What does America look like through the eyes of someone who wasn’t born here—but desperately wanted to live here?
In this episode of We Have A Problem, Kaylyn sits down with her friend Anneke to talk about her journey from South Africa to the United States—and why living in America has given her a very different perspective on the country many Americans take for granted.
Anneke shares what it was like growing up in South Africa, from experiencing violence and concerns about safety to the everyday differences Americans may never think twice about—from the availability of restaurants and services to the ability to build the kind of life you want.
Then we talk about America.
What does the American Dream look like to someone who actually immigrated here in search of it? Does the idea that you can work hard and create a better life still exist? What opportunities do Americans have that can be easy to overlook simply because we've always had them?
Anneke shares why she believes America offers greater opportunity, why she feels safer here, and what it means to live somewhere where she can vote, volunteer, access healthcare and actively participate in the community around her.
We also have an honest conversation about the opportunities she felt were limited in South Africa, what she misses about the country she came from, and what Americans misunderstand about life there.
And perhaps most importantly, we ask a question we don't hear very often:
What do immigrants who chose America wish Americans appreciated about their own country?
IN THIS EPISODE:
• What it was like growing up in South Africa
• Anneke's experiences with violence and safety
• Why she dreamed of living in America
• The everyday conveniences Americans rarely think about
• Why opportunity feels different in the United States
• What the American Dream looks like from an immigrant's perspective
• Whether hard work can still change your life in America
• The ability to vote and participate in your community
• Safety and quality of life
• Healthcare in America versus Anneke's experience in South Africa
• Why volunteering and community involvement stood out to her
• What she believes Americans take for granted
• What she loves and misses about South Africa
• The opportunities she believes she gained by moving to the United States
• Whether the American Dream is still alive
America isn't perfect. But sometimes it takes someone who had to fight to get here to remind us what we have.
We Have A Problem... So, let's talk about it.