Life in the US is amazing.

Most people who think of the US have 3 words that pop into their minds; McDonalds, wealth and war, but America is so much more than that.

My favourite part of the US is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For those of you who are unfamiliar with American history, that is where it all started. It is a very romantic city with oak lined streets, fantastic Art Museums, horse-drawn carriages ride down cobblestone roads built hundreds of years ago and visit unique restaurants such as Django on South Street and Alma De Cuba on Walnut Street.  Maybe I’m just being biased because that is where I fell in love, made great friends and got married. Before we left Philly we went to see the King Tut Exhibit at the Franklin Institute (which we’ve been waiting for since 2005), with our 85 year old Jewish grand mother. She had seen it in Egypt back in the day but for our 9 year old niece it was a first.

After 4 long years of medical school at the beautiful and historical University of Pennsylvania (the first medical school in the US) my husband got a position as general surgeon at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where we reside now. Ann Arbor has a population of about 120 000 and is basically next to Canada. It is a huge change from the city. People here are very friendly and there are amazing parks where we go kayaking just 5 minutes from our front door. The summers are great and thanks to my Mom sending me so many SA goodies and online SA food shops we manage to keep those braais going all year round.  My husband just loves Mrs Balls chutney (even Americans love our food).

I feel very privileged living here. It’s safe, people are generally more accepting of race and religion and that makes me proud to say that I have found a place in the world where intelligent people respect each other for who they are on the inside. That being said, I will always raise my children with as much South African influence as I can as it will always be considered home, in my heart.