It is almost 3 years since our family of 5 left South Africa, 2 suitcases each, and hearts full of courage, nerves and sadness. Our kids were 8, 13, and 15 — old enough to have roots, young enough to still believe in adventure.
My husband was offered an opportunity to start the U.S. arm of a South African company in the U.S.. We sold everything — house, cars, furniture, all the “stuff” — and said goodbye to a life we loved, all for the chance to build something new.
We picked Ponte Vedra, Florida because we knew a few familiar faces had settled there before us. We figured that a familiar braai invite or a shared accent might make the leap feel a little less like free-falling.
And leap we did…
Leaving behind family, friends, and a country we love deeply was one of the hardest things we’ve ever done — but also the most rewarding.
Because starting over isn’t just scary. It’s also sacred.
We’re still standing. We’re still smiling. And we’ve got stories to tell.
