Have you ever wondered what it’s like to start a new life on the other side of the world – away from family, familiar places, and the routines you’ve always known? Or questioned what really makes someone decide to move for good, especially when it means leaving behind the comfort of close connections?In this episode, I chat with a fellow podcaster and Tukkies grad, Rudolph Botha, who swapped life in South Africa for Canberra, Australia almost 17 years ago. Rudolph’s story is one of balancing big decisions for his family’s future, finding new ways to connect with his roots, and navigating the everyday joys and challenges of being an expat.Out of everyone I’ve spoken with so far, Rudolph and his family have been living abroad the longest. It was refreshing to hear how he’s built a happy life abroad in the long-term, while still being honest about the sacrifices and emotions that come with leaving loved ones behind. I especially enjoyed hearing about his role as a podcast co-host of ‘Magalies Potgooi’ (which I recently appeared on as a guest) and the importance of staying connected with fellow South Africans, no matter where in the world you land.“If you can move to a place where you've got some sort of support system, that is, I think, one of the biggest advantages.” - Rudolph Botha00:00 Introduction04:40 Why Rudolph made the decision to leave06:13 Life in Canberra10:53 Fleeing the South African political situation12:46 Advice for anyone emigrating15:46 Phases of emigrating18:05 Finding community at the dog park20:33 Did he ever consider going back to South Africa?25:01 Feeling safe in Australia27:54 Navigating Australia’s red tape30:10 Pros and cons of taking your furniture overseas33:15 “Test your reasons”35:04 No regretsResourcesListen to Jan’s guest appearance on Rudolph’s podcast, ‘Magalies Potgooi’: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6mDsvKvQZOqJKCkSkiWVQv?si=b0e816da8bb540c8This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:https://www.zapods.com

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