In Out and about, we talk to people who currently live or have lived and worked abroad. This week, we chatted with Chirani Meyer, who lives with her family in Abu Dhabi.
Where in South Africa are you from, and why did you move to Abu Dhabi?
We lived in Cape Town, and my husband got a job offer with such great benefits for our family in Abu Dhabi that he could not say no.
Tell us a little more about your work. What does a typical day in your life look like? Is it more unhurried there than in South Africa, and do you have more time to relax and travel?
I have my own business and work from home. My business is an online store, CheriGurl Art on Redbubble.com. My designs aim to brighten Saffas’ lives abroad with South African culture, humour and language.
We have already done a lot of sightseeing in the United Arab Emirates and want to tour Europe now.
Was it a culture shock for you? How do the lifestyle and cost of living differ from that in South Africa?
Astonishingly enough, the culture shock was not as bad as what we experienced in America then. Abu Dhabi has an abundance of expats and quite a large group of South Africans living here. The food is not too unfamiliar, and it is easy to buy South African products here.
Life is expensive here, but salary benefits such as housing, medical aid, a school grant and the fact that we pay no income tax here compensate.
How does the school system in Dubai differ from that in South Africa?
Most foreign children attend American or British international schools.
The school year starts in August/September, which differs from South Africa’s. We enrolled our daughter in an American online school during the transition period between the two academic years, which helped her adapt to the American system. Homeschooling is legal for foreigners in the United Arab Emirates.
Was it difficult to adjust to Abu Dhabi’s climate? How do you handle the heat?
Yes, the summers are scorching hot here and we are forever grateful for air conditioning, but the winters are lovely and very mild.
Quite a few South Africans live in Abu Dhabi. Do you get together sometimes?
Yes, we have a lot of South Africans here, and even though we don’t have an official South African club, we have good times together. Social media makes it possible to get in touch with other South Africans effortlessly.
If you could go back in time, what else would you have packed in your suitcase before you left South Africa?
A braai dish and a suitcase full of biltong and boerewors.
Are there any South African businesses nearby that you like to support?
Yes, we often support the Hyperama in Khalifa City.
Tell us something interesting about Abu Dhabi.
There are people with many different cultures in Abu Dhabi, and we enjoy getting to know people from other places. One disadvantage is that people’s visas are directly linked to their employment status, so they are constantly coming and going.
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Write to us
Do you live abroad, or have you recently returned from abroad? Then you too can write us an Out and about column. Send an e-mail to wereldwyd@afriforum.co.za and we will send you questions to answer.
