I am originally from Pretoria, the beautiful Jacaranda City. In 2024 I was in my final year as teaching student at Tukkies. I always knew I wanted to travel, but it was only when I met a friend who had moved to the Netherlands to work there, that I started to seriously consider the possibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not long after that, my dad told me about the Emirates ads that he was seeing everywhere. At first, I thought it wasn\u2019t for me \u2013 I couldn\u2019t imagine myself as a flight attendant. But the idea stuck, and I finally decided to just apply. I had nothing to lose. To my surprise, I was quickly invited for an interview and before I knew it, I was packing my things and heading to Dubai. Seeing that all Emirates\u2019 flights and the head office are based here, it was the logical move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Was it difficult to adapt there or did you easily make new friends and integrate into the community?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I was lucky to not arrive completely alone. A friend from primary school, who also flies for Emirates, was already here, and through my father\u2019s friend I met a wonderful family who invited me to the Afrikaans church in Dubai. That invitation changed everything. At church I met a group of young Afrikaners who immediately felt like family.<\/p>\n\n\n If it weren\u2019t for that community, I would have felt very alone. The sisterhood during the Emirates training also helped, of course, but there is an indescribable comfort in laughing and sharing stories in your own language. It\u2019s something you only really appreciate when you don\u2019t hear it every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adjusting to a new country can be challenging. What was the strangest thing for you to get used to?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I remember how overwhelming the first few months. You always think the big things are going to be the hardest \u2013 such as the heat and other culture \u2013 but it is in fact the ordinary things that are the biggest challenge. Figuring out where to shop, which taxis are reliable, and how to make new friends. Even something as small as not being able to just call on WhatsApp, but having to type instead, was an adjustment<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over time I realised how incredibly adaptable a person is. Today, I look back and realise that within months I became accustomed to things that initially felt strange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tell us a little bit more about your job. What does a typical day look like?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As a flight attendant for Emirates, there is no such thing as a typical day. We receive our schedule every month, and it is always a moment of great excitement when you open it and see where you are going next. Sometimes it is hard because you have to plan your life around flights and time zones \u2013 your sleep, your meals, even what you wear. But it also makes the job incredibly interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have seen places that I could only dream of. This job has given me the opportunity to truly travel the world and it is a privilege for which I am deeply grateful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What do you miss the most about South Africa?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I miss the streets of Pretoria, covered with trees. In October, my birthday month, the Jacarandas are incredibly beautiful. It is something small to me, but makes my heart beat faster when I see it \u2013 whether during my travels, or when I come home to visit. Dubai is a desert city, and the green natural beauty of South Africa is rare here. It makes you realise how precious even something as mundane as trees in your street is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What do you do when you miss South Africa and your people?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Afrikaans church community plays a big role. There is nothing like having a braai together on a Saturday, watching rugby and being able to chat in Afrikaans. When I don\u2019t have time to go there, I keep in touch with my friends and family through regular cellphone calls. I listen to Afrikaans music and even started reading my Bible again in Afrikaans, even though I usually read in English. It has given me a new appreciation for my language and for the people of my country. <\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4-1024x768.jpg\")
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