What are we coming back to?

My wife and I are 5/6th generation South Africans.

Most of our mature life I have been in the agriculture and floriculture industry, and my wife in education.

 12 years ago we were both given the opportunity to take up careers in our individual fields in Dubai.

My wife teaching the local children English and me importing flowers from Holland, Kenya, Zimbabwe and beautiful Fynbos and other cut flowers from South Africa to market in the Gulf States.

 It was a very difficult decision abandoning our family, friends and our homeland but this has enabled us to put our 5 children through tertiary education and hopefully given them a good start in life.

 My ritual every morning here in Dubai is to read News 24 followed by Facebook.

As for News 24, it just makes me so depressed reading all the SA news!

Apart from the Load shedding and  Xenephobia  I read of murder, rape, muggings, high jacking, kidnapping and corruption.

I have such fond memories of my childhood days - 40-50 years ago having lived in all the 4 "then" provinces.

Born in Worcester walking "kaalvoet" in the "Lui water" from school and then as a young boy growing up in Bethlehem in the Free State wearing shorts in the bitter cold winters - building snow men and sailing and fishing at Loch Athlone.

 Catching a train as a young teenager from Florida to Johannesburg and then the last train of the night back again just before midnight after watching a movie. Then as a student in Natal without a car hitch hiking and trusting everyone and anyone that picked you up.

Then as a Trainee Manager on a Tea Estate in Gazankulu drinking "Chibuku" with the locals and going to sleep at night not having to lock your door.

The thrill of being in the middle of a Shad run on the Natal South Coast standing shoulder to shoulder with people of all colours - and then sharing a "bunny chow" with your fellow fisherman.

All these glorious memories!

 We plan to retire in 4-5 years time - South Africa remains my "Home" and Africa is in my blood but what are we coming back to???