Adventures of an Expat in South Africa
As you might remember, I have moved quite a bit. Seven times, to be exact. Some of these moves were across an ocean, some of them weren’t. And one of them involved just one suitcase and a bicycle, whereas most others involved 40-foot containers.
It’s those 40-foot container ones you ...
I thought I was done with tracking Christmas Cards making their way through the South African Postal Service and writing about it on my blog. But when mail gets returned to you and you look at the date you sent it and then check today's date on the calendar, and what you see makes your eye pop out of your head, then you feel compelled to write another blog post. Enjoy!
Our family loved living in South Africa. We loved the weather, the land, and the people. But most of all, we loved living in our beautiful home in Dainfern Valley. It's in a great location and the homes are beautiful. The 4-bedroom home featured here recently became available, and I can wholeheartedly recommend taking a close look at it if you're moving to South Africa.
Altogether, I have moved seven times in my life. Five of those were international moves. And six of them were with children in tow. So I think it's not too much of an exaggeration when I say I know a little bit about moving around the world. By far our best experience came when Crown Relocations did our shipping for us. Read more about their services here.
When we lived in South Africa, I would take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life and sit on a little bench up on a hill overlooking the Northern Suburbs of Johannesburg, the sun warming my skin, a slight breeze keeping the summer heat at bay, letting my mind drift while watching my kids' riding lessons. Here is why Shumbashaba stables might be great for you too.
Getting a copy of Michelle Obama's "Becoming" this Christmas put me in a reflective mood. There is much in it to make you think about life, our roles in society, and our roles in our families. What does it mean to be a woman, a corporate lawyer, a mother, and in her case, black? Why do some of us have the need to try so dang hard to prove that we are good enough, that we belong?
This is a typical "This is Africa" anecdote of the kind that I've so come to miss over the years. It's a story of thievery and deceit, ingenuity and cunning. Like so many stories set in Africa, it somehow has the power to make you smile, even if one cannot condone or admire the perpetrators. In any other place on Earth it would be met with condemnation, but This is Africa!
One of the most profound lifestyle changes we were subjected to when moving to South Africa was the way we consumed books. Back home in the United States, going to the library had been a regular family ritual. Books were abundant and free, and everyone read to their heart's content. Not so in South Africa. This is why you need and Audible subscription as an expat.
As an expat, I often reflect on which qualities make a good expat. But what is true for expats is also true for travel companions. The hilarious travel memoir "What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding" elaborates on a certain less-than ideal travel companion and gives excellent advice in form of a list "you use when interviewing your next potential trip partner."
This blog post was inspired by a reader with a question about his upcoming move to South Africa. He knew Cape Town was more beautiful, he said, but perhaps his chances of finding employment were better in Johannesburg? If you are an expat moving to South Africa with a choice of Johannesburg vs Cape Town, read more to find out which factors to consider.