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Through my eyes

Through my eyes

Author: Kasia Yoko
Date: 2017-01-13
The most frequently asked question when I visit my birthplace, is, "Wouldn't you like to come back and live here "

The answer is always the same resolute "No!"

Various responses are offered to me. Most people are amazed that I would choose 'Third World Africa' over 'First World Europe' but to be totally frank, my life here in this magnificent piece of paradise is complete.

While my fellow Poles are trying to conserve their body heat and keep the home fires burning, here in Africa we are so fortunate to be basking in perfect atmospheric conditions, oblivious to the everyday European hardships.

Don't get me wrong, we have our issues but nothing compares to the constant worry about getting warm and staying warm. Worrying about whether your car will start in the morning or whether it will make it up the slippery hill.

Worrying about the durability of your footwear and your headgear. Worrying about air pollution and the undrinkable water quality is something the Poles are obsessing about daily.

Life in Europe is hard. Every day you must shovel the snow from your front yard. Ensure that the walkway is de-iced and safe. Most Poles use their own central heating in their homes and most still use the wood and coal options to keep their homes warm, it is a tedious job and it never ends.

Everything is such a strain at minus 20 degrees Celsius.

And I am not even talking about the dress code. Each time you want to leave the house you must ensure that you will be warm. Any exposed body parts could suffer frostbite.

It is really hard to describe what it feels like to wear four or five layers of thermal wear underneath the all important, all weather proof Michelin man outfits. Everything requires extra efforteach task so draining.

At the higher altitudes with their low temperatures, ordinary life is just not a lot of fun. And it is written on the faces of my countrymen and womentheir life is hard and tedious with so little spare time for fun and enjoyment.

Each time we land in Johannesburg I want to kiss the ground. Grateful to be on home soil. So truly blessed to be back in a country that I love and which loves me back so unconditionally.

Yes we have issuesoh some really big ones (SAA is on top of that list for me at the moment), however we also have so much going for uswe do not have to worry about migrants, terrorists and terror attacks, nor do we have to deal with sad and miserable faces.

South Africa is the land of milk and honey and if you don't believe me, don't take my word for it, venture out and see for yourself.