There’s a general complaint amongst parents in the United States that kids are growing up too fast—that they lose their childish wonderment too early. If you want your kid to be a kid, raise him in South Africa. In South Africa, kids go to school barefoot, they’re encouraged to go outside during breaks, and they’re not overwhelmed with as much homework as students in America are. They’re allowed to play and be carefree.
If you live in a city in the United States, you probably feel like there hasn’t been a moment where you weren’t in a rush. In South Africa, nobody is in a rush. And nobody expects you to be. People do things when it’s convenient, and at a relaxing pace, rather than forcing a dozen activities into one day. You might at first be annoyed that someone takes three days to do paperwork you send them, but you’ll appreciate it when you realize it’s okay if you take three days to fill out paperwork.
South Africa has many of the same modern amenities that American cities do, like chain restaurants, movie theaters and more. Many compare South African cities to European cities as well.
Barbecuing is a very American tradition, but it’s also a South African one! And some might say South Africans are better at throwing a barbecue — or what they call a “braai.” You’ll understand when you’ve tried boerewors. That’s a South African sausage which is a mixture of beef, lamb, pork and heavenly spices.
One American dollar trades for around 11 South African Rand, making luxury living rather affordable for an American in South Africa. Plus, you can use your Visa and MasterCard throughout South Africa. You can even use your American card in the ATMs there.
It’s easy to feel more alone than ever in some American metropolises, but in places like Johannesburg and Cape Town, everyone is extremely welcoming. There is generally a sense of community and people jump in to offer help when you need it.
The country has 11 official languages, and English is one of them. Most anyone you stop on the street, or speak to in a business, will know English.
Okay, so the zoo isn’t technically free but the zoo is almost everywhere! There are self-drive safaris at almost all the national parks, and you’re near the gorgeous Victoria Falls, never far from a Big Five spotting ground. Generally, you’re always close to incredible places to spot wild life. Unlike in the United States, where seeing wildlife usually includes a $30 parking fee, a tram uphill to a far away, fenced off park — and long lines to see one tired monkey. You’ll often find rare wildlife in your backyard in South Africa.
Most parts of South Africa are said to have perfect weather 10 months out of the year. The days are warm, but not humid, and cool down at night so you don’t need AC when you sleep. So you can spend some of that money you would have spent on your energy bills on more boerowers.
South Africa is becoming easier to get to and from. More airlines than ever are offering direct, affordable flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town. You can get from the U.S. to South Africa in about 15 hours today, when it used to take up to 30 hours with flight changes. So you can get back to the U.S. quickly if you need to.
