Every Birthday Makes It Harder to Leave South Africa

[00:00:00]We're Americans living in South Africa, and we've been here for about 28 months, meaning we've celebrated about 10 birthdays here. And this one I want y'all to celebrate with us.

[00:00:09]>> It's King's birthday today, so we're doing a birthday vlog for him. We're starting off at Where we at?

[00:00:16]>> Um Canal Walk.

[00:00:18]>> And we're going to go where first?

[00:00:19]>> To Freedom.

[00:00:21]>> And I'll show you guys Freedom once we get there. This is Canal Walk.

[00:00:27]I cannot believe we have been living in South Africa for 28 months already. It is just so surreal. People always ask me, "Does it still feel new here? Does it still feel exciting?" And my answer is always yes. There's so much to do here in South Africa, so much to see.

[00:00:44]There's so much to eat here, child. And with every new age, the kids are able to do new things. This year it's King's ninth birthday, and oh my god, if you would have told me when he was like one or two that we would be celebrating these birthdays, these tender years out here in South Africa, I would have said you're lying. I would not have believed that me, myself, have uprooted my kids, my family, my life from America and moved to South Africa, and I'm actually loving it so much that I've been here for years now.

[00:01:17]>> So, now we're headed to Tyger Valley Centre because our time slot is in 1 hour. So, he's going to go play games, and then we're going to come back here.

[00:01:26]>> So, one thing we've noticed after living in South Africa for a little over 2 years is that birthdays feel a lot less rushed.

[00:01:31]Back in the States, it always felt like birthdays had to be this huge production. You book a venue, invite a bunch of people, spend a ton of money, and before you know it, the day's over.

[00:01:41]This year for King, the goal wasn't to throw the biggest party. It was to give my boy a week full of memories.

[00:01:47]Yesterday he did it big with his mom at the spa, and then earlier today we stopped by Freedom Adventure Park, but we got there before they opened. So, we decided to head down to Toys "R" Us so he can pick out a birthday gift.

[00:01:58]What's funny is these kids usually don't remember exactly what you spend on them, they just remember how you made them feel.

[00:02:04]And that's exactly what we've been trying to focus more on since moving here. People online ask us all the time if South Africa is better than America, and I don't think it's really that simple. There are things we miss about home, and then there's things we honestly just enjoy more here.

[00:02:18]And one of those things is the pace.

[00:02:21]We've had more time to actually be present with our kids instead of always feeling like we're racing through the week.

[00:02:26]And don't get me wrong, we still have responsibilities, work, deadlines, and all the normal adult stuff, but we've become a lot more intentional about creating experiences instead of just buying stuff. So, yeah, we're still buying them toys today. He's a kid after all.

[00:02:41]But hopefully, years from now, what he'll remember isn't just what came out of the Toys R Us bag. He'll remember spending the day with us, walking through the mall, laughing, picking out what he wanted, and just feeling celebrated. And what he really don't know is he open he and me and his mama's inner child. At the end of the day, as parents, we just want to give our kids an experience that we didn't have. And that's really what this week is all about. Now, let's see what King end up choosing.

[00:03:06]>> I already know what I want, unless I see something cooler. Mom says I have a budget, but I think birthday should have no budget.

[00:03:14]>> So, I guess we're moving past the Toys R Us stage with King. Today, he's turning nine, and we're in the toy store, and it's like he can't find nothing that he's interested in, except things that he already has.

[00:03:25]>> What?

[00:03:26]>> Except things that he already has.

[00:03:28]>> What are you talking about, Mom?

[00:03:30]It's awesome.

[00:03:31]>> That's true.

[00:03:33]I guess I spoke too soon.

[00:03:35]He's found things. Oh, that's a good Oh, no, it's not.

[00:03:39]I thought it was a good deal.

[00:03:42]>> The problem with Toys R Us is when you go in, you you see nothing you want, but then when you leave, you have 20 toys.

[00:03:48]>> Yeah, and that's definitely a problem for me.

[00:03:51]>> If you're watching this, tell me in the comments what your favorite toy was when you were 9 years old.

[00:03:56]I just like games now.

[00:03:59]>> I think I would look for things that I already play with a lot.

[00:04:03]Like to add to it, you know.

[00:04:07]Robo Alive Actually, you never know when's the last time you're actually going to be able to buy your kids toys from Toys R Us. I don't think I I didn't realize it and now we're there. So, he's like, "Yeah, this stuff is cool, but does he want to spend any money on it?" I think not. He just told me he wanted to go to the gadget store now, so we're headed there. Let's go.

[00:04:32]>> I mean, first we went to the gadget store, I was looking for games and the only two games I was interested in were over $100.

[00:04:40]So [laughter] So, my dad actually checked them and if they were um cheaper on digit just buying them on the PS5 alone, we would get them and we ended up buying them on the PS5.

[00:04:52]>> Now it's finally time to go to Freedom and the longest line. The longest line.

[00:04:57]The longest line.

[00:04:59]But anything for the king child, anything for the king.

[00:05:03]>> When I first moved to South Africa, I didn't even know what South Africa was and I was and I was scared well, my birthday was very boring and bland, but I guess I was wrong.

[00:05:13]>> It's funny that he said that, but it's so true. King actually turned 5 years old here in South Africa. So, at 5 years old, obviously, we don't know anything about geography. We don't know nothing about what's on the other side of the world. That sounds funny to say, but honestly, they really didn't know what South Africa was when we decided to move here. King turned 5 in Cape Town. I can't believe we've been here almost 3 years.

[00:05:36]>> Now, y'all not going to believe we in here stressed the hell out. Them near about to fight. Rachel really in the the damn uh What's it? The little tricycles?

[00:05:45]>> Yeah.

[00:05:45]>> And the kids are having a blast.

[00:05:47]>> track?

[00:05:49]King is already tired. Looks like that's why he's sitting down. Carter over there is still trying to find something to get into. And I am ready to go.

[00:05:56]>> I almost almost like asked them a little bit earlier like like 15 20 minutes ago.

[00:05:59]I was like, "Hey, y'all >> Y'all ready to go?

[00:06:02]Cuz damn, I'm so And y'all not going to believe we've only been here 20 minutes.

[00:06:07]>> It's like it's everybody's birthday today.

[00:06:09]>> Right.

[00:06:10]>> It's King's birthday. It's >> It's everybody's birthday. Everybody's showing their ass, man. I'm tired of it.

[00:06:15]It's way too many people in here for me and my anxiety.

[00:06:18]>> But anyway, I had an amazing birthday just like any other in South Africa.

[00:06:24]I don't even remember my birthdays in America, so I don't have much to compare to. But my birthdays out here were fire.

[00:06:31]This move was full of uncertainties for all of us. I remember being so nervous and so afraid like, "Oh my god, what are their birthday parties going to look like? Who's going to come to support them? Who's going to make sure that they're having a good time in a different country if there's only us?"

[00:06:46]But us means something different out here. As soon as you have a party, everybody comes.

[00:06:49]>> Okay, so we're still at the mall. We were going to go to Spur.

[00:06:53]But Spur was packed, y'all. I never seen Spur like this in my life. They had a line of at least like 30 people waiting to get into the restaurant. I said, "Hell no." We went across to Hisaar. We thought we were going to do that again, but they also had a line and I was like, once again, "Hell no." So we were about to go home, but then we saw Paul had a couple empty tables and now we're at Paul.

[00:07:18]King, how's your birthday so far?

[00:07:20]>> Uh amazing.

[00:07:21]>> What have you done?

[00:07:23]>> Uh we had a lot of fun. We went shopping while waiting um for an hour to go to Spur.

[00:07:28]>> You got games?

[00:07:30]Oh, it to go to >> Uh Freedom.

[00:07:33]>> Yeah.

[00:07:33]And then you got some games?

[00:07:35]>> Yeah, we got some games and we found out both of the games were cheaper online.

[00:07:39]>> Yep.

[00:07:39]>> So instead of getting them in real life, we just got them online. And plus, we don't have to like pick a disc that's already in there to put it in.

[00:07:46]>> Yeah. You mean like a new disc?

[00:07:48]>> Yeah.

[00:07:51]>> So, birthday vlogs are almost done.

[00:07:54]We're going to go home, chill after we eat this food, and yeah, we'll be back.

[00:08:08]>> If you're an American thinking about moving abroad, and you're thinking about South Africa, let us be your point of contact. We want to help you get situated. If you're thinking about getting a tour so you can see schools, see neighborhoods, and really get a feel for living here in South Africa, reach out to us because we can help.

[00:08:26]>> you.

[00:08:27]>> Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Key.

[00:08:35]Happy birthday to you.

[00:08:40]>> Happy birthday.

[00:08:42]>> Yes.

[00:08:42]>> I thought you didn't mean um >> Come on, Key.

[00:08:44]>> Only word I have. Thank you.

[00:08:46]>> You're very welcome, man. Happy birthday, son. We love you.

[00:08:49]>> Happy birthday. Happy birthday.

[00:08:59]>> Good [applause] job. Good job.

[00:09:01]Happy birthday, man.

[00:09:05]All right, turn the lights back on.

[00:09:07]>> Thank you.

[00:09:08]>> You got your chocolate cake that you ordered, my guy?

[00:09:10]>> That was good.

[00:09:12]I wonder what I'm going to do for my birthday.

[00:09:14]>> some ice cream in the fridge.