I am going to elaborate on what freedom means to me in England versus South Africa. I feel freedom is like beauty; it is all about your personal preferences and the way you look at life. But one thing is certain, freedom never comes without a price.
Something you have to understand, particularly if you have never spent a couple of years abroad, is that it is not your country. Even though you have a passport. Being born in a specific country gives you a very special right. It’s your country … you have blood in the soil, no matter what others may say. People share a certain way of speaking (e.g. voertsek!) and thinking. This has become very special and important to me after 14 years abroad. South Africa is my country. Period.
The wide open blue sky in South Africa is and will always be wonderful. The horizon and the land are huge and beautiful and one feels really free. And the air smells differently. This is something my nine-year old observed on her arrival here. In England the sun shines for an average of 60 days in London. Yes, 60 days. A low grey sky that keeps you trapped in your much smaller home. Of course you may put on warm clothes and go out, but, oh boy, this is hard work with mud and water all over the place. In South Africa the houses and gardens are bigger and even if you stay indoors you will not easily get claustrophobic. In a typical South African house the children can still run around inside and enjoy themselves.
Many people see the free medical services in England as a huge freedom and privilege. Avoiding a South African state hospital certainly is a very expensive privilege, but with medical aid funds you can get around quickly or visit your nearest hospital. In England, you are bound to your address, which means you cannot be admitted to a hospital or even see a doctor in another town or area. If you are unfortunate enough to live in an area where the hospital is overcrowded, you could easily wait for two months before being attended to. This causes a lot of stress and conflict, particularly if there are many uncertainties or questions.
Internet in South Africa is half as quick and data twice as expensive as in England. In London there is no place where you cannot get access to quick and free Wi-Fi at any time. This makes life easier. In fact, the Britons are drafting legislation in terms of which it will be your right as a person to have at least 15 MB internet access, otherwise it is a violation of your human rights.
Dining out in South Africa is still relatively cheap, as are many forms of entertainment. In England you will pay twice as much for a West End show, for example. Low-cost dining out for two persons will be at least R500, providing you behave yourself with the R75 draughts.
In most parks and fields in England open fires are not permitted, which means you may not braai where you would like to. And swimming is not allowed in most lakes, dams and rivers. This was one of the most tragic things over there. On the other hand, speeding cameras are used to decrease speed at dangerous spots and not to try to catch and fine you. In fact, it is illegal in England not to warn you of a speeding camera and even a mobile camera.
Cars, especially second-hand ones, are much cheaper in England. You can easily pick up a used small car in a very good condition for R18 000. If you don’t have this kind of money, you may hop on a bus or a train. I used to enjoy getting on our village bus every now and again to visit our nearest “big town” 20 minutes away just to look around. A full return ticket for R50. Not only are cars in South Africa more expensive, but one tends to forget that the prime rate here is 10% as against 1,5% over there. People in South Africa often don’t realise that their homes may be much cheaper than in England but that their monthly instalment is more because of the interest rate.
Speaking of interest rates – in South Africa relationships and trust play a huge role in business transactions. In England the process is rigid and often controlled by a computer program. I am reminded of a bank manager of the past who could take a “grey decision” versus the present black or white decision of a computer program.
A last quick example is the minimum wage of R133 per hour in England. This means that if you are doing relatively well, you could perhaps get someone to clean your house for half a day per week, but you will still do your own washing and ironing. (By the way, you will not get away for less than R170 per hour for a domestic worker.)
I could give you many more comparisons, but I don’t want to bore you. The point is that for every plus or peace there is a minus or a restriction, and people who think the grass in another country is greener are naive.
The biggest disillusionment again is when you realise you are not surrounded by your people and your culture. When you are braaiing outside all by your lonesome self under an umbrella and everything is grey and wet.
Have a wonderful week, and remember: Never say die!
Also read: Weekend reflection – There is calm in the eye of a tornado – Part 1
Listen to this:
- Klipkouers-podsend is the first Afrikaans programme on CliffCentral.
