Ever wondered how South Africans abroad live their lives away from home? Our new web series, East West South Africans Zabroad offers you a unique look into the everyday lives of South Africans all over the world. Launched in June, the show started in the far East and meet with South Africans from all walks of life in South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia. The rest of Season 1 will bring you South Africans in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. The East West team also braved the Camino de Santiago or way of St. James in Spain to bring South Africans a first hand account of the 800km pilgrimage through Spain.
Watch Episodes from Korea, Thailand and Bangkok here
Miguel and I, the creators of the show, find South Africans everywhere. Our general experience is that South Africans reinforce their roots when they are away from home. The majority of South Africans we meet, miss our country tremendously. Along with editor Barry de Jager, the East West team brings you a new adventure every week.
The concept of the show is to go and meet South Africans who become the presenters of the show. In a short interview, they tell us what life in their new environment is like. We also take in as much of the local sights and culture as possible. This way, we provide South Africans back home and elsewhere with some relevant, first hand information for when they travel or possibly move to a new country.
The show is for all South Africans. Whether you have traveled to a particular destination, have an interested in going or have a family member there, we’d like to help South Africans to travel as much as possible, even if it is “virtual” travel.
We are positive and optimistic. In spite of the current realities South Africans face, East West aspires to remind our community of that elusive “something” South Africans have – that thing that makes us embrace each other when we sing the national anthem, wear the flag with pride or organize potjiekos competitions. Making biltong in tropical temperatures with spices snuck in through customs, having bake sales with koeksisters, melktert and Amarula cheesecake and living and dying by the motto: “Where there’s a will, there’s a braai.”
For more information, or if you want to be a part of the show, look at our website www.zabroad.com or follow us on social media.