Barry ons Gaan nou Braai!

Not much in South Africa compares to the way in which we socialize and spend time together.  Whether it is family time, or even a braai with friends the South African way, is sociable and entertaining.  There is always loud banter and laughter and notwithstanding the fun, there is always a couple of serious stories and difficult topics which emerge.  Yet the manner in which SA people engage is wonderful to behold, because they do so with such openness and willingness to express their feelings and concerns.  People are not unwilling to share intimate things and to take the mickey out of others throughout an afternoon or evening.  It is a phenomenon that I am sure that I would miss if I were to venture to other parts of the world, because the time spent around the braai and woman in the kitchen or sitting sipping drinks, is such invaluable time in life, that one would surely miss, it if it were not there.  I have hardly ever been at braais, where jokes are not made and fun poked at the country we live in.  We also regularly engage in the important issues facing us as South Africans and we try to listen to various opinions, on any number of topics relating to politics, sport, unemployment, crime, taxes and mismanagement of government.  I would like to applaud South Africans all over, for the incredible ability to have fun together and to produce good food, memorable conversations and amazing relationships.  I am proud to be a South African and although we have many challenges as a nation, one of them can never be that we are not sociable, friendly and hospitable people.  I hope that I can continue for years to come, to enjoy this sort of interaction with good people.