Being a citizen of one country and a resident in another is a perplexing predicament. I lost count of the number of times I had to tell someone on my recent trip to South Africa that I am South African, but live in Taiwan. The oddest incident happened after Jia Hui and I landed at Durban airport. It was late at night and there was no other means of getting into the city other than taxis, which turned out to be very expensive. We finally ended up sharing a taxi with an American who was heading in the general direction we were and we agreed to share the cost. He owned a yacht which was anchored in the Durban harbour and asked the inevitable question about where we came from.

I was tired of explaining my situation and so just said Taiwan, whereupon he proceeded to tell us all about Durban and the places we should see and the things we should be careful of! Now, for someone who was born in Durban and who has lived there for major portions of his life, I hardly needed a tour guide to the place. But I couldn't be bothered to tell the sailor. During the drive it became obvious that the taxi driver was aiming to take us for a drive, but the American knew enough about Durban to set him on the right course. After we dropped the yachtsman at the harbour I let the driver know, by initiating a conversation about Durban, that I also knew the place and that I knew exactly where we were heading. He was surprised and took us straight to our hotel.

Another incident happened just as we drove into Knysna. I was driving and was stopped by a traffic officer doing a routine check. He asked for my driver's license and I gave him the international driver's license I obtained in Taiwan, because my South African license has expired. He looked quizzically at it, what with my name in Chinese and then in English, and noticing his confusion, for the umpteenth time said that I was South African but lived in Taiwan. As if he didn't believe me he asked, "So, you're Mr. Delport?" I said yes and he gave me back my license and instructed me to drive safely.

Being treated as a foreigner in my own country was a novel experience, but it made me wonder where my home is. Is South Africa home, because I still proudly regard myself as a South African, or is it Taiwan where all my possessions, my job and the love of my life are? If I had the choice, I wouldn't stay in Taiwan, because I don't like the country, but neither would I stay in South Africa, because I think I would get bored. The predicament broadens.

Perhaps by bringing my past, in the form of photos, memorabilia, and other significant bits and pieces, to Taiwan, as I did upon my recent return, and thereby transplanting my memories to here, I will make Taiwan my home and South Africa my refuge.

25 January 2004

Dion Marc Delport

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