Hello there and welcome to my 104th blog.
I absolutely love my country.
I am not sure how many of you know this, but I am not very learned in the politics department. My folks encouraged me as a teenager to read more and to get more interested in politics, particularly South African politics, but this did not fascinate me at all or in the slightest. Years later, and in spite some of my best friends seeming to know so much, I still remained steadfast in my lack of interest in this subject. I pick up titbits whilst listening to the various exchanges and sometimes heated debates of friends and family, and very occasionally put in my pennies worth, but woe betide if someone with political knowledge wants to engage further. They will be bitterly disappointed.
I also need to say that I am fully aware of the many, some perhaps insurmountable, problems that my beloved country has.
There are too few South Africans who have ongoing employment, the quality of school education for many South Africans is substandard, our infrastructure and roads are inadequate which limits social inclusion and faster economic growth, and corruption undermines state legitimacy and service delivery. Then there is our growth path which is highly resource intensive and therefore not able to develop well, our poor health care for the majority of South Africans, our ever-increasing crime and the lack of security, our dodgy water supply, the dreadful and frightening xenophobia, and the awful gender-based violence.
Gosh, this sounds pretty bad, and I am afraid a great deal of it is.
However, today I want to put politics and these problems aside, and on this day, I choose to talk about the awesomeness of our country.
Let’s do this!
- Our diverse and beautiful landscapes
It’s actually quite difficult to accurately describe our varying landscapes. We have pristine and stunning sandy beaches, dramatic mountain ranges, huge areas of untamed bushveld, starkly beautiful semi-deserts, lush forests, lakes, waterfalls, spectacular canyons, and wide plains. Together with these breathtakingly magnificent landscapes, we have unbelievably colourful sunsets and sunrises, and incredibly magical starry African skies.
- Glorious food
The tantalizing aroma of a Karoo lamb chop, a mielie, or a beef steak cooked on a braai (an open fire) is enough to make one’s mouth water. A tasty rusk dipped in a morning cup of coffee or Milo when having a morning break on a game drive in the bush is just so warming. A Durban curry, eaten whilst in KwaZulu-Natal, might just be the best curry in the world. Pap (a porridge made with maize meal) prepared with love, is always so comforting, with some tomato bredie to top it off. Biltong, which is cured meat, eaten whilst watching a rugby match or out in the bush, or at any time, is one of the reasons I will always struggle to give up meat. It always evokes so many magical memories. Delicious milk tart and malva pudding are always a fitting ending to a tasty meal. Some folk have veggie patches in their gardens, and there are many supe easy vegetables we can plant in South Africa.
- Stunning weather
South Africans are known worldwide to be very friendly, and some might say that this is mainly due to our sunny skies and wonderful weather. In my opinion our Highveld weather is pretty much unrivalled. Our summers are superb with regular rainfall and our winters are just great. There are bouts of cold weather, but it is seldom freezing. I can not remember when I last wore my warm woollen coats. We love our Sunday lunch winter braais where we are able to sit outside ninety percent of the time. This makes outdoor experiences in our beautiful country a great pleasure and so enjoyable. Obviously, there are some areas where the weather is not fantastic, and climate change is real, but I am speaking about my personal experience.
- Passionate sports culture
We just love our sport: rugby, soccer, golf, cycling, running, tennis, padel, and everything in between! It’s not just about the sport, but the vibe / “gees” that is associated with it, whether we are watching it or playing it. On a day that the springboks play a game, most of us will don our classic green and gold Bok supporter shirts. We usually get together with friends to watch these international games. It is exciting and stressful and a huge bonding experience. Watching these matches live in a packed stadium is also just the best. Attending a South African soccer match live is also an amazing experience, as are the cricket matches we have been fortunate to watch over the years.
- Our biodiversity
With our huge variety of plant and animal species, South Africa ranks as the third most biodiverse country in the world and our country is home to over ninety-five thousand known species. We also hold the position globally for the number of different plant species within specific habitats, landscapes, and regions. This makes road trips in South Africa so much fun with frequently changing landscapes and topography! I would love to do many more road trips.
- Lighthouses
I love lighthouses, probably because the sea is my favourite place. South Africa has forty-five magnificent lighthouses, all of which are apparently automated, and four lighthouses where one can actually spend a night or two, revelling in their marvellousness.
- Our unique slang
When I lived in the UK, I quickly became aware of the fact that we have numerous phrases that are only known, recognised, and used by most South Africans, almost on a daily basis.
Due to the variety of languages spoken in our diverse nation, locals tend to borrow words from each language resulting in slang words or phrases. Below are just a few.
Boet: friend or any male companion.
Eina: when someone experiences pain.
Aikona: to express shock or disbelief.
Eish: to express surprise or disapproval.
Howzit: a greeting equivalent to hello.
Hectic: an expression of amazement.
Jol: to have a good time.
Kiff: excellent or cool.
Now-now: a period of time that will elapse before a task, time or opportunity will present itself.
Yebo: yes.
Lekker: good, pleasant.
Ja-nee: you are right.
- The friendliest people
We have an incredibly diverse number of races and religions in our country. This multicultural mixing pot has produced some amazing people and (mostly) a wonderfully inclusive national identity. The national spirit of Ubuntu is a fantastic way to live our lives and the desire to help others and family is so strong. The South African identity is a very friendly and welcoming one, and many people say that South Africans rank very high in the friendliest department, as mentioned above.
- Amazing wildlife
I will start by mentioning the Big 5, and there are about twelve places where one may be able to spot them all together. These are the buffalo, rhino, elephant, lion, and leopard. Foreign tourists in particular often just come to our land to see these animals. However, we also have a large number of other astounding creatures. The classic sound of the call of an African fish eagle, the howling of a black -backed jackal or the awe-inspiring roar of a lion, not to mention the haunting “hoo-hoo” birdlike call of a wild dog or the laughing squeals or “whoops” of a hyena, are all a wonderful addition to any bush experience. The various antelope, zebra, wildebeest, warthogs, are also awesome to view in their natural habitat. I adore time spent in the bush, second only to my love of the beach.
Under and on the water, there is so much to see, too. The marine Big 5, whales, dolphins, sharks, seals and penguins, and a load of others too. The Slow 5, a term coined by the folk in Langebaan, are the tortoise, sand shark, whale, porcupine, and dune mole rat. Then there are the small 5, the elephant shrew, buffalo weaver, ant lion, leopard tortoise and the rhino beetle. I have been lucky enough to see the classic and marine Big 5, but very few of the small and slow 5!
Birding in South Africa is also veritable treat, a pastime me and my favourite are enjoying more and more.
- Delicious wine and bubbles
We create some of the best wines in the world, and whether you are someone who just enjoys a glass or two, or you are a sommelier, you just have to spend a few days in the Cape winelands. Loads of different wine farms in many different towns where you can taste delicious wine and bubbles, enjoy the jaw droppingly stunning scenery around you, and share loads of laughs and awesome times with friends and family. We have spent many a fantastic afternoon doing just this.
- Adventures
If you are a lover of the outdoors and adventures, South Africa offers so much. We have skydiving, bungee jumping, scuba diving, hiking, mountain climbing, surfing or hot air ballooning, to name a few. I tend to stick to the gentler of these pursuits, but enjoy them, nonetheless.
- Bustling cities and small towns
If nature is not totally your thing, we have amazing cities where the streets are bustling with life, scents, sounds, energy, and attitude. Our shopping malls rival the European ones where international brands are numerous. Restaurants, nightclubs, culture, and some stunning backdrops make for a rich experience. Cape Town is undeniably one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We also have little dorpies, small towns, filled with charm, warmth, and incredible character.
- 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
We are so lucky to have the Cape floral region with its unique beauty. Then there is Robben Island, a place of historic importance to humanity where our iconic Nelson Mandela spent eighteen years in prison. The Cradle of Humankind, which is right on our doorstep here in Johannesburg gives us a glimpse of the evolution of man over the last three and a half million years. These are just three of our eight UNESCO World heritage Sites.
- Our resilience and pragmatism
I am blessed to have a roof over my head, food on my table, a relatively secure home, a good job and am surrounded by my family and incredible friends. I realize I am the lucky one and am thankful and beyond grateful for all of this. This enables me to be resilient and pragmatic most of the time. Many South Africans are not as fortunate as I. In my small way, I give back and try to be kind as much as I can, hoping to make a small difference in the lives of those who have less than I do.
Some facts and additional thoughts from Rene Robinson, Olabisi Emenanjo, and Roseanna McBain.
I would love to hear what you love about your country!
For those of you living abroad, please come and visit!