Last Easter I traveled with my two sons to visit the fourth member of our nuclear family—my husband, their father—who has been assigned responsibility for his company’s Jo’burg office. It was our first trip. On the plane—a night flight—we wondered as we flew south over the sleeping continent. What unexpected things would we find in a place where constellations are unfamiliar, the seasons switched, foods like springbok and biltong grace menus, man-eating sharks cruise bays, penguins waddle along beaches and townships still teem and thrive?

This is a first answer.

–Natalia Sarkissian

–Natalia Sarkissian

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Natalia Sarkissian has an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and has been a contributing editor at Numéro Cinq since 2010.

This photographic essay was originally published at Numero Cinq Magazine in June 2012. Here are the comments associated with the original post: 

6 Responses to “Gauteng and the Cape Peninsula: Encountering South Africa — Natalia Sarkissian”

1. 

   Diane says:

   June 21, 2012 at 4:05 pm

   As always from you, these are extraordinary. Thank you for letting Numero Cinq make them available to us.

   Reply
2. 

   ns says:

   June 21, 2012 at 4:47 pm

   Thanks Diane, so glad you enjoyed them.

   Reply
3. 

   Laurie says:

   June 22, 2012 at 2:58 pm

   Absolutely Stunning!

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     ns says:

     June 22, 2012 at 5:21 pm

     Laurie, Thanks! I appreciate it.

     Reply
4. 

   Jean Grant says:

   June 22, 2012 at 3:32 pm

   Nat, these are so wonderful. The one that resonated most with me was the guarded compound in Jo’burg. I felt oppressed in Capetown by the feeling of fear and the ways I was taught to accommodate to it. So looking forward to seeing you again at BWW.

   Reply
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     ns says:

     June 22, 2012 at 5:20 pm

     Thanks Jean. Yes, learning to live with that fear on a daily basis is required.

     Reply