So tomorrow we hit the railroad for a whirlwind tour around Italy for two weeks before heading back to our home country.
It has been a really challenging experience for a myriad of reasons.... not least our timing... crypto bear markets are brutal.
So what have I learnt?
I have learnt that the country of my birth is a beautiful, melting pot of (mostly) friendly mixed cultural people. I have learnt that in my land of birth people have a far more enquiring mind than any I have come across in Europe (of COURSE this is a generalization), they are friendlier, more welcoming and more likely to assist a person in need..... even total strangers.
In fact truly the most most significant difference is people LAUGH more, they SMILE more .... despite the countries woes
Unfortunately it is also a dysfunctional society. Corruption at State level has widened the gap between the haves and the have nots.... causing serious violent environments where the innocent suffer... causing excessive unemployment, the loss of industry and infrastructure....
Keeping the lights on is no longer a light hearted term (sorry could not resist)
I am sad to be leaving Italy .... the truth of the matter is the 'dysfunctional' issues in South Africa impact ones daily living. The fact that simply going to a park and sitting on a bench reading a book, alone, is not an option. A spontaneous late night walk on the beach .... almost certainly an invitation to rape or murder.
The tension we live under is not understood until one lives elsewhere.... places where safe freedom of movement is taken for granted.
I will close this spontaneous rant with a South African band which epitomises the South African spirit !!!
And appropriately we end off with an extremely relevant song.... and I believe this little exercise has lightened my heart about our imminent return to our country of birth.
Thank you for tolerating my rant... and of course always being here....