In Out and about, we talk to people who currently live abroad or have lived and worked there but are back in South Africa. We would love to hear from anyone who would like to share their experiences with us.

This week, we talk to Ané van Dyk, who lives in Portugal.

Hello, Ané! Where in South Africa are you from, and why did you move to Portugal?

Bom dia (Good morning) from Portugal! We previously lived in Kleinmond, although I grew up in Bloemfontein and Flippie in Wellington. We did a lot of research on emigration and considered various countries. We laid out job opportunities, tax obligations, language, weather, citizenship options, airfare costs, visa requirements, time zones, etc. on a spreadsheet. During the pandemic, Flippie got a remote job that gave us the freedom to live anywhere. Portugal was not on our long list at first because of the language, but after thorough research, we realised that we have a clear path to citizenship here. Without having ever been here before, we took a huge leap of faith and trusted that we would receive guidance here as always.

Tell us more about your family.

Flippie and I met as students in Stellenbosch in 2017. He is a software engineer and I am a speech therapist. We got married two days before the first lockdown and have two children: John, almost four, and Suzanne, nearly two years old. Flippie works from home, while I am with the children. Our house is filled with laughter and songs.

Was it difficult to adapt or did you easily make new friends and integrate into the community?

Emigration is never easy, and the hardest part was saying goodbye to family and friends. We are both introverts and prefer each other’s company. On our third day here, we met an Afrikaans family, the Tredoux’s, and we quickly became friends. Two months after our arrival, we were 22 Afrikaans friends together to celebrate John and Suzanne’s birthdays. We are still looking for a church, as the thousands of churches here are both Portuguese and Catholic.

Did you experience culture shock when you arrived in Portugal? Any tips on how you overcame it?

Definitely! Portuguese take family life seriously and eat lunch together as extended families. Shops close for up to two hours over lunch. Children are considered the most precious in society, and if you go somewhere with small children, you are always prioritised and are helped soon. The safety here is still amazing; we have locked our house only twice since we arrived. The Portuguese have strong traditions, just like the Afrikaners. Realise that you are the newcomer in the country and get involved. It will enrich your life and make adjustment easier.

Do you still speak Afrikaans to each other? What Afrikaans resources do you use?

Afrikaans is non-negotiable in our home. As is the importance of mother-tongue education; therefore, we will homeschool. We also read English and learn Portuguese together – the children faster than we do. We have a bookshelf filled with Afrikaans storybooks and we listen to Afrikaans music. Our Afrikaans friends here also have children with whom John and Suzanne like to play. We are not worried about our mother tongue here.

Tell us what work you do and how the work culture in your country differs from that in South Africa.

Flippie works for an Australian company and his team is spread all over Europe. Little has changed for him, except that our internet speed is better! I am with the children full-time, but sometimes I help Afrikaans parents worldwide with their children’s speech, language and nutritional development.

What do you miss most about South Africa? What is your favourite memory of South Africa?

We remain positive about South Africa and are open to the possibility of returning one day. Our favourite memories are of time with family. Flippie’s favourite place is Mossel Bay and mine is Lady Grey in the Eastern Cape. Rooibos tea, Fizzers and Oros are accepted as accommodation costs! We enjoy our adventure in Portugal very much, even though we miss the familiar.

How often do you see your family?

Thanks to video calls, we see our parents regularly. It helps with homesickness, especially for the children. My father was worried that Suzanne would forget him after nine months, but when we saw him again, she immediately ran to him excitedly with open arms and shouted “Grandpa!” We plan to visit South Africa every year, and our families visit us regularly. Our parents on both sides are coming to visit us this year, and our calendar is colourful with visits from other family and friends.

How do the accommodation options and cost of living in Portugal compare to those in South Africa?

The visa we applied for requires a specific lease in advance; it was difficult and expensive. Fortunately, we could stay with South Africans at first, which helped with administration and exploring in Afrikaans. In August 2024, we bought our first house in the heart of Portugal near Torres Novas. We have 30 olive trees, citrus trees and other fruit trees. We refer to our orchard as “the farm” and look forward to developing it further. It’s a dream come true! In general, our groceries cost more or less what we paid in South Africa. Fuel is significantly more expensive, but we don’t pay medical aid. So, expenses balance each other out quite well.

What do you do to relax in Portugal?

We really enjoy our little farmyard and currently spend most of our free time on restoration. We also enjoy the safe outdoors and trips into nature, the sea, all the wonderful parks and exploring our new country. With Europe just a short flight away, we also have many plans to discover the rest of the continent.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

We have thought long and hard about emigration, because it is not easy, neither for those who are leaving, nor for the family who are left behind. Each family chooses their own “difficult”. We hope our hard work now makes our future easier. One thing that stands out is how South Africans in Portugal care for each other, whether in person or on groups like WhatsApp and Facebook. We have already made many friends by reaching out to them. We find that fellow South Africans in Portugal have similar mindsets and goals, and the similarities help a lot. We experience the same victories and challenges, and our community here helps us a lot with that.

Also read: Out and about: an email from Switzerland

Write to us

Do you live abroad, or have you recently moved back from abroad? You can also write an Out and about article. Send an email to wereldwyd@afriforum.co.za and we will send you some questions to answer.