Benize & Charl: Home is each other

What is home?  

Benize: That’s an easy answer; for me, Charl is my home.

Charl: For me, ‘home’ is a very unique feeling of belonging, and it is something that isn’t a place or a person but an emotion, and that’s the best way for me to describe it. Which is certainly the case here as I have found Brainport Eindhoven a special place.

How was your journey moving to Brainport?   

Charl: We have been living in Brainport Eindhoven for over ten months and we are still very much immersed in the phase where everything's new and exciting, but find ourselves adapting to our new lives as each day goes by. While Benize had previously visited the Netherlands, this was my first experience. This not only made it a really big leap, which comes with some understandable uncertainty but at the same time, the anticipation and research have been incredibly thrilling for me. One aspect that greatly resonated with us was the striking similarity between the Dutch language and our native language, Afrikaans. This immediate familiarity played a significant role in helping us feel at home, creating an overall positive experience.

Benize: I felt like everything happened in a whirlwind of excitement; within just three months, we made the decision to move and completed the entire relocation process. It was the most significant decision we had ever made, requiring life changing decisions in a very short timeframe. In the end our proactive approach prior to our arrival got us most of the way, we dedicated ample time to research, enabling us to have a clear understanding of what to expect. Moreover, we were fortunate to have access to numerous resources that proved invaluable in guiding us through the entire process.

What makes you feel at home in Brainport Eindhoven?  

Benize: The one thing that stood out for me is the hospitality that we have received. We were pleasantly surprised by the warmth and openness of the people from Brainport, which made us feel welcome and at home. Innitially when making the decision, we were uncertain about how we will be received as expats in someone else’s country, but the hospitality in the Brainport region really made us feel like part of the community.   

Charl: At the beginning, I mentioned that for me, home is a sense of belonging, and that was precisely how I felt since we moved here. My experience has been slightly different from Benize's, as I was immediately immersed in the professional world, I discovered a work culture that was incredibly welcoming—they made an effort to include me in various aspects, from informal coffee conversations to involving me in meaningful projects. This warm reception has greatly contributed to quickly bolding a sense of familiarity and feeling at home.

Can Brainport Eindhoven be your forever home?  

Benize and Charl: Without a doubt yes! That’s an easy question, we don’t even have to think twice. Moving here has been the single greatest decision for our relationship. We ended up getting married, and for the first time, we are actually considering having kids. The Netherlands is a wonderful place for kids to grow up and for families to live happily. Something that was never really an option for us in South Africa, but here, the possibilities and quality of life is making us seriously consider it.
So, yes, Brainport Eindhoven is now our home!