After 25 years abroad, Alex Bartholomew packed up her life in the UK, flew back to South Africa, and rediscovered a country that, while unpredictable and chaotic, offered healing, hope, and a sense of home that never truly left her heart.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (14 October 2024) – There’s something magical about coming home, especially when that home is South Africa. It’s not just the landscape that welcomes you—the sunsets over the ocean, the raw beauty of the wildlife, or the familiar rhythm of African life. It’s the feeling deep inside that stirs when you land, an invisible bond to the country that’s both in your blood and your soul.
And nothing captures this feeling quite like the stories shared by those who return after years away. These journeys, marked by challenges and triumphs, are inspiring many to rediscover the powerful connection to their homeland.
Alex Bartholomew recently shared a story like this in a Facebook group called “Return to South Africa,” a community dedicated to providing support, advice, and encouragement to expats planning to return or who have already made the move. Alex’s heartfelt post resonated deeply with the group, reminding everyone that while we may be born in South Africa, it’s also born in us.
Photo Cred: Alex Bartholomew
Alex Bartholomew’s Journey Back Home
Alex’s story is one of both necessity and choice, a journey back to her homeland that exemplifies the true spirit of what it means to return home after decades away.
Originally from Johannesburg, Alex and her family had spent 25 years living in the UK and Europe, where they had built a life. But everything changed when her youngest son was diagnosed with autism at just two years old. After extensive research and trying various therapies abroad, Alex and her husband boldly decided to return to South Africa, where they found a specialised therapy school in Ballito that could provide their son with the support he needed.
In her post to the “Return to South Africa” group, Alex reflected on the whirlwind experience of uprooting their life in such a short time.
“We packed up our life with two kids and a 40ft container in tow and flew South within six weeks,” she shared, describing the intense, emotional process. “It was an anxiety-ridden, administrative nightmare…filthy cleaning, packing blur.”
Yet, despite the chaos of their hasty departure, Alex emphasised that the decision to return was ultimately driven by the belief that South Africa could provide the therapeutic environment that their son needed to thrive.
Once back, South Africa welcomed them with both familiar comforts and unexpected adjustments. The family settled into Ballito, a far cry from the structured and somewhat predictable life they had in Surrey, UK. Alex described the contrast with humour, recalling a moment when she was on a work call, only to look out and see “monkeys eating out of the bins.” She couldn’t help but reflect on how “crazy and opposite” life felt compared to the order and quiet of their old life in Europe.
Yet, in the midst of this surreal return, something else emerged—a deep reconnection with the land and the unfiltered beauty that South Africa offers.
“The sunsets, beaches, sights, and smells… the raw chaos and beauty of it all has not changed, and it feeds our souls,” Alex wrote, capturing how the sensory richness of Africa reawakened something in her family.
For her children, especially, the transition was profound.
“Our children have gone from socks, shoes, and too much screen time to two boys who are like filthy puppies, happiest in water or sand with a visible change in muscle and skin tone and almost always barefoot.”
But the most significant impact was on her autistic son, who blossomed in the new environment.
“The ‘grounding’ everyone goes on about has changed my autistic son beyond measure. And it happened from the moment we arrived in this sunny, humid climate. He sat for hours staring into the garden with all the sounds and sights of Africa—now a different child.”
Alex marvelled at the progress her son made once they enrolled him in a special needs therapy school in Salt Rock, The Autism Project, where he received an early intervention that wasn’t available to them in the UK.
“My son has gone from barely verbal, saying two words 18 months ago, to a number of sentences,” she wrote. “It is quite incredible.”
The team of highly qualified therapists gave her hope and support she had never experienced abroad.
“Their care—for us as a family, and my son—it sometimes makes me so thankful I get teary about it all. As anyone on a special needs journey knows, us mums can be a bit ‘donkey on the edge!’”
Returning to South Africa was not just about giving her son the therapy he needed, but it became a full-circle moment for Alex and her family.
“We always wanted a taste of Africa for our kids, a childhood like our own, but never thought it would happen,” she confessed.
While the move has been filled with heartwarming moments and profound growth, Alex has never shied away from speaking about the challenges they’ve faced since returning. From navigating the unpredictability of life in South Africa to dealing with educational adjustments for her eldest son, there have been obstacles.
“Moving here, even if it’s ‘home,’ has been exhausting, quite expensive, and eye-opening,” she admitted. She also noted the culture shock of coming back and feeling out of place at times. “The friendly Saffas I imagined to return to can be super clicky. I didn’t even worry about making friends when we left the UK because we were coming ‘home.’ But it hasn’t been easy on all fronts.”
Despite these hurdles, Alex remains steadfast in her belief that the move was the right one for her family.
“All in all… a path I didn’t think we would walk again. But it’s been just what we needed. I’m grateful for this healing, unwinding, sunny chapter that our green passports have allowed!”
Her post radiates the belief that the beauty and opportunities South Africa offers far outweigh the difficulties they’ve encountered. For Alex and her family, South Africa is more than just a place—it’s an experience that goes beyond words, and one that continues to shape their journey every day.
As Alex put it, “Returning to South Africa has expanded our family’s life story—that’s for sure.”
But Alex’s story did more than just document her family’s transition—it sparked a wave of positivity and encouragement among the other group members. Many responded with heartfelt comments, inspired by her bravery and the beauty of her writing.
“Africa’s heartbeat is like no other! Welcome home.”
“Beautifully written and very insightful and evocative. I could pack up right now!”
“Love your writing. You are back to living in the most beautiful country in the world.”
These messages of warmth and support show the deep connection that so many South Africans, wherever they are in the world, have with their homeland. Alex’s return wasn’t just about coming back for better opportunities for her son—it was about rediscovering the essence of South Africa and how it feeds the soul.
As she so eloquently put it, “The raw chaos and beauty of it all has not changed, and it feeds our souls.”
For many, the decision to return is filled with uncertainty. South Africa, with all its complexities, can seem daunting from afar. But stories like Alex’s show that home is more than just a place—it’s a feeling, a heartbeat, a way of life that can’t be replicated anywhere else.
And her story reminds us that it’s not just about returning to the place you were born—it’s about realising that South Africa lives in you, no matter how far you’ve travelled or how long you’ve been away. The journey back may be challenging, but it’s filled with beauty, growth, and a deep sense of homecoming that is uniquely South African.
And in the end, what could be more inspiring than that?
Sources: Return to South Africa
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Publish date : 2024-10-14 06:11:23
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