Nelson Mandela / Tata Madiba

I wanted to dedicate a special post to Nelson Mandela, our Nation’s hero, today, but the words elude me.  No words can describe the appreciation, the true admiration and love South Africa (and the rest of the world) feels for the late Madiba.  The bridge he built for a divided nation overcame hatred, fear and instability.  We are a proud nation today and yes, there are still a lot to overcome and learn, but the long walk to freedom bears proud emotions in South Africans today.  Thank you Madiba! 

I could not help but to be reminded of the famous poem:

Do not go gentle into that good night

  by Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15377#sthash.PrE7Syb4.dpuf

RIP Madiba 

Giving up "Expat-status"

What is an expatriate or expat?  According to wiki.answers.com: "a person who is living in another country, or working overseas temporarily."

Getting back to "normal" life after "being an expat" was a challenge.  I have been craving to write, to post on my blog and not to disappoint, but arriving in one's home country, picking up again where you left of years ago (or what feels like eternities ago) is time-consuming and there is always something else to do... or family or friends to see, writing just had to wait.  But now I am back on my blog, ready to write about my new life in beautiful, sunny South Africa and wanting to attract as many attention as possible so that all my fellow expats all over the world can come visit!

Moving back to my home country wasn't an easy decision. And starting again, getting back into SA life, getting used to SA-mentality (said with the utmost respect) wasn't easy as well.  South Africans have a whole different mindset and lifestyle (and I fell in love with it all over again!).  I jumped every time I heard Afrikaans around me, in a shop or on the street.  The people around me are friendly.  Everyone talks to everyone.  The beggar on the street always has a joke to tell when you walk by, the painter greets every car that drives by, the shop owner comes out to talk to you and ask you where you've been.  I got used to "your own personal space" overseas.  This is a rare thing in South Africa.  If someone sees you buying a cool drink, they will remind you of the Red bull-special, but in the same sentence say that you don't need a Red bull because you look "lekker op-en-wakker" (wide a wake and in a friendly mood).  And then everybody laughs.  I realised that I missed this about South Africa.

I now live in a town (I like to think of it as a fishing village, but it is bigger than a village though), Mossel Bay. Mossel Bay is famous for its amazing weather, ranked as the town with the second best weather in the world, and with the rarity of houses facing north. I forgot how amazing the weather is... every morning I wake up expecting cloudy, dark skies, but wake up with beautiful warm days and sunshine throughout the day! It is really amazing (not to make anyone jealous, but I mention this rather with the idea to attract visitors!). It is officially autumn now, but it feels like summer. We are walking around with t-shirts, flip-flops and shorts and just enjoying the sunshine.

In the months that follow I am going to try and promote Mossel Bay, The Garden Route and the rest of beautiful South Africa. I believe people from all over the world need to see an appreciate South Africa with its remarkable history and landscape.

Follow and support my blog, keep track of what I'm up to, what cute and interesting restaurants and shops I have discovered recently and what is happening in Mossel Bay and surrounding area!

xICKx

Weddings and Wedding anniversaries

It is our three year wedding anniversary today and I had to look back and write.... We planned our wedding in two months (We didn't want a long engagement).  I know I wanted the beach, with sand between my toes and the ocean air in my hair.  And we were blessed with the most amazing day, sunshine and blue skies!  We refused to have a plan B just in case the weather was bad, we just believed...

I walked through frangipanis towards my groom, stopping at each guest to receive a flower (we asked in the invite for each girl to bring a flower that reminds them of me).  My bunch of flowers grew bigger than I suspected....  but I loved it!  We used this for the official wedding bouquet which I threw, later in the evening, towards the excited "next-to-be-bride". 
While signing the marriage certificates, Stephan's sister's daughter sang, in her beautiful voice, Amazing Grace.  After the ceremony, walking through the guests, red rose petals were strewn over us (and this created beautiful pictures).  And our family friend, Malitsaba sang the African cheering "tlatlatla...." which gave the end of our beach-ceremony an African twist.  It was special and we felt her blessing and happiness through the beautiful African sound.
Our wedding function was walking distance from the beach at a small hotel.  Our tables were basic, with candles, red rose petals, white see-through linen and bright red wine glasses.  We put more detail in the food - rather than having a "opskep"/buffe.  We put some "throw-away" cameras on the tables so that the guests could make their own memories.  Developing the films (yes, it was film cameras) served us with many funny and fun photos...  We printed our own message on a white servet (that my mother made) and the guests could take that home.  My sister-in-law made us "love" key-chains as gifts for the women. The men received cigars.

We partied right through until it was time to celebrate my birthday.  Yes we got married on the 21st of March.  My birthday is the 22nd.  I danced barefoot all night, still feeling the sand between my toes.
Our guests were brilliant and so full of energy (and dance moves).  We didn't focus a lot on speeches and the normal detail of a wedding, but still had the wedding cake and a roaming mice which offered the most amazing stories frour friends and family.  I will always be grateful! 
Our day turned out perfect.  Do I have regrets?  Yes, maybe all brides do, I don't know, maybe not...
Regrets:  We wanted a small wedding, but had to pay the price - I couldn't invite everyone I wanted to share our special day with.  Forgive me always.

We didn't focus so much on speeches or thanking people or family.  Looking back, I really should have thanked my two grandmothers.  For being there, for contributing to the person I have become, for loving me always and just for being the most amazing grandmothers I could ever ask for (both now in their 80's - I was so blessed to have them at our wedding).  Thank you Grandmothers!!! 
Thanking a lot of other people I should have thanked, but didn't.  Thank you! 

We forgot to take a group photo and official friend photographs.  I only have random photograps of me or Stephan with friends.  Regret - hiring the photograper for only half the day and not the full evening. 

Looking back, I am grateful.  It was the most amazing day in my life.  Thank you for everyone who made it special!