The Relocated South African

• After 20 plus years in the UK the family is heading back to SA with Wolf Dette – E33

  Imagine moving to the UK and building a successful life and career but after more than 20 years deciding to go back to South Africa. In this episode, I chat to Wolf Dette, the owner of Wolfies Bar in London, who shares his journey from South Africa to the UK and back. Wolf discusses his early life, ambitions in finance and the challenges of running a business during COVID. He talks about the family’s decision to return to South Africa for family and community support. He also explores the world of NFT's and crypto investments, reflecting on the importance of resilience and cultural identity. I really enjoyed Wolf’s entrepreneurial spirit and his drive to provide what is best for his son’s health challenges. Wolf Dette: "the amount of growing up that you do when you go overseas and there is no one to help you. No parents no friends ..” Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Journey01:20 Early Life and Ambitions04:29 Transition to the UK and Career Development05:47 The Birth of little Wolf08:21 A big UK tax bill09:33 First Bitcoin purchase16:30 Success in the UK21:23 Community and Support Systems23:20 Reflections on Safety and Crime25:20 Cultural Identity and Resilience28:00 Healthcare and Family Considerations32:33 Crime in the UK39:00 Things change when you emigrate and grow up Find your digital home with fellow Relocated South Africans around the world. Visit https://therelocatedsouthafrican.com and connect with Jan at [email protected]

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• Leaving behind everything that you know for a better future for your children with Hettie Meyer-E32

  Have you ever thought about the challenges of selling everything to be ready to emigrate and then Covid arrived?In this episode, I speak to Hettie Meyer who relocated to Wellsford, New Zealand from the East Rand in South Africa. We talk about the family’s  journey from South Africa, the challenges of moving, and the differences in lifestyle, culture, and healthcare in New Zealand.I really enjoyed hearing about Hettie’s experiences with moving, childcare and the importance of maintaining connections with loved ones back home. For me the conversation highlights the emotional aspects of emigration, the adjustments required, and the freedom and safety that come with living in New Zealand.If emigration is on your horison you will find Hettie’s advice very useful."Don't bring your furniture."-Hettie MeyerChapters00:00 Introduction to the Journey02:46 Life in Wellsford, New Zealand05:45 The Decision to Move08:48 Challenges of Relocation11:51 Family and Childcare in New Zealand14:46 Cultural Differences and Community17:30 Healthcare and Safety20:32 Maintaining Family Connections23:33 Reflections on South Africa26:34 Food and Lifestyle Differences29:08 Advice for Potential emigrantsFind your digital home with fellow Relocated South Africans around the world. Visit https://therelocatedsouthafrican.com and connect with Jan at [email protected]

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• The emotional journey of a mother with two adult children overseas with René Koekemoer-E31

  Do we sometimes neglect the feelings of parents who stay behind when their children decide to emigrate. In this conversation, I speak with Rene Koekemoer, a South African mother who has two daughters who live abroad. We discuss the emotional journey of being a parent left behind, the sacrifices made by both parents and children, and the impact of distance on family dynamics. Rene shares her experiences of coping with separation, the importance of support systems, and the unconditional love that drives parents to want the best fortheir children, even when it means living far apart. The discussion with Rene left me with a clear understanding of the emotional rollercoaster of a parent with children abroad. Her journey clearly reflects the emotional complexities of being a parent left behind. Parents often suppress their emotions to remain strong for their children. Support systems for parents left behind are non-existent.  “I will never judge them."- René Koekemoer  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Journey of Immigration02:44 Life as a Parent Left Behind05:51 Navigating Emotions of Separation08:47 Understanding the Decision to Leave11:54 The Impact of Distance on Family Dynamics14:47 The Loss of Family Connections17:32 Coping with the Emotions of Departure20:38 The Role of Support Systems23:23 Finding Positivity in Separation26:34 Advice for Parents of Immigrants29:27 The Unconditional Love ofParents Find your digital home with fellow Relocated South Africans around the world. Visit https://therelocatedsouthafrican.com and connect with Jan at [email protected]

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• Navigating Family, Illness And Identity Abroad with Ruth Prinsloo - E30

  Have you ever wondered what it’s like to face major life challenges far away from the familiar comforts of home and family? Or how it feels to build a new identity and raise a family abroad, without the built-in support systems so many of us take for granted?In this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Ruth Prinsloo, whose story takes us from her childhood in Boksburg, to a life spread across continents. Ruth has not only navigated the practical and emotional realities of relocating -moving through France, Japan, and now the Netherlands - but has also beat cancer, rebuilt her sense of self, and raised a family in a foreign land, all while being far from her closest relatives.Interviewing Ruth left a deep impression on me. She speaks with such honesty about the difficulties of coping with illness when your family is thousands of kilometres away, the challenge of forming your own identity in a new country, and the bittersweet emotions involved in seeing your children create their own connections with South Africa from afar.If you’re interested in the real, sometimes raw experience of carving out a life abroad - especially when it comes to family, health, and finding your place in the world - you won’t want to miss Ruth’s moving and insightful story.“To be able to let go of my idea of how I thought it would work out and just simply take it as it comes.” - Ruth Prinsloo00:00 Introduction05:21 An out-of-the-blue opportunity in Japan09:15 How she ended up in Amsterdam11:20 Her journey with cancer14:00 Crafting as part of recovery16:35 Pursuing bronze sculpting21:04 Meeting a renowned sculptor26:43 Playing rugby in Holland31:40 SA vs European perspective35:06 Coping with fear and trauma40:38 Looking forward, not backwards44:53 She experienced a medical miracleResourcesJoin ‘South Africans currently LIVING abroad’ on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/salivingabroad/Find your digital home with fellow Relocated South Africans around the world. Visit https://therelocatedsouthafrican.com and connect with Jan at [email protected] podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:https://www.zapods.com

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• Escaping Censorship in SA with Johan Allers - E29

  Have you ever felt that your voice was being stifled, or wondered what it would be like to leave everything behind just so you could tell the truth? What would drive a journalist to walk away from their homeland - not out of adventure, but because they could no longer breathe under the weight of censorship?In this episode, I have the privilege of speaking with Johan Allers, a man whose work on local television and radio was a familiar part of my own childhood. Johan’s career saw him reporting on some of the most important and difficult moments in our country’s history, but it was the growing pressure to toe the official line - and the inability to report freely and honestly - that eventually pushed him to leave South Africa.Interviewing Johan was a powerful reminder of just how personal the choice to relocate can be. For Johan, it wasn’t just about career ambition or curiosity about life overseas; it was fundamentally about integrity, and the need to tell real stories without interference and fear. His reflections on those final years in South Africa, the moments when he realised he could not be the kind of journalist he aspired to be, really struck a chord with me.Whether you’re thinking about moving abroad, facing similar professional crossroads, or simply interested in the stories behind South Africa’s media past, I hope you’ll find Johan’s journey as compelling and honest as I did.“I actually became for the first time, truly confronted with the realities of South Africa as it was seen [through] the eyes of the Europeans at that time.” - Johan Allers00:00 Introduction05:14 Award-winning producer09:16 Early career ambitions11:50 Being a journalist during apartheid14:24 Media manipulation in South Africa20:15 Connections to the liberation movement22:25 Meeting Kofi Annan25:14 Chance encounter with Muhammad Ali30:19 Moving to Amsterdam33:26 Travelling Europe for TV38:10 His views on the Afrikaans refugees in the U.S41:46 Longing for home44:04 The essence of SAResourcesWatch Johan’s YouTube videos, ‘AllesAfrikaans (Beyond the Borders)’: https://www.youtube.com/@JohanAllersTune in to Johan’s weekly show, ‘Pareltjes uit Amsterdam’ on Litnet: https://www.litnet.co.za/author/johan-allersFind your digital home with fellow Relocated South Africans around the world. Visit https://therelocatedsouthafrican.com and connect with Jan at [email protected] podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:https://www.zapods.com

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