This is story #50 in the series “Where Exactly is Home?”. It’s the last story in the Rhodesian part of the author’s life. The author recommends you read them in order.
Introduction:
“Where Exactly is Home?” follows the story of my parents, my two younger brothers and me, Susan, who emigrated from war-battered Britain, in the mid-late 1950’s, to Southern Rhodesia, Africa.
The effects of this move on our family were huge, as we struggled to adapt to such a different way of life. Only after further upheaval, and more long-distance travelling, did our family eventually settle in the city of Salisbury, Rhodesia.
However, we did not know then that we would not remain there for the rest of our lives, either.
When the family first went to Africa, I, Susan, was 9 years old. My two brothers, John and Peter, were almost 7 and 4, respectively.
Nowadays, as seniors, John and Peter live in England. I live in Canada. Throughout our lives, we have both benefitted from, and suffered because of, our somewhat unusual childhood.
I, for one, still sometimes ask myself which country represents home to me.
This is a series of stories under the title “Where Exactly is Home?” – I recommend you read them in order, starting with story #1.
50. Right or Wrong? I Just Didn’t Know
With my heart pounding and feeling as if I could hardly breathe, I sat on my own in the back garden of my parents’ house, staring at the empty chair ahead of me, knowing that my fiancé would soon be seated there. He was driving over right now, and would be arriving any minute, expecting to see me, as usual, of course. We were going to discuss our plans for getting married in a couple of months’ time. We didn’t have much contact during the week, since I lived and worked in Marandellas, at least an hour or more away by car from Salisbury. However, I came home at the weekends whenever I could get a ride back to Salisbury. I didn’t have any other means of transport.
My fiancé and I had started dating two or more years previously. We had met at the local swimming pool but had known of each other before then since we had both attended the same university. He was two years older than me and had studied Geology. After getting his degree, he had left university to work in the government. However, he still lived at home with his parents and his younger brother. He had his own car, though, and now also had money to spend. Just as well, since in those days young men who were dating were expected to pay for the expenses of their young ladies, too. I would never have thought it appropriate to offer to pay for my own cinema or theatre ticket, for instance. It just wasn’t done. In fact, I would not have considered it appropriate to go to a cinema with a group of girlfriends, either, not because it was dangerous, per se, but because it was unseemly to be doing so. A young lady was supposed to be escorted by a young man. That was the norm.
