After 25 years living abroad, Alex Bartholomew packed up his life in the UK and returned to South Africa to rebuild a country that, while unpredictable and chaotic, offers healing, hope and a sense of home. I discovered it.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (October 14, 2024) – There is something magical about returning home, especially when your home is South Africa. It’s not just the scenery that welcomes you. The sunset over the ocean, the raw beauty of wildlife, the familiar rhythms of African life. It is the deep emotions that stir you when you land, the invisible ties to your country that are both in your blood and soul.
And nothing captures this feeling better than the stories shared by those who have returned after years away. These journeys, marked by challenges and triumphs, have inspired many to rediscover a powerful connection to their homeland.
Alex Bartholomew recently shared a story like this in a Facebook group called ‘Return to South Africa’. This group is a community dedicated to providing support, advice and encouragement to expats who are planning to return home or have already made the move. Alex’s heartfelt post resonated with the group, reminding everyone that while we may have been born in South Africa, we were also born within ourselves.
Photo Source: Alex Bartholomew Alex Bartholomew’s Journey Home
Alex’s story is one of both necessity and choice, and her journey to her homeland embodies the true spirit of what it means to return home after decades away.
Originally from Johannesburg, Alex and his family have lived and built a life in the UK and Europe for 25 years. But everything changed when her youngest son was diagnosed with autism at just two years old. After extensive research and trying different therapies abroad, Alex and her husband decided to boldly return to South Africa and found a specialist therapy school in Ballito that could provide their son with the support he needed.
In a post on the 'Return to South Africa’ group, Alex reflected on the dizzying experience of having their lives uprooted in such a short period of time.
“We ended our lives and flew south within six weeks with two kids and a 40-foot container in tow,” she explained of the intensely emotional process. “It was an administrative nightmare full of anxiety…a blur of filthy cleaning and packing.”
However, despite the confusion caused by his hasty departure, Alex stressed that his decision to return home was ultimately driven by his belief that South Africa could provide the therapeutic environment his son needed to thrive. .
Upon their return, South Africa welcomed them with both familiar comfort and unexpected adjustments. The family settled in Ballito, but it was a far cry from the planned and somewhat predictable life they had lived in Surrey, England. Alex humorously described the contrast, recalling the moment when he looked outside during a work call and saw “a monkey eating out of a trash can.” She couldn’t help but think about how “crazy and diametrically opposed” life felt compared to the order and calm she once had in Europe.
Photo by Alex Bartholomew
But in the midst of this surreal regression, something else appeared. It’s a deep reconnection with the land and unfiltered beauty that South Africa has to offer.
“The sunsets, the beaches, the sights, the smells…the raw chaos and beauty of it all remains the same, and it nourishes our souls,” Alex writes, adding that Africa’s sensory richness is He wrote about how he awakened something in his family.
The change was profound, especially for her children.
“Our kids have turned into two boys who are like filthy puppies from socks and shoes and too much screen time. They’re happiest in water or sand, and their muscles and skin There is a visible change in the coloration of the skin, and it is almost always barefoot.
But the biggest influence was on her autistic son, who blossomed in his new environment.
“The ‘grounding’ that everyone does has changed my autistic son immeasurably. And it happened from the moment we arrived in this sunny, humid climate. He sat for hours staring out into the garden, hearing the sounds and sights of Africa, but now he was a different child.”
Alex was amazed at her son’s progress after enrolling him in the Autism Project’s special needs therapy school in Saltrock, where he received early intervention not available in the UK.
“My son was barely verbal 18 months ago and could only say two words, but now he can say many sentences,” she wrote. “It’s really incredible.”
A team of highly qualified therapists gave her hope and support she never experienced abroad.
“Sometimes I am so grateful to tears of gratitude for the way they care about us as a family and our son. As anyone who has been on a special needs trip knows, I Mothers can be a bit of a ‘donkey on the edge.’
Returning to South Africa was not only a way to get his son the treatment he needed, but also a full-circle moment for Alex and his family.
“We always wanted our children to have a taste of Africa, a childhood like ours, but we never thought it would come true,” she confessed.
While the move was filled with heartwarming moments and deep growth, Alex never shied away from talking about the challenges he faced upon his return. There were obstacles ranging from navigating the unpredictable life in South Africa to dealing with the educational adjustments of my oldest son.
“Moving here, even if it was ‘home’, was difficult, quite expensive and eye-opening,” she admitted. She also mentioned culture shock, which can make her feel out of place when she returns. “The friendly Safas I had imagined coming back to could be very easy to click with. When I left the UK I thought I was going back ‘home’ so I didn’t even make friends. I wasn’t worried. But it wasn’t easy on all fronts. ”
Despite these hurdles, Alex remains convinced that the move was the right one for his family.
“In the end…a path we never thought we would walk again. But it was exactly what we needed. This healing and relaxing experience that our green passport has made possible Thank you for this bright chapter.”
Her posts exude a belief that the beauty and opportunities that South Africa offers far outweigh the challenges they have encountered. For Alex and his family, South Africa is more than just a place. It is an experience that goes beyond words and continues to shape my journey every day.
As Alex says, “Moving back to South Africa definitely broadened our family’s life story.”
But Alex’s story not only chronicled the changes in her family, it also sparked a wave of positivity and encouragement among other group members. Inspired by her courage and beauty of writing, many responded with heartfelt comments.
“The heartbeat of Africa is like no other! Welcome home.”
“Beautifully written, very insightful, and inspiring. Pack your bags now!”
“I love your writing. You brought me back to the most beautiful country in the world.”
These messages of warmth and support demonstrate the deep connection that so many South Africans have with their homeland, no matter where they are in the world. Alex’s return wasn’t just about coming back for better opportunities for his son, it was about rediscovering the essence of South Africa and how it nourishes the soul.
As she so eloquently put it, “The raw chaos and beauty of everything remains the same, and it feeds our souls.”
For many, the decision to return is fraught with uncertainty. South Africa is a complex country that can seem daunting from a distance. But stories like Alex’s show that home is more than just a place, it’s a feeling, a pulse, a way of life that can’t be replicated anywhere else.
And her story is that it’s not just about returning to the place of your birth, it’s about realizing that no matter how far you travel, no matter how long you’ve been away, South Africa lives within you. It reminds us of something. The journey home may be difficult, but it is filled with beauty, growth, and a deep sense of homecoming that is uniquely South African.
After all, what could be more inspiring?
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