Have you ever wondered what it’s like to start a new life on the other side of the world – away from family, familiar places, and the routines you’ve always known? Or questioned what really makes someone decide to move for good, especially when it means leaving behind the comfort of close connections?

In this episode, I chat with a fellow podcaster and Tukkies grad, Rudolph Botha, who swapped life in South Africa for Canberra, Australia almost 17 years ago. Rudolph’s story is one of balancing big decisions for his family’s future, finding new ways to connect with his roots, and navigating the everyday joys and challenges of being an expat.

Out of everyone I’ve spoken with so far, Rudolph and his family have been living abroad the longest. It was refreshing to hear how he’s built a happy life abroad in the long-term, while still being honest about the sacrifices and emotions that come with leaving loved ones behind. I especially enjoyed hearing about his role as a podcast co-host of ‘Magalies Potgooi’ (which I recently appeared on as a guest) and the importance of staying connected with fellow South Africans, no matter where in the world you land.

“If you can move to a place where you've got some sort of support system, that is, I think, one of the biggest advantages.” - Rudolph Botha

00:00 Introduction

04:40 Why Rudolph made the decision to leave

06:13 Life in Canberra

10:53 Fleeing the South African political situation

12:46 Advice for anyone emigrating

15:46 Phases of emigrating

18:05 Finding community at the dog park

20:33 Did he ever consider going back to South Africa?

25:01 Feeling safe in Australia

27:54 Navigating Australia’s red tape

30:10 Pros and cons of taking your furniture overseas

33:15 “Test your reasons”

35:04 No regrets

Resources

• Listen to Jan’s guest appearance on Rudolph’s podcast, ‘Magalies Potgooi’: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6mDsvKvQZOqJKCkSkiWVQv?si=b0e816da8bb540c8

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

https://www.zapods.com

Have you ever thought about selling everything and moving overseas for a fresh start? What would you do if it didn’t work out quite like you hoped?

In this episode, I chat with Lilly Quintal, who moved with her family from South Africa to Portugal after long-term financial struggles and the hope for a better future. Lilly opens up about what happened when they arrived, only to find out, months later, that they had been lied to and were faced with nothing but empty promises. What followed was months of debilitating depression, struggling to get the support they needed and having to say goodbye to the half a million rand they had spent to try and make their new life happen. It was a tough journey, and after 21 months in Portugal, Lilly and her family decided to return to South Africa.

I really appreciated Lilly’s honesty and courage in sharing the reality behind her emigration story, especially given how challenging the experience turned out to be.

It was uplifting to hear about how they eventually found a support system, made lifelong friends and reunited with family. Let Lily's story be a cautionary tale to anyone looking to immigrate: always, always do your due diligence before making the move.

“There was a lot of guilt, the fact that I'd left them behind going to Portugal for a better future and then unfortunately things just didn't work out.” - Lilly Quintal

00:00 Introduction

02:16 Deciding to leave South Africa

03:28 Empty promises

05:26 “I hit rock bottom”

06:25 Doing due diligence

09:12 Finding community in Portugal

12:55 My heart was in SA

14:50 Longing to come back home

17:52 Struggling with depression

21:04 Seeking a better future financially

23:35 Blessed to be back

24:47 Do your homework

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

https://www.zapods.com

When the safety and security of your family comes under threat, would you move over 10,000km across the world? What if that meant leaving behind all of your family and friends?

In this episode, I spoke with Lindi Dercksen, who moved from eManzimtoti, South Africa, to Australia’s Gold Coast. Lindi opened up about her family’s journey, from the early doubts and tough goodbyes to the experience of finding work and creating a new home from scratch.

After looting, loadshedding and retrenchment, Lindi and her family decided to enact their dream of moving somewhere that had a big South African community, but could offer their young children a better quality of life.

I really enjoyed hearing how she and her husband made the decision for the sake of their kids, but also for themselves, and how their lives have changed since arriving in Australia.

It was inspiring to hear her positive attitude, the resilience of her children, and the way the South African community in Australia supports each other through the ups and downs. I found our conversation relatable, especially when it comes to missing family and building a simpler, safer life.

“Kids are so resilient and they are so, so much stronger than what we think.” - Lindi Dercksen

00:00 Introduction

01:21 Reason for leaving South Africa

06:02 Speaking Afrikaans in Australia

07:22 Missing family back home

08:52 Finances and finding a job

10:22 The day we left

12:59 There’s no turning back

13:57 Australia’s South African community

15:47 How similar is the lifestyle?

20:16 Do people question your decision?

22:37 Would you have done anything differently?

23:48 Advice for immigrating

26:06 Missing South Africa and appreciating Australia

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

https://www.zapods.com

What makes a young South African couple decide to move to a country they've never even visited? And, after nearly a decade abroad, what makes them choose to return home?

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Hester and Johan Pieterse, who originally left Cape Town in 2016 for Ireland. They didn’t know anyone there, and hadn’t even visited Ireland before making the jump – talk about taking a leap of faith! Over the next nine years, they built careers, started a family, and eventually became Irish citizens. But as you’ll hear, the pull of family and sunshine drew them back to South Africa.

Unlike most of the conversations I've had with other South Africa emigrants, Hester and Johan never planned on relocating permanently. My wife and my plan had always been to make the move for good, so it was refreshing to talk to people with a completely different experience of relocating.

“You can go and come back. You’ve got nothing to lose” - Hester Pieterse

00:00 Introduction

04:36 Visiting South Africa

06:55 Cost of living in Cape Town

12:31 Getting Irish citizenship

18:27 Would you have done anything differently?

19:46 Underestimating the red tape

20:46 Considering safety in South Africa

23:50 The decision to return to South Africa

26:07 Do you have any local friends considering emigrating?

27:18 Shielded from local politics

28:48 Advice for relocating with kids

31:41 Things we miss about Ireland

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

https://www.zapods.com

Have you ever wondered if moving overseas could really give your children a better future? Or what it’s actually like to leave South Africa behind and start fresh in a new country with your whole family?

Today I speak to Rogerio Vieira, who made the decision to relocate with his wife and five children from South Africa to Lagos, Portugal - the same place my wife and I have relocated to! Rogerio shares what it was like to adjust to life here in Lagos, why they felt it was the right move for their kids, and what challenges they’ve faced along the way — especially when it comes to fitting into a new schooling system and learning a new language.

As someone who’s gone through their relocation experience, it was great to chat with Rogerio and hear his honest perspective. I really enjoyed hearing about his family’s journey, the ups and downs, and his advice for anyone considering making the same move. I think you’ll find his story both relatable and helpful if you’re thinking about your own future abroad.

“The younger they are, I think they pick it up quite easily. Us older people, it's a bit more difficult. It's not an easy language.” - Rogerio Vieira

00:00 Introduction

04:21 Rogerio’s father’s immigration story

06:29 Living in Lagos

11:04 The possibility of returning to South Africa

13:18 Don’t make the same mistake we did!

14:55 Getting his wife’s Portuguese passport

18:49 His advice for those leaving SA today

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

https://www.zapods.com

Have you ever looked back on a big decision, and realised that you did the right thing, even after all this time?

In this episode, I spoke with Wade Loehmer, who moved to Dubai with his wife when she was six months pregnant. Three kids later, and Wade and his family are celebrating ten years in this vibrant city. Initially sparked by a work opportunity and familial ties to the United Arab Emirates, he took a chance and hasn’t looked back.

We spoke about what it’s like to live in a place that’s so different from virtually anywhere else in the world. Hearing about the adventures and adjustments that come with raising three children in a foreign land was both insightful and heartening. The challenges were certainly there, but so were the opportunities, and Wade shared some solid advice for those considering a similar path.

Join me as we journey through his story together, and perhaps you’ll be encouraged to take a similar (big) step!

“We all know we have to leave at some point and I think that's the difficulty in the UAE … everyone has to leave [because] there's no real retirement facilities available to an expat.” - Wade Loehmer

00:00 Introduction

04:04 Building a South African construction company

06:52 Following investment and rental trends

10:55 Challenges of emigrating

13:43 Longing for South Africa

19:00 Safe community for expats

20:54 Cycling and running

23:41 Hope for change in South Africa

27:57 Starting small in financial management

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

https://www.zapods.com

All parents want their children to grow up somewhere they can be happy, healthy and thrive – but what if that meant packing up and leaving everything you'd ever known behind?

In today's episode, I spoke with father, husband and founder of the travel app Oorsee, Steven Phyffer, who made the ultimate sacrifice for his family when he decided they needed to leave South Africa.

We'll explore Steven's fascinating journey from South Africa to the UK and eventually to Australia. He and his wife made this move with their young family, seeking not only new adventures but a place where their children could live their best lives. What strikes me most about Steven's story is his dedication to building a sense of community for South Africans abroad, through his app and online presence.

You'll no doubt be inspired, as Steven shares both the struggles and joys of emigration, the importance of creating your own community abroad and advice for anyone thinking about moving overseas.

His warmth and enthusiasm for connecting with others are truly heartwarming, and I know you'll find as much value in his story as I did.

“I decided that I want to build this app that's going to help bring South Africans together. A social media app, but without all the distractions in it.” - Steven Phyffer

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Starting Oorsee and emigrating

08:17 Navigating emigration costs

12:59 Celebrating South African culture

17:19 My advice on saving

21:11 Buying a bakkie

25:01 Finding a common thread

28:01 Opportunities abroad

Resources

• Check out the Oorsee app: https://oorsee.com/
• Watch Steven’s interviews on the Oorsee YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Oorsee-app
• Join Steven’s Facebook group “South Africans currently LIVING abroad”: https://www.facebook.com/groups/salivingabroad/

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

https://www.zapods.com

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