I often get asked by my friends here what makes me like South Africa so much, what attracts me to the country. Off the top of my head, my answer often is that I am fascinated by the diversity, of not only people and languages, but of cultures, and how they interact. I am amazed that we are living in and watching South Africa change, we are at a pivotal point in history for South Africa. I feel that I learn something new every day, and would continue to for the rest of my life if I were to live here. That excites and intrigues me. Not only that, but the country is absolutely gorgeous, there is nowhere on this earth like it.
But honestly, that answer is not necessarily true. While those things are all reasons why I like South Africa, there is more that draws me to the country. It is the moral and way of life that is so appealing to me. In America we live to succeed, to work our way up the ladder to get a better position, and most importantly, more money. It is the American Dream. In America, we live to work. In South Africa, they work to live. Most Americans would probably see South Africans as lazy, doing the minimum and no more. But that is not it. South Africans know exactly how to enjoy life, and they do it often. I learned after my last coop that being stuck in an office eight hours a day, five days a week was depressing and a way to absolutely miss your life as it passes. That is a terrifying realization, because obviously most jobs (and especially the ones in the industry I want to work in) are exactly that, in an office, behind a desk, all day long. And while that also would probably happen in South Africa, South Africans have a different mindset on work. It’s much more laid back, more ‘chilled.’
You only have one life, and each birthday that goes by reminds me that mine is slowly but surely ticking by. I am worried that if I go back to America my life will disappear before my eyes in a blur of sleepless nights, debt and fluorescent lights. I don’t want that. I cannot possibly be satisfied by that anymore, especially not when I know South Africa is still there, not when I have experienced something different and loved it so much.
These are all things that I need to think about when I return, and as people keep reminding me, everything could change when I go back. It is possible I will quickly get over South Africa and move on with my life. I know how I feel, and I don’t necessarily see that happening, so for now I am open to all possibilities, but am also making plans to completely change my life plans to fit in South Africa.
