Wow! What a journey! I’m not going to lie. I still have this feeling that I’m going to wake up and realise that I had actually been dreaming. Instead, I’m still sitting in a Home Affairs office, fast asleep because I’ve been there for hours waiting for nothing to happen. Yeah being here is weird – in the sense that I didn’t think it would EVER happen! I started making plans for if things don’t work out – but here we are!
When I was 18, I visited New Zealand and I fell in love.
I fell in love with everything about this place. I remember sitting on the plane to Sydney on my way home, just sobbing my heart out. I cried and I vowed I’d be back.
When I got home, I applied to law school but I didn’t get in. If I had, I would have moved back immediately. As life often does, it showed me that my plans are not necessarily meant to be and so my life carried on.
Never give up on your dreams
Seventeen years later, a dream I had never given up on has finally come true. Just after midnight, the plane descended and I saw the lights down below. The city that will be home. We got back to our accommodation and I had a nap while the husband entertained the toddler. At 5, I woke up and it was his turn. Oden finally went to sleep just before 8am.
So I was sitting in the lounge listening to the happiest birds singing – watching the garden as night turned to day. Being Capetonian means seeing the green grass was a little bit shocking. It took me a minute to adjust to the colour! I’m sitting here alone, trying to take in every second of this first day.
The first day of the rest of our lives.
It’s weird isn’t it. The feeling of peace that can come from a new beginning. Somehow everything feels hopeful and filled with excitement for what is to come. New Zealand certainly will not be without challenges but I’m ready to tackle those on.
Saying good-bye to our life in Cape Town, our family, our friends, our home, our “normal” was so hard.
It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Saying goodbye to my house was heart breaking. It is just a house but it’s the house my son was born in. It’s the house we started our married life in. It’s the house we grew our family in.
It was literally my dream house. It ticked ALL the boxes…and now, I’ve traded in that dream house for the dream life.
I’m so surprisingly calm right now. There is no panic. There is no stress. There are no what ifs.
It’s probably the jet lag, tomorrow I will no doubt be facing my new reality with different worries and concerns but for today, I’m just taking in this moment. For this moment right here, is perfect!
So glad you made it! South Africa misses you, sad we didn’t get to meet. Enjoy this new chapter of your life.
Thank you! South Africa will be missed and who knows, perhaps one day on a visit we will still meet <3
Jonelle, it was possible! Welcome to New Zealand ?? I’m excited to hear how everything unfolds.
Thank you so much!! I can’t believe it!
Can’t hardly believe it!
I look forward to your unfolding story.
Thank you Diana! I can’t hardly believe it myself! Thankful to wake up to the beautiful greenery though. You would be in awe of the lovely gardens and green lush areas!
Thank you for the inspiration my friend! I won’t give up until my dreams have become a reality. ?
“The feeling of peace that can come from a new beginning. Somehow everything feels hopeful and filled with excitement for what is to come.”
This is what I am working towards right now. This exact quote above is what I am striving for with my dreams.
Thank you for showing me that dreams do come true.
Enjoy your new home. ?
You deserve all the happiness in the world. ?
Don’t you give up on those dreams! If you have enough determination, it doesn’t matter how long it takes to make them come true, it just matters that you do! Thank you my friend, all the love! xoxo