In 2005 I got the opportunity to work in Johannesburg, South Africa. To live and to work in another country other than the Netherlands was always our dream. We nearly gave up on it whilst life was happening and time was passing.

My wife and I had made a promise to ourselves in 1995 on a little bench in Stavanger, Norway when we had met an alderly Dutch couple who had lived their entire lives in other countries and had absolutely enjoyed their journey. He worked for Shell and she followed and guided him on their path. He told us, when he recognised our Frisian language, he was retiring after experiences living in Nigeria, Venezuela and Norway, and returning back to the Netherlands.

On my question if he was happy to return “home” he answered;

“I am not sure, we do look forward to seeing our grandchildren more often and at the same time the world has so much more to offer, will the Netherlands still meet our expectations” And what do you call home? His final words after a very interesting and inspiring story and conversation was basically a lecture. “If I may advise you one thing, If an opportunity comes along and you have the chance to live and to work in another country than where you were born, take it with all your heart and make it happen. It will color your lives and the experiences will last forever. Especially when you are peeling off your lives at a certain age like we do now” .

When we walked from the bench towards the car we promised to each other that we would always take the opportunity when it would occur and only discuss when and how, because the why was already sorted.

In 2006 the year I turned 40 we left for South Africa. Out of my network of colleagues and friends I joined Sony Ericsson to establish part of a team, a regional office for Southern Africa in Johannesburg.

When I came home and told my wife that we were going to South Africa. Her first response was legendary; “That’s very down South” and the second phrase was “when are we going”?

So my wife and my 2 year old daughter joined me. After a week of practice and understanding that South Africa has roads, shops and a lot more so called first world necessities, we decided definitely to go. We sold all our properties in the Netherlands, no idea or plan if we would return. The only thing we kept was our boat, a Swedish made wooden ship of 20 feet. If the adventure did not work out “we still would have the boat’. Until today the boat is still in our possession which holds far too many great memories for us to even think about getting rid of it.

The moment we touched ground in Johannesburg, South Africa, Oliver Tambo Airport (named later) we felt an unbelievable feeling of freedom and anxiety at the same time. The country is beautiful and the people are great. The issues it faces are first and third world issues. As the afrikaners will tell you “You have to be paraat always”.

We had a great, unbelievable time, created new friendships and met the kind of people you want to be with the rest of your life. We stayed for a total of 6 years. Worked for Sony Ericsson, established TomTom Southern Africa. We went back to the Netherlands in 2010 and got another chance to return to South Africa in 2016 to join Logitech and rebuild their business.

In this life changing journey I learned so much about Africa, challenged myself personally and professionally and always felt home. For a Frisian guy born in Sneek not a journey which was written in the stars.

I strongly believe it is the roots you get when you are being born and the surroundings where you were brought up are determined for your path in life.

My mother always taught me that I should do better than my father and need to come home with a tie everyday. A tie would make you the boss-man ( a nickname I got whilst working in Africa) and you never have to worry anymore. If you turn the tie upwards it can feel like a proper hang tie. It shows it is not always nice being a boss-man and feeling responsible at the same time for the people you work and care for. Balancing out the roots, keeping the fighting, winning spirit and being noticed and liked is a difficult balance, especially for November scorpio’s.

Close to celebrating my 55th birthday in November this year. I felt an unbelievable urge to go to South Africa. Feel the country, the bush and enjoy the free animal life. Finally spot my Leopard. Have a proper round of golf, great food and especially meeting the friends you want to be with. I met my former team(s) and connected again on the journey in life. We decided to combine our efforts in #5566 where we will share our experiences and help South Africans on their different paths.

Last December South Africa was in the news and it was a biased story about the development of the virus which is holding the world in a tight grip. South African experts shared the world’s early results and were hammered by mostly everyone who did not get into the details and the real story. It made me even more mad than I have ever been on things that are happening in my own country.

What is that feeling? I ask myself, why am I more upset with this than the bullshit I hear and see on a daily basis about vaccination and the relative issues we have in a so-called first world country. I believe more and more it is the working class mentality I grew up with. Mother doing three jobs and my father always there when hard real labor work needed to be done. We were born on a boat, which we could easily call today a tiny house. Definitely much more comfortable and richer than the average township “houses” in South Africa.
It makes me feel connected when wrong is being done and the story is manipulated for the wrong reasons.

My walks will alway have an African touch as my Frisian water roots give me the stubbornness to follow through on the things I have promised to myself and the closest people around me.

Writing up our story is our first step on the road where our balanced life is determined by roots, education, people you meet, food you eat, the fit you stay and the work you do.

When you are given an opportunity, TAKE IT.
When connecting with people, see the opportunity.
When working on you, create the opportunities.

In a world of constant change their is a need for trust, direction, freedom and guidance
You are your own brand and you keep yourself relevant whilst working on it.

Our hearts will always beat to an African drum.

Chantal, Charlotte, Joana and Joost took the opportunity and promised to help fellow South Africans to keep growing and developing.
#5566