South Africans are in focus this week
LIVING IN THE UAE REMINDS SOUTH AFRICAN EXPATS OF THE DIVERSITY OF THEIR HOMELAND
A round 1,00,000 expatriates in the UAE belong to the country known for its tapestry of colours. South Africa has it all — impressive sunrises, rolling mountains, and beautiful rivers. Just like their land, South Africans too are beautiful people with diverse cultural backgrounds. What keeps them together is the ritual of Lekker Kuier (visiting friends), which usually involves Braai (BBQ).
Ruth Hullat has been living in Dubai for the last eight years and she feels the best trait of South Africans is their optimism. “We look at the brighter side of life and have embraced the philosophy of ‘N boer maak ‘n plan, which means a farmer is always ready with a plan when things go pear shaped.” She misses the rain, accent (slangs), and outdoor lifestyle of South Africa. “I miss watching the Springboks, our national rugby union team, playing.” A full-time mum and a homemaker, she enjoys baking. “Especially, South African Koeksisters, milk tarts, and mint crisp puddings.” Further, she adds, “The first year was especially hard for me — adapting to the new (Friday/Saturday) weekends and blending into a multicultural community. Fortunately, now we have a large group of friends and we frequently go for picnics, get-togethers, and friendly meetings over coffee or tea — which, is one of the most common traditions in South Africa.” Her husband is also part of a small Harley Davidson club that originated in Dubai and now has a chapter in South Africa.
According to many South Africans, Dubai is where the East meets West and old meets new — and it works. Cecile de Scally, 52, started working as a midwife in 1997 and has worked in several hospitals since then. She provides independent non-medical support services (prenatal education and postnatal support) to women. “Dubai provides a safe home to all. Interestingly, the weather is similar to that in Zululand, where I grew up. Living here, we’ve all learnt a lot about the cultures of other people, as well as the challenges they face in their countries. I love to travel and am happy with my expat life, however, returning to South Africa is part of my retirement plan”.
The expats look forward to the social gatherings on important days when the South African Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate in Dubai hosts functions for them. “Every year on the occasion of Freedom Day (April 27), we organise a fun family day with activities for children, performances by South African artists, and a lavish traditional fare. It’s our way of commemorating the hard-earned freedom that we gained in 1994 and held our first democratic elections. The other special event is South Africa’s Heritage Day (September 24), which celebrates the rich and diverse cultural identities of our beautiful country,” says Geeta Daya, Political Consul, South African Consulate General Dubai.