Navigating Family, Illness And Identity Abroad with Ruth Prinsloo - E30

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to face major life challenges far away from the familiar comforts of home and family? Or how it feels to build a new identity and raise a family abroad, without the built-in support systems so many of us take for granted?

In this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Ruth Prinsloo, whose story takes us from her childhood in Boksburg, to a life spread across continents. Ruth has not only navigated the practical and emotional realities of relocating -moving through France, Japan, and now the Netherlands - but has also beat cancer, rebuilt her sense of self, and raised a family in a foreign land, all while being far from her closest relatives.

Interviewing Ruth left a deep impression on me. She speaks with such honesty about the difficulties of coping with illness when your family is thousands of kilometres away, the challenge of forming your own identity in a new country, and the bittersweet emotions involved in seeing your children create their own connections with South Africa from afar.

If you’re interested in the real, sometimes raw experience of carving out a life abroad - especially when it comes to family, health, and finding your place in the world - you won’t want to miss Ruth’s moving and insightful story.

“To be able to let go of my idea of how I thought it would work out and just simply take it as it comes.” - Ruth Prinsloo

00:00 Introduction

05:21 An out-of-the-blue opportunity in Japan

09:15 How she ended up in Amsterdam

11:20 Her journey with cancer

14:00 Crafting as part of recovery

16:35 Pursuing bronze sculpting

21:04 Meeting a renowned sculptor

26:43 Playing rugby in Holland

31:40 SA vs European perspective

35:06 Coping with fear and trauma

40:38 Looking forward, not backwards

44:53 She experienced a medical miracle

Resources

• Join ‘South Africans currently LIVING abroad’ on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/salivingabroad/

Find your digital home with fellow Relocated South Africans around the world. Visit https://therelocatedsouthafrican.com and connect with Jan at jan@therelocatedsouthafrican.com

This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:

https://www.zapods.com