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March, 2012

  1. Taryn takes on Hong Kong: 20 things I’m going to miss about SA

    March 25, 2012 by Taryn Tibble

    So now that the decision is made, and I’m waiting for visa paperwork, let’s talk about the things in SA I’m going to miss! South Africa is truly an amazing country, and probably the most amazing country in the world. I was very fortunate to have come to this realisation at a very young age, and I doubt I’ll ever leave South Africa permanently. My blood will always be green and gold, and I will always be a Pretoria meisie at heart!

    1. Pretoria – I love this city. I’ve only lived here for 2 years but I’ve had both the best and worst experiences here. I wish I’d moved here sooner, because I’ve always been a Pretoria girl at heart. Nowhere else can you drink a double Klippies and Cola for R20, and nowhere else is there such a mix of people, and yeah, okay, nowhere else are there as many Blue Bulls fans. I’m even going to miss them!
    2. My Mom & Dad – my parents have been my rock for nearly 25 years. They’re amazing. I’d be nothing without them. I hope to bring them out to visit as soon as I can.
    3. My brother & sister – I’ve only really had a relationship with them for the last couple years. For those of you who don’t know, they’re kids from my Dad’s first marriage, but they’re as close to me (and I to them) as siblings who grew up together.
    4. My baby sister, @mymanic_and_i (god, I wish you’d change that handle!) – I think I may kill her before the year is out for all the crap she’s getting up to in Grahamstown, but I love the kid to pieces, and she is definitely going to have to come visit me in Hong Kong!
    5. Pretoria’s music scene – there is nothing like being able to drive 10min down the road on most nights of the week, to be able to see a gig. It may not always be a huge act, but you’d be surprised the gems you discover The boys from @VanSmithBand for instance, blew my mind at Grafters Tavern a couple weeks ago. I didn’t know they exist, but I had such a good time listening to them, or @ChristiaanKrit (please check out his awesome new Video while you’re wondering who he is.
    6. @TuksFM1072 – I’m not entirely sure this one counts. I will be blessed in Hong Kong with city-wide Wifi for something ridiculous like R40/month, so I can listen to TuksFM whenever I want! (I should try convince them to change “Breakfast in Japan” to “Breakfast in Hong Kong” just for me :P )
    7. Braaivleis en Branewyn – I admit that the whole braaing thing was wasted on me, until recently. I haven’t (again, until recently)  eaten a steak in 10 years, but once I made the decision to move, I realised that I’m going to struggle to find a good steak in Hong Kong, and climbed right in! I’m not the biggest Brandy drinker, I think in this instance, it’s just a case of our culture. Give me a Jack Daniels before you give me Klippies, thanks!
    8. Kruger National Park – I’m a real bush-baby! I love how we can just drive a few minutes or a few hours and be out, in the bush, in nature. Nothing else beats that!
    9. Afrikaans – “Praat afrikaans of hou jou bek”
    10. The random stuff we say – South Africans have the most awesome way of speaking! I can’t wait to see the first look of “HUH?” when I say “now now” to someone! Check out Shit South Africans say via @RWRant if you don’t believe me
    11. Condense milk tart, cremora tart, koeksisters – Saffas make the best desserts and the best sweets! I love our local noms!
    12. SA Wine – that aussie stuff is okay, but it’s not as good as ours!
    13. On that note – SA Beer! Nobody else in the world makes decent beer!
    14. Our pub culture – sure, Hong Kong has Brits, Aussies and Kiwis, and they’re all big fans of pubs, but nothing beats a South African pub! Why? Because I say so!
    15. Amazing friends  – specifically @whisperdscream, @tyronlsa, , @hennokruger , @baasdebeer , @swhams , @kierryng , and @justinleephotos. These tweeps have kept me going, kept me entertained, seen me drunk, seen me laugh (because they make me laugh), and listened to me rant, and whine! I love these guys to bits, and plan on shipping every single one of them out to visit me at one stage or another.
    16. Open spaces – you think Joburg is busy? HA! We have more open space, and breathing space (as well as breathable air) than any of you can even begin to imagine! Best you be grateful!
    17. Cheap cigarettes – a packet of Malboros is around R50 a packet. Guess I’m quitting.
    18. Arguing about sports – I’m not sure I’m going to be able to argue with the Aussies about sports, I might kill them. I’d rather take on a Bulls supporter than a bloody Wallaby anyday.
    19. Our amazing tourism sector – as excited as I am to travel the Far East, our country still has some of the most amazing sights to see, and it’s reasonably cheap and accessible.
    20. SA Weather – Hong Kong is very much a maritime climate, with 80% humidity, and it never gets colder than about 15 during winter. That makes proper winter clothes mildly pointless! SA has gorgeous summers, mild winters (but not so mild that you may as well chuck out your boots) and it is just generally the most comfortable place to live!

     

    All of that being said, I am looking forward to the move, I really am, and I hope to see you all in Hong Kong!

    Much love kids!

     

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  2. Taryn takes on Hong Kong: The Decision

    March 20, 2012 by Taryn Tibble

    I’ve just realised that I haven’t taken a moment to blog about my Hong Kong adventure. I haven’t even taken off (or got my visa) but it’s already an adventure.

    Everyone who hears the news asks “Why Hong Kong?” and to be honest I do not know. I guess it came down to visas in the end, and where Flight Centre allowed me to move to. Oddly, it used to be a joke between a friend and I, and I often threw my hands in the air, and said “fuck this, I’m buggering off to Hong Kong” and while I was in Cape Town, I decided to go through with it.

    I don’t know what made me decide to go through with it. I don’t know if it was just general frustration with life in SA, or in Pretoria, or my gypsy tendencies, or the desire to run away from someone who kept breaking my heart. I genuinely don’t know, but I’m glad I made the decision to do it. I don’t regret it for a second. Yes, I’m going to miss 5 of the most amazing friends I’ve ever had, who I love to the ends of the earth, but they’ll be there whether I’m in the next suburb or two continents over. Yes, I’m going to miss my folks, but there is Skype for a reason, and they’ll be able to call me whenever they want, or text and email (I’m going to have to get my mom an email account and a Smartphone!)

    My friends have been the rock in my little ocean of terror the last couple weeks. They were there when I made the decision, there for me when I had my interviews and even there when I got the email with an offer of employment. My friends are also the only people on earth who could convince me to stay (not that they would). They’ve been amazing, and I love them dearly! I can’t begin to thank them enough, and it’s a kindness I will forever be grateful for. Tyron, HK, Princess, Baas and Tam, if you’re reading this, you guys have been amazing, and I love you to pieces.

    “What about that guy you mentioned?” you ask? Well, let’s face it. I can’t base decisions on a maybe. He could ask me to stay, and part of me wishes he would, just so that I can know he truly cares, but I know he won’t risk the rejection. I love him, I do, but love isn’t enough. Love isn’t stability, or commitment, or anything that I would need to stay in SA. Maybe one day, maybe, but today, it’s not meant to be.

    Am I running away? No. I’m not running away. I LOVE my life in SA, I love Pretoria. I love my job. I’m genuinely happy with life as it is right now. This isn’t running from, but running to. I spent 5 years with Kobus, and I wasted SO many opportunities to live and work overseas because I thought he was the One. I’m 24, I have no commitments, and right now, I feel that if I don’t do this, I’m going to regret it. I often say “Rather regret the things you’ve done, than the things you haven’t.

    So where to from here? I’m busy waiting for my visa paperwork to be processed, and hopefully I can fly out in a couple weeks – flights are reserved for the 26th of April and my going away pencilled in for the the 20th of April. I’ve taken leave from the 20th to the 30th. Here’s holding thumbs that my visa is sorted out quickly!

    Alright peeps, lots of love, and hopefully I can update you on my Hong Kong adventure soon!

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