Out and About is the column in which we talk to people who live abroad, or who did live and work abroad, but are back in South Africa again.
Hello Tia, where did you live abroad and for how long?
We lived in Vernon, British Colombia, Canada for seven years. Vernon is situated in the interior of British Columbia, the westernmost province of Canada, in the beautiful Okanagan Valley. The area is very similar to the Boland, with mountains, valleys, orchards and vineyards. It is one of the more temperate climates in Canada.
Tell us about yourself and your adventures abroad. What were the best and the worst adventures that you experienced?
In winter it snows. We lived 40 minutes’ drive from a ski resort, Silver Star, and went skiing there almost every weekend. We have learned to downhill, cross-country and snowshoe. To learn to ski in my thirties was one of the biggest challenges of my life. It’s like learning to cycle, or more difficult! The last time our family went skiing, we and our children (who can ski much better than we!) did a double black trail – it is the steepest and most uneven terrain marked in a ski resort – and all of us made it!
In the village it also snows regularly and it entails daily adventures – from shovelling snow from your driveway in the morning and sled riding in the park next to our house to anxious moments when your car slides uncontrollably on fresh snow or rock-hard ice.
In the summer it gets warm, with temperatures in the thirties, and we often went for a walk in the beautiful parks and swam or kayaked in one of the three lakes in the area. We also went camping regularly in the network of hundreds of British Colombia’s provincial parks.
It is easy and affordable to travel in North America and we have travelled a lot in Canada. Highlights were the Canadian Rockies, Vancouver Island (westernmost point of Canada), Newfoundland (easternmost point of Canada), Toronto and the Niagara Falls. We were also privileged to visit Disney World with my sister and her family who lives in Dubai.
What did you do in Vernon?
My husband worked as a psychiatrist. There are a host of South African doctors – just in Vernon (a town about the size of Worcester) there are about 25 of them. I did some of his administration work, now and then I did occupational therapy at a large rehabilitation facility, and of course I raised children and tended to the housekeeping. Our children started school there.
What have you missed?
The creativity and individual style of South Africans. The interior decoration of restaurants and shops there is very bad! We also missed our roots – my husband says when you move abroad it’s like being born anew without any history. South African humour is unique and most Canadians do not ‟catch” not our jokes. Finally, I really missed the forthrightness of South Africans. On the one hand many South Africans are too outspoken and even untactful, but on the other hand you know exactly one where you stand with them!
Was it hard to adapt after returning to South Africa?
People drive terribly fast here! I like driving fast, but within limits and only when it is safe. In general, people here are also very impatient – on the road, in shops, etc. My experience is that people are also very distrustful. We went on a picnic and asked another family whether my elderly in-laws might borrow two of their camping chairs for a few minutes until our relatives would arrive with their chairs. They gawked at me and asked how they could be sure that we would still be there when they came back. I understand the reasons for that, but it is wonderful how people trust each other in Canada – because they can. One can for example still mail a check for a large amount in a plain envelope and most supermarkets there nowadays have self-help pay points.
What do you miss about Canada?
The wonderful friends we made. We were each other’s support network and self-chosen ‟family”, so we had many close friends there. The safety and everyday carefree live that comes with it. In the seven years that we lived there, we never once used the alarm in our house. I will also miss the snow – the beauty and joy of it – the opportunity to travel around so effortless, and the friendly and tolerant Canadians.
