A question to all South Africans who have left S.A. to live else where...?
Although I am embracing all the good things Britiain has to offer and am enjoying these new experiences, I can't seem to settle. If I thought teaching in S.A. was hard, I am mistaken. I am beggining to feel very depressed even though I know things could be a lot worse. (We bought our own home within 3 months of arriving here)
How long does it take to settle and feel 'normal' again? Will England ever feel like home? Do I just have a negative attitude and need to stop whinging? Please help me...
Answer:
hi
my boyf is from SA he moved here about 3 years ago and we have been together for 18 months, i can relate to what you are saying as he sometimes feels the same as you, although he has done well here and knows he has a better future here then in SA he misses his family loads and his friends, he goes back every year to visit them for but he is always sad when he comes back.
its a natural feeling i think.
dont be ashamed of your accent or try to hide it, i personally love accents.
you are not whinging, you grew up in SA so it will always be apart of you.
Hope this helps ya x
y husband is Hungarian,he came to the US 35 years ago.He said it takes at least 5 years to feel comfortable in a new place. By the way, he was so uncomfortable in the state after 3 years there that he bought a ticket to S. Africa,we were going to move there. He said it was beautiful but after only 6 weeks there, he came back to the states. (I was mad about that, I was to go to S. Africa jst before he changed his mind.) We now live part-time in Hungary. The first few times I was here I hated it, strange language ect. Now I love it here.Give it some time, you will slowly get used to things..
Sounds to me like you arrived here with preconceived views about yourself - e.g "Oh <insert deity of your choice> I'm going to be a stranger in a strange land" and so on. If that's how you see yourself, that's what you'll always be in your own mind and you'll end up thoroughly depressed. As you've gone so far as to put down roots in bricks and mortar terms, it's time to take a fresh look at yourself as an honorary Brit or maybe as an ambassador for your birth country. Or maybe both.
From what you've written about being a teacher, it sounds to me that you have a great deal to offer the UK in that field. If you doubt yourself as an effective communicator, why not consider starting up a retail business dealing in South African arts, crafts and other products? There's one where I live and it seems to be doing remarkably well as there's a fair number of ZA expats here. Being surrounded by artefacts from your homeland, whose sale would serve to educate UK natives about your country's culture, might help you to ease the pangs of homesickness.
Stop looking at your shoes; start looking at the sky because, for someone who has made it as far as you have already, the sky really is the limit.
Hello Tante
Just to make you feel better, I took 2 years to settle. But now that I have, there is no place like England for me. If you are teaching here, it is a different ball game, but if you don't like the nanny society culture within education, get out. There is so much you can do with a teaching degree. Get yourself into a good agency and see what they offer. Broaden your horizons job-wise. Make a new start. I started a hairdressing diploma at 59, qualified as a pensioner!! The opportunities are here in truckloads.
Forget the accent, if you are that bothered, work at it and round it off a bit. It takes years so don't expect miracles. Moving anywhere takes time to settle in but once you have got over all the bureaucracy, got a doctor, a dentist, made a few friends, it will get easier. There is so much to enjoy about this beautiful country. Before you know it you will be taking "peace of mind" for granted, and enjoying the wonderful changes of seasons. Walking through the woods without being terrified for your life will take on a new dimension when you will listen to the birdsong and not try and hear footsteps! Exploring little villages with quaint shops selling homemade wares, and antique shops tucked away in remote corners, with multi-storey levels of hidden treasure is wonderful. The television is an endless supply of absolutely amazing entertainment no matter what your taste. Eating out in a little corner cafe is an experience, watching the locals. An excellent book to understand our beloved English is to read Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island. It is absolutely hilarious, but helps to understand the English as an outsider. The fact that you can get on a ferry and within a few hours drive into the heart of France and on to anywhere in Europe is mind boggling.
Good luck, sit back and enjoy. Alles van die beste.
Move to the Isle of Man,we are much more accepting of South African nationals, there is a big finance centre here and there are many South Africans here, in fact a massive 8% of the population is from SA, it's not a problem if you are working etc.
http://www.iomguide.com/immigration.php.
I am not SA myself but have many friends who are. If England isn't making you feel welcome you should consider coming here. I am in a sixth form here and my teacher of maths moved from cape town because of high crime also. My email address is alexmcresswll@yahoo.co.uk, if you have any questions dont hesitate to email me. Alex
The Immigration information post by website user , MyTend.com not guarantee correctness.
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