Eight years ago my dad got a job in Dublin, Ireland. As we followed him over there it was goodbye Sunny South Africa and hello cold rainy Dublin! It’s been a while, but I came back to Joburg in the middle of February this year and am leaving again on the 8th of April.

I came to South Africa because in my school we have a thing called a transition year. This is our fourth year of high school, a rest year after our government exams! The classes are very chilled and fun. We do dance classes, travel, do team building games, learn how to surf and so on, we still have Maths, English and Irish but they’re more relaxed! Some people choose to travel abroad, most people go to Spain and France, but because I had family here, I decided to come and spend some time with them!

While you are abroad you are supposed to do some work experience or go to school, and I decided to get some work experience and explore South Africa! These are few of my favorite things that I’ve noticed while I have been back.

While I waited for my luggage in the hugely confusing airport of Johannesburg I had, four conversations with four very cool South African people. Something that might seem very normal to someone else but I was amazed, that would never have happened in Ireland, unless you were standing next to a foreigner or a very nice old lady! It was an amazing way to start off my visit back to where my first memories were made. Just the blurry ones, but memories all the same.

The main thing I’ve noticed since being back in SA after living in Ireland for nearly eight years is how friendly everyone is. I adore shopping here. Eating out is also something that is very nice here. Someone comes and pours your drink for you, chats about your day, tells you what they like on the menu, plus, to top it all off...You get a sweet with your cheque! It’s awesome!

South Africa is a very big place I know, but, as weird as it sounds the sky is one of the biggest things I’ve ever seen! I know that doesn’t make much sense but it is a HUGE blue sky; day and night. You look up and you’re completely lost for words! Also the stars and sunsets are amazingly breathtaking! Those are the things I’ll miss the most when I’m back home. I don’t know how to explain it but everything is extraordinarily big here! The trees, the roads, the shops, everything!

This article makes me