tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553465761368324989.post2754686696018638233..comments2023-03-20T05:42:03.747-07:00Comments on Thinking Out Loud: Life in South AfricaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553465761368324989.post-91570173427541246322011-10-10T03:08:05.567-07:002011-10-10T03:08:05.567-07:00Well, your letter made me cry! it's beautifull...Well, your letter made me cry! it's beautifully written and is exactly my view on this beautiful country.<br />I am french and my husband south african, we live in the UK at the moment but in our twenties travelled and lived in NZ for a year and we've been to South Africa over 10 times from a few weeks stay to a 3 months stay, and I have to say SA is my favorite place in the whole world!<br />I first visited this amazing country in 1998 for my boyfriend's sister wedding in Hout Bay, (a boyfriend of only 1 month at the time, who is now my husband!). I fell in love with with the place. <br />We too had a nasty encounter with crime when 4 armed men entered my in-laws beautiful house (part of a secure complex) in Pretoria at 9pm while we were watching TV, an experience I don't want to revisit ever!<br />That was followed 2 days later by a very scary experience in the Kruger where our car got trapped between 2 aggressive elephants (one in front and one running towards us behind), at this point I wanted to die and did not understand why all this happened to me. (although it made me study elephants and learn everything about these beautiful creatures).<br />But you know what? not once, while this happened, did I wish I never put foot in this country.<br />Life is full of experiences and the many many wonderful ones I happened to have in this country far outweigh the bad ones.<br />It made me stronger as a person and willing to learn more about South Africa, it's politic, people etc...<br />And let me tell you, as a foodie and wine lover, I much prefer South Africa than my own country France.<br />It's just magical!<br />Thank you again for your beautiful letter.Rachel van der Horsthttp://www.thanda-creations.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553465761368324989.post-63972245069329502322011-02-05T00:28:48.490-08:002011-02-05T00:28:48.490-08:00I am a South Africa who moved away three times (to...I am a South Africa who moved away three times (to study, for work, etc) and everytime I came back. The last two times I came back I knew it wouldn't be permanent because I was young and restless and wanted to experience the world. However, even during those restless years, i wanted to come back to this country, unpack my bags and take a deep breath here.<br /><br />This time, coming back is permenent. I am in Cape Town. Moved from the US last year. LOVING it. It is still the honeymoon period, I guess. There are some frustrating things about Cape Town (which also what makes CT special in some ways). It is laid back, too laid back. This is not a product of living in a 3rd world country because Johannesburg is anything but laid back. The laid back attitude here can be frustrating when you want things done, but it also reminds you not to get angry, not to get frustrated and just enjoy life and its journeys.<br /><br />It is beautiful. The city is breath-taking. I can't describe it. You have to be here to know what I mean. The mountain gives life to this city. You have to see it to know what I mean. The first day I saw table mountain from the city view (the classic view), was when I was taking a cab to town. As we came around the corner, suddenly this mountain was in full view, in all its glory. I broke out in a spontaneous smile. It is that feeling "I have arrived". Well, I can't describe it well. Why don't you all come on a holiday here and experience "having arrived".rup harnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553465761368324989.post-90117518454793031362010-12-18T23:01:21.779-08:002010-12-18T23:01:21.779-08:00Thanks for posting. I have just made the decision ...Thanks for posting. I have just made the decision to move to CT and I was looking for some personal experiences so your post was truly helpful to me.Kooshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553465761368324989.post-15640188448535288882010-12-18T22:53:26.758-08:002010-12-18T22:53:26.758-08:00Whew!!!! after reading your thought-provoking acco...Whew!!!! after reading your thought-provoking account of your life experiences here in South Africa and sharing your emotions I am truly moved by your explicit detail, candour and literacy. Need I say more?Doreennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553465761368324989.post-25433019354853471232010-12-18T22:51:52.447-08:002010-12-18T22:51:52.447-08:00Hi Theresa,
Ohhhh! I have tears in my eyes my fri...Hi Theresa, <br />Ohhhh! I have tears in my eyes my friend. You write SO beautifully!!! My hear is swelling right now. Thank you for sharing this with me. You wrote a beautiful, honest, and extremely well thought out message to this woman. This was extremely kind of you. <br />I love and miss you, <br />DidiDianoranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553465761368324989.post-69743906095228971102010-12-14T19:01:40.022-08:002010-12-14T19:01:40.022-08:00Theresa, thank you for your personal insight. My h...Theresa, thank you for your personal insight. My husband and I just came back from SA visiting friends and traveling around. <br /><br />As expected, we fell in love with the people and the country. We always considered moving there; now we are seriously looking into it. While doing web search, I stumbled into your blog, thank you for sharing your experience and for your honesty. <br /><br />We have lived in other continents and once again we plan to make a big leap, our emotions are high, we are eager to start a new life and would like to be prepared for the challenges of living in SA. We have favored the Cape Peninsula: Scarborough, Noordhoek... that's your area right?<br /><br />Your letter is perfect, it gives a broad picture of the current situation while keeping in mind the beauty of the country and letting each reader make their own gut decision. Would love to be more in communication with you. <br />Thanks again for you blog and all the best to you, FlorenceUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16414306016000740469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553465761368324989.post-91707458805441272532010-12-12T09:01:17.618-08:002010-12-12T09:01:17.618-08:00Theresa, thank you also from us! My husband is S...Theresa, thank you also from us! My husband is South African and my two daughters (13 & 16 yrs) and I are a bit nervous about our upcoming relocation to Cape Town. My husband is a C-level IT exec and has some wonderful opportunities there. We've traveled to SA on holiday often so its not a completely new experience for us but it is going to be a bit of a change, especially for our girls.<br /><br />Do you know if there is a group of people who have moved to Cape Town from the US or UK that we may be able to join up with? I thought it would make the transition a little easier. My email is donna@us-steenkamp.com.<br /><br />Thank you again for your insight and wonderful story!<br /><br />Donna SteenkampWonderlust South Africahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06261275708588718045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553465761368324989.post-11049418625312916912010-10-13T14:12:23.899-07:002010-10-13T14:12:23.899-07:00that is so beautiful! thank you so much for sharin...that is so beautiful! thank you so much for sharing your story... :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com