I am still here…
by Shane on 11/04/08 at 12:42 pm
7 comments
So why am I choosing to stay in South Africa again?
I often have to take my mind through a little ritual to get my thinking right…
I have to read through Fred’s 12 Reasons on why it’s great to be a South African, eat a bag of Nik Naks, down a spoon of Mrs. Ball’s Chutney and dip a couple of Ouma Rusks to be reminded of the reasons why.
It’s really hard when you get news that close family and friends are packing up and leaving for one of the Big 3 (UK, Australia & New Zealand). How many people do you know that have announced their departure this year? Families are meant to stick together, so the idea of being strewn across the globe can be a little disconcerting. On the bright side, it means that we have holiday accommodation world wide, but seriously the idea of having to travel 36 hours to see your sister or your grandchildren is rather sad.
So why am I still here?
Beyond the fact that I don’t have a foreign passport and neither of my grandparents were born in the UK, and I won’t ever crack the nod for an Ancestral Visa, there are some other reasons why I do choose to stay (I won’t bore you with the usual sentiments – we’ve read plenty of those):
1. I believe that SA is where I and my family are meant to be right now. It’s a gut feel and my faith plays a big part in this.
2. SA is an entrepreneurial hunting ground. There are truly so many ways to make decent cash in this country. You just have to rid yourself of traditional, institutionalised, ‘first world’ thinking and give it a good crack. Remember if you can make it happen in Africa, you can make it happen anywhere. Look around you, it’s hard not to notice all the ‘gaps’ in the market – they are yours to take.
3. I want my children to grow up in an environment where it’s hard. A place where they have to pull finger to survive – a place where they are forced to think differently about things, where they have to be creative and smart to get by. I want them to value the small things, the little, to not be able to have everything they ask for (when they want it) and to work hard for the things that they are passionate about. I believe that this is an important part of learning and growing as children. I want them to think like entrepreneurs. I want them to learn to fight fear, to not be crippled by it, or run away from it, but to learn the art of overcoming it. I believe if they can do these things they will be able to survive and live well in any context.
4. I want to be around to witness the moments when our dear country gets it right. I want be here to witness a successful 2010 and have an official moment to laugh in the face of the critics. I want to be here to see crime combated and in the same breath i want to see the price of broadband radically reduced. I want to be here to experience the very last frigging loadshed, and celebrate it with a glass of champagne in the very last dark. I want to be here to see our president stand up and lead with boldness, shaking his fist at crime and getting real pissed off! I want to be here to see the ‘Brains’ who have left return, those who have cried, laughed and those who have lost hope, hope again.
(I was about to stand up and launch into a speech – but no one was around to listen!)
Peace out! A groovy weekend to you fellow South Africans.
Shane Dryden is the 'Maven' at Ideate. The driving-force of Yuppiechef, Shane loves to write on advertising and innovation. He spots the non-obvious stuff behind the obvious, which seems obvious, but isn’t really that obvious (obviously). View more articles by Shane.
Nic
Apr 11th, 2008
Fantastic post. I like the fact that you stayed away from the cliches.
I particularly agree with your children growing up where it’s hard. I have shared your sentiment on that one for a while and believe that we are overcoming things that will make us great (in the grand sense of the word).
Impressive end to a week and a great read to kick off my weekend!!
Shelldon
Apr 11th, 2008
I got to disagree here.
1. It’s a gut feeling and no one can really disagree with your gut.
2. Almost any country out there has the same entrepreneurial spirit, South Africa is not unique in this area. Although there are other countries that actually make it easier to start a business than South Africa.
3. Seriously!? Hard is one thing, but in a country where violent crime has become a way of life? Where jobs are awarded not by skill or ability, but by colour? Where ceo’s are rewarded regardless of how crappy their performance is (and that goes for staff in general)?
4. Are you sure this country will ‘get it right’? I’m all for positive thinking, but the reality we face everyday suggests otherwise.
Before I get flamed here, I intend on staying in SA and riding this train to the very end, although I would be lying if I didn’t say I have got a foreign passport in hand for in case!
Shane
Apr 12th, 2008
Hi Shelldon – thanks for your honesty – I agree with a lot of what you have said. We have to all go with our own convictions, at the end of the day that is where it is at. My list of 4 is how I feel at the moment – those feelings will probably be challenged again at some stage and I will have to process things again. But as a husband and father I need to walk with conviction and own my own point of view.
Mokokoma
Apr 12th, 2008
I’m for point number 3, hardship can sure be great teacher to do it for yourself, be forced to think different and to know what you’ll be in for if you don’t take care of your financial wellbeing!
@Shelldon: I think heaven is the only place where you wouldn’t feel the need to have your passport ready!
Standup and fight for what you believe or wish for… the only fruits you should reap is those of your own labour.
I’m black and some of this ‘get-hired-cos-you-darker’ jobs actually are killing some blacks… they think their skin colour is their investment rather than spending more time in sharpening their skills!
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Marc Ashton
Apr 16th, 2008
Top quality post. Need more people with the same enthusiasm.
Its all about perspective.
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