Being Patriotic

For the first time ever foreigners living abroad were able to cast their South African vote to elect our next democratic president. This was a special occassion in our calendar which brought to light a much greater point - How to stay South African while you live abroad.



I think it's safe to say that we are more patriotic now that we live in China than we every were in SA. Many of you will say that is because we don't live with the constant fear of crime that grips citizens of our homeland, and to a certain degree they would be right. But unlike many who left SA because of what they didn't like about home, we came to China because of what we LIKED about it.



Every day here in Beijing we get to be ambassadors of our country - and on occassions like the election, the World Cup rugby, the SADC Gala dinner we just attended, or the PotjieKos competition we just entered and won - we get the opportunity to remain truly and proudly South African all the time. We have the luxury of meeting fellow South Africans and not judging them by their race or economic status and all that divides us, but rather revelling in our commonality and rejoicing together in memories of home. We go to South African sponsored events and experience the true joy of being South African...here in Beijing the hoot of a Vuvuzela is met with a resounding "YAY!" and not by annoyance and disgust.



Perhaps one only really gets to appreciate all that makes you South African when you leave, when you miss it and engage people and the world on a new level. I highly recommend every South African try it. Be patriotic in a foreign land and fall in love with your country again.