You can leave South Africa but
South Africa never quite leaves you...
“You don’t stop belonging to where you come from—
you just learn to carry it differently.
Sometimes, that space in between is where your story deepens. "
- It's Complicated Counselling
A life abroad can be both
beautiful and complicated.
Many South Africans who have built lives abroad carry a story that is layered in ways that are not always visible.
A life has been created in a new country—yet memories, culture, language, family ties, and identity remain deeply connected to the place once called home. Over time, something quiet can begin to surface.
Not always loud. Not always clear. But present.
Some of the things that are
hard to explain...
Living abroad is often spoken about in practical terms.
But emotionally, it can feel very different.
-
missing home in ways that come and go unexpectedly
-
feeling both grateful for your life abroad and still carrying loss
-
holding a complicated relationship with South Africa itself wondering where you fully belong now
-
feeling deeply connected to family far away
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carrying concern for parents as they age from a distance
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returning home and realizing it feels both familiar and not, noticing that both you and South Africa have changed
Many people describe a sense of living between worlds.
Things only South Africans
living abroad seem to understand.
-
hearing a South African accent in a random place and instantly softening
-
the emotional pull of watching the Springboks from another country
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trying to explain what a “braai” really is
-
slipping between languages without thinking about it
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realizing how much of your humour, rhythm, and way of being is still shaped by home
-
carrying memories that are difficult to translate into another culture
There is often a quiet recognition when you meet someone who understands this without needing explanation.
Praat gerus Afrikaans
Ons Afrikaanse taal dra emosie, herinneringe en identiteit.
En ons is definitief meer as 40 wat dit praat :)
As Afrikaans vir jou die taal is waarin jy jou gedagtes en gevoelens die maklikste kan uitdruk, is jy baie welkom om dit hier te gebruik.
Soms gebeur die diepste emosionele werk wanneer ons kan praat in die taal van ons grootwordjare en kulturele wortels.
Sessies is beskikbaar in Afrikaans of Engels.