A year in review

One year ago today we had our entire lives packed up and moved across the globe to Pretoria, South Africa.  I was beyond excited and really not apprehensive at all.  We had a few friends here who told us what to expect but I can't really do justice to explaining our life here.  If anyone has the chance to visit South Africa I would highly recommend it.  We love living here and all the surprises that have come from the experience.

Living the life of an ex-pat, the friends you make soon become your family.  I was surprised by the sense of community among the Black and Veatch families.  Right away we made friends who help us celebrate life's events, fill in as family for the holidays, and it feels like we have known them for years.  I feel like we hit the jackpot on friends in both America and South Africa.

Another surprise was the cost of living.  I did not expect that it would be significantly cheaper to go out to eat, attend events, and enjoy the attractions here.  With the cost lower, we have been able to do every activity we wanted which has made our experience here even better.  The cost to travel or vacation has not been cheaper and this country is much larger than I expected making vacations harder to plan with Mark's work schedule.

Animal interactions was something that I did not expect.  I knew there would be opportunities to go on safari but to pet cheetahs, lions, and any other animal you can think of at a low cost and close by was surprising.  Being able to interact with the animals is my favorite thing about living here and I love how open Africa is to helping you experience the wildlife.

One aspect we have experienced that I did not realize before our move is how prevalent racism is.  Twenty years have passed since the Apartheid ended yet racism is very apparent here everyday.  I am saddened when I hear the white Africans spew racist comments to the black Africans as if no growth has gone on in the last twenty years.  Even more shocking is how some white Africans will speak to me as if I would agree with their comments and must hold the same racist opinions as them.  Knowing what to say and how to react is something I struggle with but hope to at least show compassion for the situations the black Africans have been put in.

I am not sure I will ever get used to the level of poverty here in South Africa.  In America I would see homeless people and homes in total disrepair housing families but nothing to the extent that South Africa has.  From dilapidated homes that really are just sheets of metal held together without water or electricity, to the 50 plus people who stand right outside our community's security gates each day hoping for work, the need for help is apparent.  People asking for money on the side of the road in America normally stand there with a sign, here in South Africa they get on their knees and beg at your window with praying hands.  Children are roadside with their parents asking for help and whole communities live in sewage filled valleys because there is no where else to turn.

Right next to these homes and poverty filled areas are shopping malls, grocery stores and all the other similar amenities you can get in America.  I have been surprised by how similar the industrial parts of South Africa look to America.  Though in America you cannot find a playground and child care attendants at every restaurant which is something we, and of course Adalyn, love.  The family and kid friendly environment of Pretoria has been very welcoming and a wonderful place to raise a family.

Upon moving here I knew there were several different languages spoken (11 total official ones) and partly expected Adalyn to pick up some Afrikaans but never thought she would use different English words to mean the same thing we are used to saying.  Instead of saying "clean up", Adalyn says "tidy up".  She calls the "trash can", a "dust bin", and says we "must" and "ought" to do something instead of saying we "need" or "should".  When speaking about money she says "Rand" and not "dollars", and uses their slang such as "now now" which I still can't figure out what time frame that means.  I hope even after we move back to America, she keeps using her new vocabulary.

Some of America's amenities that I miss are central heat and air.  It can get quite warm here of course during the summer months, but even in the winter, the nights are cold and crawling into a cold bed or just putting on your cold clothes in the morning make me miss a heater.  Of course I miss some American food and although we have adjusted just fine to the options here, I can't help but think about all the recipes I can't make or treats I can't enjoy because they are not sold here.  Though it is better for our health, I do miss the sweetness of American desserts and don't even bother buying any at the stores or restaurants, they just don't make the cut.

A year ago when we told people we were moving here they would always ask if we were either with the military or missionaries.  In South Africa, when we tell people we are from America, they ask if we work with the Embassy or what company we are with, never a question about the military or volunteering.  Some people will treat us differently when they find out we are American.  Most of the black Africans will not speak to me until I have spoken to them, but once I open the conversation they are very warm and talkative.  It is not unusual for people to ask me if I know American celebrities and I do get comments about Americans having an endless amount of money.  Making friends with the black and white Africans has not been a problem, though communication can still be difficult even with both parties using English as we tend to use the same words differently.

We are one year into our two year contract with hopes to stay longer if given the opportunity.  I have learned so much about myself and have grown as a person by living here.  Of course the addition of our son, Grant, and watching Adalyn grow up in a truly unique environment have been amazing experiences.  When I get sad about missing our life back in America, it only takes a few minutes of looking around at the opportunities here to realize that moving to South Africa was the best decision Mark and I made for our family.