Keep searching for the spirit of the great heart and stay in SA

While load shedding has hit hard into the collective psyche of all South Africans and Covid has hammered our economy, for many of us, it is easy to get bogged down and even become overwhelmed by the number of problems we seem to be dealing with in South Africa right now. And without detracting from the fact that for many people, life is indeed no walk in the park, there are many positive aspects of South African life that we forget about simply because like wallpaper, we have become so used to them that even if they are truly amazing, they have faded into the background. Since, when we are under stress, we tend to bring the negative aspects of a situation into the foreground and forget about the positives.

In these circumstances, some people also believe that life must be better overseas since there is less crime and no load shedding either. But, this is not the case – especially post Covid. It is easy to start envying people in other parts of the world. Europe is great, it has a lot more money than we do and is better equipped to deal with crises such as the recent pandemic, but it is not the utopia many South Africans think it is. As a First World country, even the US has its own set of challenges.

So, while we may tend to think we don’t have our act together when it comes to solving the country’s most pressing issues, let us take a look at what is going on in some of the countries beyond our borders.

Schools

Schools in many parts of Europe are finding it difficult to cope with the influx of children from war-torn countries who are traumatised and cannot speak the language. While teachers and staff are doing their best to integrate these children, local children are overlooked.

Healthcare

The healthcare system in Sweden, for example, is not working very well. People who are already paying high taxes are having to take out private medical insurance at great expense since the wait time to see a doctor is way too long, to see a specialist is even longer and one can wait years to have surgery.

Public Transport

Due to staff being retrenched during Covid, the trains in Sweden are over-filled, often late or don’t run at all since many workers have not been re-hired.

Food and Accommodation

In Montmartre, Paris, apartments are hugely expensive yet incredibly small, with some dwellings a mere 25 square metres in size. To call them compact would be an understatement. With everything in miniature, using the toilet can be like climbing into a cupboard. While landmarks like the Eiffel Tower make Paris seem quite magical, food is exceptionally expensive and in South Africa, the French family owned bakery and restaurant Paul, serves patisseries as good if not cheaper than any Parisienne cuisine.

Power Outages

According to CNN, power outages in the US are on the rise due to worsening bouts of extreme weather caused by climate crisis and increased demand for electricity as the country’s energy infrastructure ages and becomes more vulnerable. Energy experts in the US warn that their power grid is not designed to withstand the impacts of climate change. Researchers revealed that power outages in the US in the past 10 years have increased by 64% as compared to the previous decade. This has necessitated the implementation of ‘Brownouts’. A brownout is caused by high electricity demand that is beyond a utility’s production capacity. When this happens, the utility may therefore reduce the flow of electricity to certain areas to prevent a blackout.

A quick snapshot of what is going on in other countries also reminds us that in spite of economic challenges, and the stress of load shedding, we are not completely powerless in South Africa since there are so many positives about our country that, compared to other countries around the world, simply cannot be ignored.

Some of South Africa’s beaches are simply breathtaking

From fashionable Camps Bay to Boulders Beach with its colony of endangered African penguins, arguably, Cape Town has the best urban beaches in the world. And all the way along the KZN Indian Ocean coastline, there are long stretches of soft sand churned by waves that become warmer the further north you go.

South African food and wine is simply splendid

While Johannesburg is not far behind, Cape Town is still South Africa’s oldest ‘foodie’ destination. Both cities boast all types of flavours, from great coffee, and craft beer and fabulous restaurants that combine international trends with local flavours served with a huge dose of South African hospitality. From KWV to Fairview Estate, the Cape Winelands produce award-winning wines and boast some of the world’s finest cuisine.

In South Africa, we need never wonder whether the weather will be good

If you are ever in any doubt whether to wonder about the weather in South Africa, it is worth remembering that Durban, Ballito and the beaches of the KZN Coast average over 300 days of sunshine per year. South Africa is infinitely blessed with a temperate climate that offers spectacular summers and mild winters and even the rainy season over the Kruger is ultimately quite sunny with rainfall consisting of late afternoon, short-lived thundershowers.

A culture of friendliness

People from other countries who visit South Africa often remark how friendly South Africans are. We are a melting pot of one nation comprising many fascinating cultures that delight and enthuse at every turn. So, enjoy the many great things that we have in our beautiful country as you drive past Nelson Mandela’s house in Houghton and walk in the footsteps of our history in Soweto.