While traveling, you may find yourself longing for the comfort of your own country, or you might wish you could set up home in the foreign country you’re visiting.
Or you could do what I chose not to do: stop yourself from thinking about the possibility of immigration.
At the end of the day, it does not matter which side of the fence you fall on; what matters is that you have broadened your view of the world, and then, perhaps, after seeing a bit of the world, you’ll have the luxury of deciding which side of the fence you’d like to live on.
I was fortunate enough to holiday for three weeks in Chicago, in the United States of America.
Visiting the mighty USA has always been on my bucket list, and boy am I happy I have crossed it off.
From the minute I boarded the plane at O R Tambo International Airport, I wondered what I would find in the land of Lincoln; whether America would exceed my expectations.
There were plenty of highlights for me.
From skiing for the very first time in Wisconsin to watching my very first ice hockey game where I paid almost R100 for a beer that tasted like bath water (don’t ask me how I know what that tastes like).
I was in awe of the skyscrapers in the city of Chicago, the clean streets, the way in which everything ran on time.
Every day presented me with a new perspective of what I experience in sunny South Africa.
Some of the comparisons made me miss home, others made me question why I always find myself being a proponent for people not to immigrate.
What really stood out for me was how safe I felt in Chicago, no matter where I went.
I walked in the city of Chicago with a camera in hand and did not at any stage feel at risk of being mugged, regardless of the time of day.
Although I have been told about how safe some countries are, it’s something you cannot comprehend unless you have seen it for yourself.
People do not live behind high walls and electric fences. In fact; there are no boundary walls.
The crime in the suburb I visited was nearly non-existent.
I stayed in a house which was never locked. It had no burglar bars and the post was not stolen off the door step, despite having been delivered hours prior.
It felt so good to not constantly have to look behind your shoulder.
One thing we as South Africans take for granted is the lovely weather we are blessed with.
You soon remember our sunny days when you’re constantly dressed like an Eskimo and feeling like you’ve stepped out of a freezer every time you walk outside.
South Africa’s weather is good for the soul and is perhaps the reason South Africans are so friendly.
Most of the Americans I encountered on my trip matched the stereotype the world has of them.
I was told by an American that “America has birds” and when I asked him where in Africa he would like to hunt, the answer came back as “just Africa”.
It seems Americans do not know that Africa is a continent, and not a country.
Perhaps they have confused Africa with Australia.
The people are also not friendly.
They appear to be focused on the task at hand and walk through life with tunnel vision.
It is a pity, because America would be far more beautiful had it been filled with friendly South African folk.
While on holiday, I constantly contemplated the idea of immigrating to the US.
For someone who always felt there was no need to explore the green grass on the other side, I came back with a different view.
Why would you not want to live in a clean, safe, beautiful country like America.
The conclusion I came to was that you could adapt to any environment in the world provided you have your family and friends with you.
If you’re without those essentials, you’ll find your heart and new home as barren as the Sahara Desert.
