Written for SA2Eire by a Member
On the 23rd of September 2019, my mom and I started our new life-changing journey from South Africa to Ireland, to join my Dad who had moved the previous month. Albeit very exciting, it was far more daunting and a rollercoaster of emotions. Having to say goodbye to everything I knew and loved, and everything my parents had worked so hard to give me. (I only ever stayed in one home since I was born, so leaving that house was a very hard experience for me.)
In the first few weeks the hardest challenge was getting used to the cold winter, but I’ve learned that if you have one warm winter jacket, coupled with fluffy socks, a beanie, a scarf and gloves, then I think you are good to go.
I started school around two weeks after I had arrived in Ireland and this by far was the scariest and most difficult experience to get used to. It was difficult as I found the Irish youth has a very different view, culture and the way they seemed to have been brought up. This was something I had to take in and grasp very quickly because if you don’t, you will get chewed up and swallowed.
Not only did I have to get used to these new ways, I had to start learning to understand all the different accents. Irrespective of SA’s rainbow nation and its different accents and cultures, it was very difficult to understand every single person, and I still struggle with that today.
To any child moving to Ireland and going to school, I highly encourage your confidence levels to really step up and always remember your home-grown values and morals that were instilled within you, because this, I believe, has set me apart with the teachers in the school. I have made sure that I have the same respect I was brought up having, with my peers, teachers and adults. I believe that this personally bodes well for me, as I have gained mutual respect with those around me.
Bullying was a very big and difficult aspect for me, which I really had to step up and not let get the better of me. But honestly speaking, it was the worst few months I have ever endured in my entire schooling career thus far. Having said that, I had to learn to bring my confidence through and fake it till I made it, and not let those individuals get the better of me.
I would like to highlight at this point that in SA I was a high academic achiever, a high sports achiever, as well as a prefect, and received colours and full colours for many aspects regarding this. All of the confidence that had been built up during that time took a major blow and I had to work hard every day to get it back. I noticed that as long as I stayed true to myself, and did not get influenced by the scary things around me, I became happier and less worried about the what ifs.
It’s been over a year now and I’ve started to find my feet.
I am not, and will not allow anything menial to have an effect on my life!
Hello lockdown!
This in itself has been a whole new and irritating challenge to say the least. I am not someone who likes being trapped within four walls, and I like adventures, and not being able to experience the part of my new country that I so looked forward to really bothered me.
I know this is a worldwide pandemic, but it has affected me in trying to settle into my new home.
Even though this has been a rough few months, lockdown brought some positives.
I made new friends that I treasure dearly, my Dad got a way better job that he seems to enjoy so much, and my Mom has made friends that make her feel incredibly loved when she has her rough days.
We got to go on many beach days, just Mom, Holly (my dog) and me, and on the days my Dad didn’t work he joined. I live in a town with a lake that during summer my friends and I would go swimming in. Despite what people may say about the summer, it is surprisingly very hot.
All in all, I wouldn’t change moving to Ireland for a single thing (maybe the weather!) but all jokes aside, I have more freedom, and I don’t have to worry about anything happening to me or my parents. I definitely miss my friends and family back home, but we will see them soon and FaceTime is a godsend.
So if you are thinking of moving to Ireland, having difficulties adjusting, or are just having doubts, I am always a WhatsApp away. I hope you see that there are truly some amazing parts of Ireland, and it is a safer place with many opportunities for you and your family.
