Lost opportunities

BOTH my parents are European (of different nationalities) and my brother is North American. I am the only one who is African.

I am a qualified teacher, speak three languages, have first aid, a computer diploma, have taught overseas… and can’t find a job. I know I am nothing exceptional but I hope I contribute more to society than I take from it.

I am 42. So I am over the heady 20s (though I never did the party, drinking and going out thing as my parents were very strict) but too young (I hope) to be called geriatric yet.

I saw a perfect job as an au pair (8am to 6pm daily and every second Saturday) for R24 000 a month for a Constantia family. The only problem? Age limit was 35.

So what do I do? Contrary to what is said, there are not hundreds of teaching jobs open (nepotism at play, long story).

My only other option is to take the luxury afforded to me by the virtue of being born to parents from Europe and leave the country of my birth to settle there, countries which I know like my own, languages I know, customs, ways of living, etc. But my heart belongs to South Africa.

I am going for an interview to teach conversational French to a toddler in Camps Bay a few times a week. Nowhere near enough to keep my beloved cats in the luxury to which they are accustomed (I am happy to make do with very little), but it is a start.

So, what is a South African who loves her city, her people, her community, her country, to do?

I must make difficult decisions in the next few months.

At my (old!) age, I cannot keep depending on my family to finance the ever increasing cost of living in Cape Town.

At least overseas I can complete my Master’s and doctorate and go back to what I love the most: teaching.

In the meantime, I will keep doing what I can for my people. I have food, rain ponchos, socks, takkies and other things for homeless people now as winter approaches.

Also I hope the heavens open and the rains bring forth our beloved Western leopard toads again!