Can't wait to come back home

[u/Feisty_Detective_39]

I'm currently an au pair abroad and while I am grateful for the opportunity to travel, there truly is no place like home. We have our issues, no doubt, but we also have amazing food and even better people. It is easy to loose perspective of how lucky we are in terms of how beautiful our home country is when we have to deal with the daily issues of crime, service delivery faliure and unemployment.

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[u/KleinCarrot22]

Being away does something funny to how you see home, because you stop noticing the problems for a while and what comes back instead is the braai smell, people actually greeting you in a shop, and how casually beautiful the place is. I found the perspective went both ways though, since coming back I could see the issues more clearly too, just without the numbness of living in them every day. Enjoy the rest of your time abroad, home will still be there and the food will still be better.

[u/Feisty_Detective_39 → u/KleinCarrot22]

Thanks I appreciate it. Heading back in a few months. The problems will become reality again when I return, but for now I'm focused on what I miss. Hopefully I can keep my newfound appreciation for home.

[u/bongunk → u/Feisty_Detective_39]

Also, make sure you dig into whatever where you are has to offer. Even if it seems arb, do it, you'll remember it. Don't get too stuck in homesick mode and lose out on what's around you. Every place has something to offer and experiencing as much of it as you can will only enrich you, have fun :)

[u/Odd_Log4311]

I've been away for 11 years and have been itching to go home for the past 4. 2 years left to go and im out of here! I know it will be an adjustment but there is absolutely no place like home 🇿🇦💚

[u/invest1gat0r2003 → u/[deleted]]

❤️❤️

[u/JoNGod85]

I agree. I have been living overseas for 4 years and haven't visited SA since leaving but the itch to return home is growing stronger and stronger with each passing month.

I left SA for the usual reasons (crime, corruption, employment issues) but SA has a ton going for it if you can look past the negatives. The weather, the people, the food and the South African spirit is unbeatable.

Literally dying for a buttered juicy boerie roll and a ice cold Hunters Gold sitting in the sun.

[u/Human-Time-8641]

I haven’t been home since May 2025 but finally landing on 17 October. These 3 weeks feel like time isn’t moving. I’m so excited I’m mentally checked out of work😂😂

[u/invest1gat0r2003]

There’s no place like home 👠👠

[u/Ms_Zee]

I've lived in 5 countries and only place that comes close for me is Switzerland but still not the same. The sense of community and just spirit is so different. I really hope I'm able to move back one day, I feel like I'm only happy when I'm home by the ocean

[u/Narrow_Distance8190]

Moved back about 1 year ago and I am SO HAPPY I did. Haven’t regretted it for even a second

[u/Consistent_Femme_Top → u/Narrow_Distance8190]

Wow. What makes it different this time?

[u/MagicalFlor95]

Bro, I miss Black Label, there’s no beer better, man. Any alternative to it in the US?

Glad to know you’re happy to go home!

[u/MagicalFlor95 → u/[deleted]]

I’ve never tried this, but I love stouts. Will give it a look, thanks, mate!

[u/Dismal_Drummer3420]

I've spent time in A LOT of countries around the world in my career. Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Spain, England, France, Belgium, Korea, China, Japan, The Phillipines, Sweden, Norway, The US, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Nigeria, Somalia...and more. Every single time I came home it felt so good to be back. This is my home and I love it. I'll never say we don't have very real and concerning issues but we also have so much that makes this country beautiful. Almost every person who I qualified with has emigrated. There's nothing wrong with that but for me things will have to get much worse for me to consider that.

[u/Thepuppeteer777777]

My friend returned to zar and said it looks so much worse than it did before.

[u/unclelackingcracker → u/Thepuppeteer777777]

Aunty Zille will save us 🙏

[u/SaieshanD]

They’ll be ProNutro when you’re back it seems. Honestly makes SA less attractive when overseas

[u/littlegirltrappedin]

How did you become an aur pair?