transport and mostly friendly people in a picturesque setting that has thousands of postcards under its belt. I did all the regular touristy stuff, saw the sites and drank in the culture (they like their beer over there too haha). I met my relatives and got reacquainted with those who I hadn't seen since I was a kid. All in all it was a fantastic trip and I will carry the memories with me for the rest of my life.
That being said, I came back to South Africa with a new found patriotism. All my life I've been wondering which side of the coin I belonged on, what heritage do I identify with the most. It took me all of three days in Auckland to answer that question. I am South African and proudly so. I was born to Kiwi parents and raised the Kiwi way, but I grew up to be South African at heart.
I was surprised to find how much I missed home, missed the variety of people and just the general way of life that I think a lot of South Africans take for granted. Yes, we've got problems with crime and corruption, poor education and poverty. But they're problems found worldwide in one form or another. One day, when the Colonial cock-ups of the past have been relegated to the history books where they belong, South Africa will be that shining gem on the map that everyone wants a piece of. It took an overseas trip for me to open my eyes and have a good look at what I have in my backyard.
The sheer natural beauty we have on our doorstep, that spice in the air that can only mean you're breathing on African soil. From the bush and game reserves to the snow capped mountains to the sun drenched beaches to the wide open plains, we've got it all. We've got to be the most culturally diverse nation on the planet with eleven official languages and as many if not more completely different cultures all living under one big, deep blue sky. The weather in South Africa is second to none. Even in the middle of winter you're still able to stand outside in short sleeves and flops and engage in that iconic South African past time - The Braai!!
I could go on and on but I feel I've gotten enough off my chest for today. As much as I would love to be closer to family and be able to spend more time with them, I couldn't ever leave South Africa. This is my home and it always will be!
