You’re almost home.

I keep mentioning how I’ve recently moved to the Mother City and the last five months have been a bit crazy.

I’ve moved a lot (don’t even ask me how many times, because I’m so fatigued by it, as it is)

I’ve moved jobs and begun doing what I love, creating digital content. The entire bonus of all the craziness has been the ability to observe the new city I call home. To give you a bit of a back story, I moved from the Eastern Cape, where I was studying at Rhodes University and before that I lived in PE – my home town. The Eastern Cape is beautiful, in a pristine, quaint and undeveloped way which adds to its charm. Since moving from home, I honestly am a bit prouder to call the EC home, even though it can be a bit backward at times.

Moving to Cape Town was beyond exciting, purely because I had needed a change. If you’ve never lived or studied beyond the confines of your hometown – you don’t really understand the change that happens when you study far from home. The thing is, you’re constantly adjusting to a new environment, whether getting back into the routine at home (which usually annoys you after 24 hours and you want to go back to uni) or always having to pack your stuff up for res/digs. Living in a small town, where everybody parties, studies and sleeps with each other can also get a bit insane.

Anyways since moving here, I’ve really noticed a couple of things that I would’ve never thought would be the case in this city.

Winter is not a vibe, hey?

I did not get this memo when moving, so I experienced Cape Town at its very worst. All filled with miserable weather and equally miserable people. And when you saw the weather you realised why, rain upon rain, upon clouds, upon rain. I was never ready.

Northern vs Southern Suburbs and “Cape Town”

I’ve heard vaguely about the difference between living in the Southern Suburbs and Northern Suburbs. I had no clue what that actually meant until I moved up. When I road -tripped through to Cape Town for vac last year, we lived in Woodstock. The furthest I’ve gone in the Southern Surburbs is Claremont/Newlands. Most of the time when people speak about other suburbs I have absolutely no clue about what they’re talking about. I went to the Northern Suburbs. I now understand. (No shade, but wow.) I also never understood what locals meant about ‘visiting Cape Town’ aka the CBD. In my mind, that was the whole damn city.

The divide here is pretty real, and I have never seen so many homeless people in my life.I think the most telling thing I saw, was newly erected shacks with the graffiti-ed words, “This City Works For A Few” facing the highway. This is a beautiful city, but there’s a harsh reality around if you choose to look hard enough.

3. People are cliquey but pretty friendly (or seem to be)

The first thing I got told when I mentioned I was moving here is that everyone is super self-involved with their own friendship circles. The city is small as it is, but I was definitely told that a large majority aren’t really bothered to be your friend.

I’m a pretty social person, so I don’t struggle to meet people. I have met some really rad people in this city, mostly through Twitter and being really talkative. However, I do see what is meant about the cliquey-ness, many could not be bothered about your presence and have no qualms about showing it either.

People’s lifestyles range from being really busy to laid-back af.

I’ve seen people have lazy 11am breakfasts and still maintain a pretty wondrous life (Trustfunds, maybe?) And then I’ve seen how hectic it can become – I’ve left home at 8am and gotten home at 4am the next morning. If you’re wanting to network and be relevant – you have to attend events and actually go out and meet people. In other aspects I just wanted to see the city and be a young professional – goddamn. Something is ALWAYS happening. I don’t think some kids realise how great it is to have the possibility of trying something new to do every weekend without fail, when you’ve come from a place that has 5 clubs in one street.

The levels of hotness.

Now I am not unaware that this place has some pretty people.

But I wasn’t ready for it, hey? It is a joy that I get to play Spot-the-Hottie on my way to work, or walking on the promenade or simply in the mall. Fills my little heart with glee.