Life After the Leap

08/27/2026

I’m putting together a FREE guide about all the everyday things we had to figure out after moving to America — the stuff nobody really prepares you for when you’re starting over.

Not the big immigration stuff. I mean the little things.

Things like figuring out how the school system works, getting a driver’s license, understanding bills, grocery shopping, banking, finding a doctor, renting a home, getting a phone plan… even the things that seem so simple once you know how they work.

We’ve learned so much in the last few months, mostly by asking questions, making mistakes, and figuring it out as we go.

So I’d love to hear from you:

If you were moving to America, or you’ve already moved here, what everyday thing would you want someone to explain to you?

Drop your questions or ideas in the comments. I’m going to use them to build the guide so it covers the things people actually need to know — not just the obvious stuff.

08/16/2026

We can finally share our good news…

Our financing application was approved, and we traded our old Chevy for a new Ford!

For us, this is about so much more than just getting a different car.

Five months ago, we arrived in the US with 8 bags and started completely from scratch.

Today, we have stable jobs, we’re renting a family home, and now we have a reliable vehicle that we can count on.

And probably one of the biggest parts for us is that financing this vehicle means we’re officially starting to build our credit here in the US.

With winter approaching and my daily drive to Idaho, having something reliable is incredibly important. The old Chevy got us through our first few months and served us well, but it was time for something we could depend on.

Five months.

8 bags.

And so much has changed.

We’re still figuring things out, and we still have a long way to go, but looking at what we’ve managed to accomplish in just five months…

We are incredibly proud of ourselves.

Another milestone reached. Another little piece of our new life falling into place.

08/15/2026

08/15/2026

We cook outside is so accurate 😂

08/15/2026

This is a bit of a vent post.

America is known as the country of apps, and I can confirm… this is VERY true. There is an app for everything. And then, of course, there are the AI/customer service bots.

FRUSTRATING doesn’t even begin to describe the level of rage I feel when I’m simply trying to speak to an actual human being, only to get trapped in a conversation with a bot that apparently has absolutely no idea what I’m saying because of my accent.

And then there are drive-thrus.

Eben refuses to use another drive-thru.

Something as simple as asking for extra ranch can turn into:

“Extra ranch.”

“Excuse me?”

“RANCH. Extra ranch.”

“...What?”

At that point you’re just sitting there wondering… how did we get here?

It’s one of those everyday WTF moments where you realize that even though we are speaking English, apparently our version of English needs subtitles.

And yes, English isn't our first language. But I honestly think that gives most South Africans moving to the US a bit of an advantage.

We were taught English as a second language in school, so by default, most of us grew up speaking at least two languages. And sometimes being able to switch languages and have a conversation that the people around you don’t understand actually comes in pretty handy.

Anyway… vent over.

We’ve been incredibly busy lately, and hopefully I’ll be able to share some good news later. Fingers crossed.

I also managed to get both girls enrolled in their new schools and, after what felt like a never-ending headache, I finally arranged before- and after-school care for Elane', who will be starting kindergarten.

This was honestly one of the biggest headaches we’ve had since moving here.

In South Africa, school hours generally fit much more reasonably around a normal working parent’s schedule. Here, school doesn’t necessarily run on the same hours that parents work, which means you can very quickly find yourself trying to figure out what to do with your child before school, after school, or both.

And a little warning for anyone coming over with young kids:

Budget for this.

Our before- and after-school care for Elane' is going to cost us about $950 a month.

That’s not a luxury. It’s simply what we need so that we can both go to work.

It’s one of those expenses you don’t necessarily think about when you’re planning the big move, but once you’re here, you realize very quickly that these little necessities add up.

On a completely unrelated note, Eben was VERY excited when his #4 potjie pot arrived from Amazon yesterday.

So to everyone coming over from South Africa:

YES. You can buy a potjie pot in America.

Five months in, and life here has honestly been a mixture of good and bad.

We miss our families. We miss the people we love. We miss parts of the life we left behind.

But there’s also this incredible sense of accomplishment that comes with every little thing we build here.

Every piece of furniture.
Every new thing we buy for our home.
Every problem we figure out ourselves.
Every little “we actually did this” moment.

We haven’t felt that sense of building something from the ground up in a very long time.

It’s hard. Some days are really hard.

But five months in, we’re still here. Still figuring it out. Still building.

And apparently still arguing with customer service bots and explaining to Americans how to pronounce ranch.

07/30/2026

One of the questions we get asked the most is, "What's the biggest cultural difference you've noticed?"

Honestly... there isn't just one.

None of these are bad or good, they're just things that have genuinely surprised us as Afrikaners starting over in America.

The first one that caught me completely off guard was cussing.

Back home, dropping the F-word would definitely be swearing. But I was so surprised when a colleague pointed out that I say, "What the hell?" quite often, because here even saying "hell" is considered cussing by many people.

At the same time, Americans will casually say, "Oh my God," which, for us, is something we were raised never to say. We call it laster, and growing up it was considered far more serious than almost any other swear word.

Another thing... Americans are SO social.

And I don't just mean stopping for a chat.

I mean making plans after work. Going out during the week. Getting together with friends and neighbors.

Meanwhile, I was the person in South Africa who dreaded an evening parents' meeting at school because it meant leaving the house again after work.

I still haven't figured out what magic wand everyone uses to keep up with laundry, groceries and everything else, because somehow weekends don't seem to revolve around catching up on chores like ours always did.

Something that still amazes me is seeing kids playing outside.

Growing up in South Africa, we became so used to worrying about safety that seeing children riding bikes, walking to the park or playing outside so freely still makes me smile.

School has been another surprise.

Most people know public schools here are free, but what really amazed us was that our youngest's elementary school supplies are provided for every child—not only for low-income families.

Then there are directions...

I'm convinced every American is born with a built-in compass.

You'll ask where something is and they'll confidently say, "About two miles north."

My brain immediately goes:
"Which way is north?"
"And... how many kilometers is two miles?"

They also talk in seasons.

Instead of saying school starts in August or September, it's simply, "School starts in the fall."

I'm slowly learning to think in spring, summer, fall and winter instead of months.

One difference I've really grown to appreciate is how freely people give compliments.

A complete stranger might tell you they love your hair or your shirt while you're shopping, and it's completely normal.

That carries into the workplace too.

Managers regularly tell people they're appreciated—not only as individuals but as a team. Hearing "Thank you" or "We appreciate what you do" isn't unusual here, and I think that's something really special.

These are just our experiences after a few months of living here. They aren't meant as criticism of either country—just observations from a South African family learning a different way of life.

I'm sure there are plenty more we'll discover as time goes on.

If you've moved countries, what was the biggest cultural difference that caught you completely off guard?

07/28/2026

Thank you for the article Briefly - South African News.... Although we do not have a son and Eben is actually my husband....

An Afrikaner family in America shares their joy of moving from an apartment to a rental house, embracing new beginnings with a yard, space, and cherished traditions.

07/27/2026

We’ve officially moved!

This weekend was a big one for our family. We moved into our new rental, and for the first time since arriving in America, it really feels like we're starting to put down roots.

One thing that surprised us was how easy moving was. Back in South Africa, moving usually meant borrowing or renting a trailer, loading it up, driving back and forth a few times, and hoping everything survived the trip.

Here, we rented a U-Haul, packed everything into one truck, drove to the new house, unloaded, and that was it. No multiple trips. No trying to squeeze furniture onto a trailer. It made what could have been a stressful day feel so much simpler.

On Sunday, we celebrated the only way we know how... with a proper braai.

Some dear friends gave us the most unexpected housewarming gift: a bag of ACE maize meal. To most people it probably seems like a strange gift, but every South African reading this will understand exactly why it meant so much.

Eben was absolutely ecstatic. It was his first plate of pap and sous in months, and seeing the smile on his face reminded me how something as simple as a familiar meal can make you feel at home, even when you're thousands of miles away.

The house is still full of boxes, and every room feels a little chaotic right now, but we don't mind. What we notice most is the space.

Yesterday our yard was filled with kids running around while the adults stood around the braai. Hearing laughter outside, seeing the girls with room to play, and watching everyone enjoy themselves made this house feel like so much more than just another rental.

Another moment that meant a lot to us was hanging our very first American flag outside our home.

It was a gift, and we were told, "You absolutely need an American flag." So now it hangs proudly by our front door.

For us, it represents more than just a flag. It represents the opportunity we've been given, the kindness we've been shown by people who were once complete strangers, and the chance to build a new life here while still carrying South Africa in our hearts.

07/23/2026

After my last post about all the conversations my South African accent has started, I thought I'd share the other side of it.

Today I had an older patient at work who was struggling to understand me. I completely understand that hearing loss and hearing aids can make accents more difficult to follow, and I have absolutely no problem repeating myself.

But instead of asking me to repeat what I said, he looked at me and rather bluntly asked, "Can you speak English?"

For a split second, I didn't even know how to respond... because I was speaking English.

Before I could say anything, both of my coworkers spoke up at the same time and said, "She is speaking English."

That moment meant more than they'll probably ever know.

After the patient left, several of my other coworkers and even some of the technicians came to check on me. They told me I was doing great, that my English was perfectly fine, and that the patient was simply being rude.

As immigrants, there are moments that can make you feel like you don't belong. But then there are moments like this that remind you that you do.

The truth is, the vast majority of people we've met since moving to the United States have been incredibly kind, welcoming, and genuinely interested in where we're from. A few unpleasant interactions doesn't outweigh the hundreds of positive ones.

And here's a little fun fact...

South Africans are taught British English, while Americans speak American English. It's the same language, just with different spelling, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

So when I say petrol instead of gas, boot instead of trunk, or lift instead of elevator, I'm not speaking the wrong language. I'm just speaking a different version of English.

Starting over in a new country means learning new words, new accents, and sometimes laughing at the differences.

But kindness doesn't need a translation, and today I'm grateful for the people who reminded me of that.