No-one talks about Brits emigrating to Oz as having to "justify" why they left - or Poles moving to the UK or Zimbabweans and other Africans flooding into SA. I really don't feel that SA ex-pats ever do try and justify their decisions because there simply is no need. And yet, perhaps more than any other nation currently, they have a great reason to leave and establish a secure life elsewhere. This "ex-pats trying to justify themselves" is simply a construct of South Africans still sitting over there doing their best to make sense of it all.
What do you think?
2006-12-16 01:07:34 · 6 answers · asked by carokokos 3 in Travel ➔ Africa & Middle East ➔ South Africa
Gunner - it's not the ex-pats themselves (sitting round their braais or anywhere else) that feel the need for justification. It's all of you still in SA who seem to insist on it and who find comfort in telling themselves that most ex-pats realise they made a mistake and are miserable. With the exchange rates and the SA rand, most ex-pats could afford to move back if they desperately wanted to - I could. But I am very happy where I am, actively enjoy the climate and make a great living. I didn't make a mistake - I have a choice - and I choose to remain an ex pat.
2006-12-18 07:14:59 · update #1
20% (one million) of white South Africans left over the past ten years. These are all economically active people. Generally speaking this means people who potentially create more money than they consume. That's a lot of justification for somebody back home to start listening.
You're right. No need for justification. It's apparent to all, even to those who still succeed in making a living in SA.
2006-12-16 20:54:53 · answer #1 · answered by Vango 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well said.... The only time I ever inform why I left is when people still living there ask why and criticize me because I left... Only when I hear things like: "Why did you leave, you are suppose to be a proud South African." or "Do you really think moving to another country would give you better opportunities"... The people saying that should really get a grip - moving away doesn't make me a less proud South African (because I am proud of where I came from - when the country was still lekker to live in anyway)....
Cheers
2006-12-16 15:43:58 · answer #2 · answered by Rika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I couldn't have said it better. No one has to justify anything. The justification should come from those clinging to a false hope as to why they're staying in the ANC hellhole.
And being a 'Proud South African' doesn't cut it. Proud of what?
2006-12-16 02:28:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I agree. I wont justify why I left. But at the same time, I don't agree with people mocking SAfricans who are "proud" Each to their own. We need to repsect each other's beliefs.
2006-12-16 09:11:12 · answer #4 · answered by glynis18 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know what ya mean. I am an American teaching English in Japan. I sometimes get the same thing you do.
Those who make you feel like that are just arrogant. Don't let it bother you.
2006-12-16 02:09:55 · answer #5 · answered by Adam 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
canna all yer expats jes go back to africa. we don need ja here ingerland
2006-12-18 00:00:01 · answer #6 · answered by footy_fn 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋