From Barcelona to Cape Cod with Dian and Margaux de Wet - E13
The Relocated South African | Emigration storiesPlay episode
Show notes
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to pack up your life in South Africa and move somewhere completely different, all for the sake of a better future for your children? Or what goes through your mind when you look at your home country and start thinking about life twenty years from now?
In this episode, I spoke with Margaux and Dian de Wet, a couple originally from Johannesburg who took the big leap to Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the United States. Their story takes us all the way from Joburg to Barcelona, where Dian studied for his MBA, before finally arriving in America, where they've built a new life for themselves and their twins.
I really enjoyed talking with Margaux and Dian. My conversation with the de Wets was refreshing, and they were open about the tough decisions, sacrifices, and adjustments they had to make - the biggest one was leaving family behind, but there was also getting used to new cultures, and tackling the realities of visas and finding community in a foreign place.
Their reflections on knowing your "why" and sticking together as a couple really hit home for me, and I think their perspective will resonate with anyone considering a similar change.
“I didn't want to go and be poor in another country. That was a big thing for me.” - Dian de Wet
00:00 Introduction
04:09 Doing his MBA abroad
08:03 Creating a new future for their family
15:24 Getting used to the cold
17:53 Finding South African community in Cape Cod
23:26 US Visa challenges
30:22 Safety abroad vs South Africa
32:47 Domestic help is expensive abroad
35:34 Advice for emigrants
Resources
Join the South African Women in The USA & Canada Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1957344347867518/
This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:
https://www.zapods.com
