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Nadia

From Cape Town to Holzkirchen
A Journey of Faith and Friendship

We are both so blessed and proud of what we have accomplished during this time and we both thank God every day for guiding us.

Quick Facts

 
🔎 Detail 📝 Info
Age Group 25–34
Year of Move 2021
Moved From Cape Town
Reason for Moving Work situations
Moved Alone or With Others With my partner
Current Location Holzkirchen, Bavaria

Quickfire Questions

We really miss the food, of course — and the warmth and friendliness of the people around us, even when it’s a complete stranger.
We both miss suburban living: actual houses with personal gardens, space to breathe, and not feeling like you’re stacked on top of each other in apartment buildings.
Something else we often long for is the open landscape — the kind that’s just a stone’s throw away from the bustle of city life

I really appreciate the safety and reliability of public transport here, and the fact that I can actually use it comfortably. I also enjoy the freedom of being able to walk around on my own, even after dark. I’ll admit, I still sometimes feel a little uneasy when it’s very late, but overall, it’s a kind of independence I truly value.

The never-ending admin work. It seems like there is a form to fill in for everything you want to do. 

I wouldn’t say either of us has a clear favourite German dish — we still gravitate toward places that serve food we already know and love. That said, we really enjoy going to street food festivals, where we’ll happily sit and tuck into a good portion of pommes with ketchup and mayo. 

We’ve started going hiking through the woods and mountains — and for me personally, learning to ride a bicycle has been a big new adventure.

But our absolute favourite activity is visiting Therme Bad Aibling. The massages are incredible, and there’s nothing quite like soaking in the outdoor heated pool on a summer night, gazing up at the stars under the open sky. Pure magic.

Our Journey

In the time we left for Germany, we were unable to say goodbye to most of our family members back in SA, due to us leaving during the lockdown.
This was probably the hardest part of it all – unsure if we will ever be able to see certain friends or family members again.
When we got here, everything felt weird. We had both been here on holiday before, but this time, it felt like a different planet.
We HAD to learn the language, get our details registered EVERYWHERE, find a place to stay… and, and and… the list seemed never ending.
We are so blessed to have my best friend of over 28 years here in Germany, as well as my uncle and cousins.
They were there for the emotional support, the admin, and to get us settled at the beginning, and are still here for us “through thick and thin!”

We both get homesick over the smallest of things – missing our camping trips with the motorbike, going to Bloubergstrand that was just around the corner of both our work locations and MOST OF ALL – THE FOOD! A delicious Wimpy burger, a Spur breakfast, a few chutney biltong sticks or even a fancy dinner at De Kelder restaurant looking at the sunset behind Table Mountain (I’m even homesick for those things, merely by just typing it) I can’t even name them all, as I would need a whole book to do so.
The longing for being with our friends and family is the hardest of it all. The weddings, the birthdays, the funerals, all of them, we can only see through a video call or photos. But, then I really enjoy the joy when we are able to surprise them with surprise visits and see them cry from happiness – the joy in that moment stays with you forever!
We have made so many new Saffa friends here that I can’t even count anymore – and then seeing how we are all connected is funny, shocking and amazing all at the same time!
It’s also so much fun when the family comes here on holiday, and you feel like a professional tour guide when you show them places that you know how to get to with your eyes closed. Or showing them the new places that you have discovered and teaching them short sentences, and translating the more difficult things. The funniest of all is when we see them absolutely shocked when we speak German to a local casually as if it’s “easy”. These holidays bring so much joy and happiness, and fill our hearts with love and appreciation for their love and support they give us.
We are both so blessed and proud of what we have accomplished during this time, and we both thank God every day for guiding us and helping us to do so.
Now, almost four years later, I am not going to say that it was easy or that it is hard, nor do I want others to feel afraid of the unknown, but what I can say is that “YOU CAN DO IT!”

Our Advice

Closing Words

"I am not going to say that it was easy or that it is hard, nor do I want others to feel afraid of the unknown… but what I can say is: YOU CAN DO IT!"

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Your Immigration Story

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🇿🇦 Feeling a little homesick?

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From South African concerts to casual meetups across Germany—check out what’s happening near you.