Relocating from South Africa to another country is a big decision, and requires careful planning and adapting to a lot of change.

Today, I'm excited to bring you a conversation with Siobhan Erasmus, who decided to leave South Africa for Spain in 2018 after a traumatic home invasion (which is sadly a common story among South Africans today). She and her family took their time to plan the move, ensuring they wouldn't make any rushed decisions they'd later regret. Siobhan's European background gave her options, but her husband preferred a sunny place like their home in South Africa, leading them to choose Valencia. Despite their careful planning, they faced challenges, like adjusting to a new language, social isolation, and Covid delaying the move.

Her story is one of a lot of consideration over a few years, and navigating the challenges of adjusting to an entirely different lifestyle. What struck me most was Siobhan's honesty about the difficulties of building new connections and the importance of being prepared for the language barrier.

Siobhan's main motivator was ensuring a safer environment for her daughter, and although she misses some aspects of South Africa, the safety and new opportunities in Spain outweigh the negatives.

“You can't get into the culture if you don't speak the language.” - Siobhan Erasmus

00:00 Introduction

05:11 Local language is essential

10:53 Navigating foreign healthcare

16:37 Illusion of progress

17:17 Spain vs Johannesburg, South Africa

22:48 Reflecting on trauma

25:34 Choosing safety over danger

27:04 Settling down for good

This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:

https://www.zapods.com