My Eight Things I Love About Being a South African

My Eight Things I Love About Being a South African

The month of September is definitely a month full of celebrations. The first of September – International Cabernet Sauvignon Day.  Winter is slowly moving on, and the days are getting longer and warmer as Spring starts to make its way. The month of September is also Heritage month, as well as Tourism month. There is a number of things that you can be happy about. In collaboration with Travel Start, I was asked a rather thought provoking question. If I ever had to move away from South Africa and chose to stay in London for example – what would be the things I would miss the most?

There will be tons of things you would miss if you had to leave. South Africa is such a unique country with such diversity. Each with their own cultures and personalities. This is why South Africa is called the Rainbow Nation. Now other than the obvious of missing your family and friends. I will miss… the general feel of South Africa. You know… that feeling comfort and being in your comfort zone.

You know South Africa, the feeling of where you live and the general knowledge of South Africa. The food, the drink, the places to go. The friendships, doing things over the weekend. The hot sun beating down. The smell of fish and chips. The wine. The braai’s. The smell of the sea. Houses that retain their heat in summer. Opening your cupboard on a hot summer’s day and your clothing is hot. The beautiful gardens. The outdoor life. The normality of life… Going on holiday around SA. Hadedas!

The list can go on… and on… Here is my short list of 8 things I would miss in my home…

#1 South African Wine and our Winelands:

Being a food and wine blogger – I will have to say that I will miss our wines the most. South Africa has such a unique terroir, making our wines, one of the most sort after in the world.  Yes, I know you will have some of our wine available, but it is not the same. There is such a huge variety  available on your finger tips, which might not be the case in London.

Pinotage! It is one of my favourite cultivars.  I mean this is a proudly South African wine – It was born in South Africa just like me. Chenin Blanc, South Africa is the largest producer of Chenin Blanc in the world.  I will miss our Sauvignon Blanc, especially from the Worcester region. It contains more of the fynbos herbaciousness than most of the Sauvignon Blanc’s found in South Africa.

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I will miss our breathtaking scenic winelands. The ever changing scenery. South Africa has 19 official wine routes, including the R62 (which by the way is THE LONGEST IN THE WORLD). The scenery changes with each one wine route you take, You will stumble across luscious rolling valleys, majestic and rugged mountain ranges, to arid Karoo desert, and then of course the cooler climate the beautiful coastal regions.

#2 South African Food

The food! Oh boy!…Oh boy!! The smell of wood burning as you start up the fire for the braai. The Okes standing around the fire with their favourite dop – either Klippies and Cola, or Castle Beer. The smell and sound of Boerewors and chops sizzling on the fire. Relaxing, drinking a glass of wine, around the fire, munching on Niknaks, Flings, Ghost Pops,  Biltong, and Droewors. Toasties made with added Mrs. Balls Chutney. Mielie pap served on the side with a hot spicy Chakalaka smoor.

I would miss hubby waking me up in the morning with a cuppa tea and Ouma rusks. (I’ll have to make my own, but we all know what an excellent baker I am – said with sarcasm) Oh! How can we forget “kerrie mince vetkoek”, koeksisters/koesister, samoosas, and maltabella pap”. Having a steak masala gatsby and cabana juice!! Let us not forget… Pine Nut, Cream Soda, Sparberry, Steri Stumpi, and my all time favourite Yogisip. The smell of fish and chips, especially Snoek. I will miss Snoek the most.

#3 Colour

I will miss colour. South Africa in general is such a bright and colourful country. Everything about this country is colourful, the people, the landscape, our dress, our homes, our lifestyles. Our cities are bright and colourful, not just plain boring grey concrete buildings. Our gardens, even our skies is bright and colourful. You just have to look up in the evening as the sunsets. Those gorgeous African sunsets – sipping on a sun-downer, no matter where you are, may it be overlooking the African bush or the calming sea. It is a way of life here in South Africa.

#4 South African Humour and Friendliness

South African’s have a great sense of humour. We are always smiling, laughing and just happy in general. No matter how bad the situation is, we always see some sort of humour in it. Random strangers will always give you a smile or greet you in the street. Hearing a hearty laugh somewhere is a common occurrence. No matter were you go, you will always feel welcomed and at home.

#5 South African Fauna/Flora

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Just like it’s people, South Africa has huge diversity of animals and plants. You can almost go anywhere in South Africa and you will see some wildlife. South Africa is renowned for its wildlife, and natural beauty. It is home to over 200 species of mammals, 100 reptiles, and over 850 species of birds. We got the Cape Buffalo, leopard, cheetah, kudu, springbok, cape cobra, black mamba, crocodiles, hippo’s, king fishers, cape vultures, ostrich, and aardvark, and who can forget those cute and adorable dassies, baking in the sun on the rock tops.

We also have the biggest concentration of Fynbos in the world, and two thirds is found right here in the Cape. How many times do we ogle over the king protea? Let us not forget Num-Num’s, “suurtjies”, sour figs, agapanthus, and the Disa. This is just to mention the few.

#6 The weather

Yes, you will miss the sun, the warm weather, the thunderstorms if you used to them. Just the ability to be out doors and enjoying the good weather. Even the winters in South Africa is much milder than what is in Europe. To be in shorts and sandles (without socks) That is why it is called “Sunny South Africa!”.

#7 Landscapes in South Africa

South Africa is beautiful. No matter where you go the scenery is ever changing. You got the Cape with it lush greenery, and mountains. The beautiful fynbos and stunning blue flag beaches. You travel a little further, you get the dry Karoo dessert with its little shrubs, traveling further down to the coast you have thick forest in Knysna, and what about the most spectacular wild coast? Coffee Bay anyone? (I badly want to go one day) You got the tropical forest and warm beaches in Kwa-Zulu Natal, let us not even mention the Natal midlands and the Drakensberg Mountains. You got the flatland’s in the Free State, where my hubby says it is so flat you see your past and future. How can we forget the North West and Kruger park? You can say, South Africa has it all… and you don’t even need to travel far.

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#8 South African Lingo

Words only understood by South African’s no matter what your back ground. Here in South Africa, your home is the only place where you can be yourself, without being pretentious and everyone will understand you. Words such as “lekker, fridge, robot, bakkie, eish, heibo, izzit, howzit, sharp-sharp” and the list can go on…

As a kid I remember telling my mom, I will be home now-now, but end up getting home much later. As you arrive home, your mom is standing on the stoep waiting for you…with her sloffie in her hand, you know… you just know… you are now in the k@k.  All you can do is just say sorry, even though you not so sorry. No sympathy from your dad, as all he can say is shampies. Eish, life can be hard sometimes when you a kid hey.

My aunt has been living in Switzerland for about 8 years now. I asked her what does she miss the most about South Africa, and this was here reply:

“The smell of rice cooking in a hot kitchen. Biltong. Boerewors. Pepstores and Ackermans. Pick n Pay and the smelly deli counter. SPAR centres on hot days. The smell of the baking bread and dirty oil from the fish shops. And kids running around without shoes on, or the fat oukie with his PT shorts under his HUGE boep, walking barefoot across the parking lot to the bottle store. Wincing along cause the tar is burning his feet…”

My Aunt from Switzerland

She wasn’t saying to be sarcastic or anything, she honestly misses it.  Switzerland is so prim and proper. Everything is running in order and on clock work not on African Time. She says the people their are stiff and uptight. They don’t know how to relax, laugh, and just be spontaneous. I think that is what makes South African’s who we are, we are spontaneous. Taking each day as it comes.

There is so much interesting things about South Africa I can be here all day. I know, at times things does look bad, but it is my home, and it will always be my home. I would rather go and book a cheap flight to London to go on holiday, but knowing that I can always return to my homeland.