What caught my attention more than the captivating story itself, is how many families she is now part of. Take a deep breath. Her search for ubuntu saw her being embraced by 92 families of 13 different cultures in and around 121 towns.

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By Marieke Smits

Only a month ago I decided to pack my bags, said goodbye to family and friends in Holland and move in with my boyfriend in Johannesburg. The only things I basically knew about South Africa – apart from its history – were, one, there are nice wildlife parks and, two, crime-rates are sky-rocketing.  Especially the second point — South Africa’s alleged status as no go area —  raised some concerns among the people I left at home.  “Is it a safe enough country to live in?” they asked me. “Aren’t you getting robbed on every corner of the street? And is it true that you should never stop for a red traffic light because you risk being hijacked?”

I must say I cannot blame my Dutch social circle for being rather biased against South Africa’s safety situation.  Foreign media tend to stress South Africa’s negative image as a crime-struck country instead of focusing on the positives. When it came to the World Cup this was not any different:  South Africa wouldn’t be safe enough to host such a big tournament. Tourists better stayed at home instead of walking the crime-ridden streets of Joburg or Cape Town. An English security company even put stab- and bullet proof vests on the market for fans planning to attend the event.

One month and a World Cup later I can say the South Africa described above is not the South Africa I’ve discovered. I, and many people with me, actually experienced the complete opposite.  Instead of feeling unsafe I’ve partied alongside makarapa-wearing tourists with locals in Soweto. Instead of getting robbed, shot or mugged, I got offered a vuvuzela because the guy who gave it to me liked the Dutch team so much. Instead of stating that crime stats have gone up during the World Cup, reporters exclaimed on national television that the atmosphere was better than they would have ever imagined. What impressed me most though was the unbridled positivism and the warm hospitality of the South Africans.  People didn’t turn their backs on the World Cup after Bafana Bafana and Africa’s last hope, Ghana, were out, but they massively supported any other team of their fancy to keep spirits high and the atmosphere alive. This made people from all over the world feel at home. And it made them feel safe and welcome.

It might not come as a surprise to you when I tell you all my Dutch friends are arduously looking for a ticket to come pay me a visit in the most exciting country in the Southern hemisphere . What can I say? SA is AYOBA! And they know it.

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Off we went on our 18 hour journey back to South Africa. While chatting and reminiscing with my friends I kept thinking about home and what awaited me back home. I thought about how much I had missed pap, gravy and home made stew; how I don’t want to see a slice of pizza or a REALLY BIG burger for a while. I thought about the children who played on the street so joyfully while I sat with friends on my granny’s stoop and spoke about how great life is. I thought about going to lectures in the winter rain and taking walks around this beautiful town, Stellenbosch. So many things I missed about home that just makes South Africa a part of  my heart.

We landed in Johannesburg and waiting for me was my mother with a warm arms and her famous “I missed you” smile. Just seeing her face made me glow like never before. Shortly after briefing my mother of all the happenings in the passed five weeks I got onto the flight to Cape Town. When walking out of Cape Town International Airport I was hugged by the cold breeze. I took a deep breath and smiled; I knew I was home and that is where my heart is. I really missed the little things about this country and I’m glad we got  the chance to show the world what we are capable of.

South Africa is me and I am my country. I’m glad to be back.

It was less than 2 weeks ago, come to think of it. Last week most of us still had withdrawal symptoms, holding on to our Vuvuzelas and waiting for the most opportune moment to blow them. 

Brand South Africa is making it possible with the idea of Flying The Flag, which is meant to keep the spirits both South Africans and the world high. I took a moment to go out to Brand South Africa and talk to the CEO, Miller Matola, about what that means. More than anything, he took the moment to speak to me.

Below is a short video between me and Mr. Matola, where he gets into detail about what it means to Fly Your Flag.

Today I can honestly say that I am grateful to the powers that be that I am not a mathemitician, a statistics expert or even a politician.

Today I woke up a fanatical fan of this marvelous, superb, outstanding and inspiring country! As a self-proclaimed expert on the benefits of being a positive South African, I can honestly say that a mere 24 hours post the final 2010 World Cup whistle, I am already reaping the rewards.

Each lifetime is marked by something. I am lucky enough to be living in an era of hope, witnessing extraordinary miracles as they unfold.

During the world cup I watched as the world apologised for their non-belief in this can-do nation. When we said it will be ready, we meant it!

I watched as “the crime capital of the world” took  responsibility for keeping its space crime free and how this impacted on the whole country allowing us all, visitors and residents to feel safe and secure.

I watched as security guards walked off the stadiums exercising their constitutional right to strike, and watched as the once much loathed police force took up to the task of protecting us without missing a beat.

I watched as black fans drove to the “white” capital Pretoria to watch a game and white fans drive to the “black” capital Soweto to watch another.

As I watched mainstream pessimism and racism disappeared before my very eyes; blacks, whites, asian, indian and Europeans united in their love of the game.

I smiled when “white” fans supported Ghana and “black” fans supported the Netherlands.

I cried as I sang my national anthem, on the field and off the field.

I watched as rich and poor, the hopeful and the despondent all came together to proudly play hosts to over one million visitors!

I watched as South Africans kept filling the stadiums long after Bafana Bafana were out of the game, showing support all the way!

I watched as two never-crowned-before nations met for the final round and Spain be crowned the new world champions.

But most of all, I am watching as the magic keeps unfolding. Which other country can boast a 20 year history as rich as ours?

From the moment Mr Mandela was released from prison, this country stood united in its belief that tommorow will be better than today. We repeated that belief in 1994 when we stood united in our first democratic elections, and again in 1995 when we won the Rugby World Cup, a story which inspired the movie Invictus. In 2002 our disbelief was palpable when Germany won the 2006 Fifa World Cup bid. Four years later we won the bid and another four years on, we proved to the world that we are a nation of our word, a can-do nation.

So while the debate and speculation continues around the R40 billion spend on infrastructure, job creation, tourism investment and social cohesion continues, I am going to turn a deaf ear.

I am going to hold on tight to the jubilant feeling in my heart, because I know that as South Africans we do not need a football game or a trophy to show the world that we are top-class.

We have done it before and will do it again!

What remains constant is this video of Japanese business people who have been in Johannesburg for 6 months. Their overall experience of South Africa has been of a welcoming and comfortable place. However, the Japanese World Cup loss against Paraguay still does not sit well with them.

Take a look at the video below.

What has changed for you in the past few days? Tell us in the comments we would really like to know.

Andy and Andre from the Netherlands shared their touching story with us. And they left me secretly rooting for the Netherlands on Sunday.

Bearak was writing about the crime wave that wasn’t, about how hordes of barbaric South Africans somehow managed not to machete World Cup fans and their teams to death, how hundreds of thousands of visiting pockets were left unpicked, and how their owners were returning home miraculously unmugged, unhijacked and otherwise unmolested. Read the piece. It’s a delight.

Other than the line about South Africa’s criminal classes having proved themselves to be even more inept than the French team which Bafana Bafana put out of everyone’s misery so beautifully on June 22, of particular delight was the story of the Englishman and the cab driver, or at least the way it ended.

On June 11, it seems, Paul Clark left his computer bag on the floor of a taxi. In the bag with the computer was $2400 in cash. The cab driver, Tom Tsepe, had given Clark his card so Clark was able to call him. Tsepe found the bag and returned it, computer still inside but money gone. Clark accused Tsepe of having taken the cash and the cab driver was hauled before one of the special courts set up for the rapid processing of World Cup-related crime.

Clarke ultimately had to admit he had no idea who had taken the money; it could even have been one his own friends. So Tsepe was acquitted, but not before spending five hours in a cell, losing a day’s work and having to hire a lawyer, all of which set him back around $1000.

Then came the South African moment. Bearak was there to capture it. Accused and accuser ran into each other on the way from court. I don’t know about you, but I doubt I would have said anything, let alone anything printable, to the Englishman had I been in the cab driver’s shoes.

But Tsepe, as Bearak tells it, did have something to say. “My friend, I’m sorry you lost your money.”

There is one of false note in Bearak’s otherwise beautifully executed piece. He attributes Tsepe’s decency and ability to empathise with someone who has caused him no inconsiderable distress to his being on his best behaviour because of the World Cup. No. The taxi driver said what he said because that is the way South Africans are.

When Bafana Bafana lost their place in the World Cup, I will be the first to admit that it was almost over for me. A bit teary eyed, I heard the vuvuzelas become quieter around the neighbourhood. We all went to bed without admitting what had just happened and avoiding conversation altogether.

The big wake up call came on Twitter the following day when I realized that non-South Africans are speaking positively about being here. And I’m still the host. After all, the World Cup is only an event that ends in a few days, whose legacy lies in successfully hosting our guests.

The vuvuzela was also one most popular topics on Twitter for weeks, which in itself is a record. Even YouTube a few weeks ago had the South African flag on their logo. Another reminder came when the latest release of WordPress (a blogging and web development tool) came with a mention of the vuvuzela.

When did both sportsmanship and being a hospitable African host become determined by how we perform on the soccer field? It’s true, for a moment there I got blind-sided. The greater plot was lost in the fest.

This Friday I’m dusting off my Bafana shirt, celebrating victory beyond the World Cup and hosting our guests.

Beyond the final this Sunday, I will be flying the flag because it defines our true values. A part of us is going out to the rest of the world after this Sunday.

Which story are you sending with them?