When was the last time you visited Home?

[Bugzy82]

Hi All,

Just out of curiosity when did you all visit home?

I went back last year September and was extremely depressed with the state of the place! Harare looked more like a trash can than the sunshine city!

:smiley6:

[dallas]

Went back for christmas, not the same, but still home, would go back in a heart beat if we could survive. There are still so many great things about Zim that SORT OF out weigh the bad

[watershed_bestplaceever]

Haven't been home since 1999 :(

[dallas]

That is awful, you shouldnt go back it will kill you with how much it has changed, life is sort of the same you just struggle day to day, but they still have all the comforts that we always had, just not much on the shelves to buy.

[Kirsty]

I haven't been back since July 1st 2001.

I hear so many mixed things about going back. Some say it's awefula dn it will make me so depressed. ANd those of my friend who go back on a regualr basis so it's great.

So who really knows.

[Bianca]

Haven't been back since 2003... and I am soooo homesick....

[Goblin]

We went back 2 years ago, going back in october.

[sally]

I went back in june last year with Roger, i might be coming back in sept or oct, but will have to see!!

[FerrariSucks]

Not been home since 9th July 2001

[Peas]

was there last Easter - going back April 2007 again

and home is home no matter whats wrong with it.... yeah its depressing but I love it no matter what!

[Zulu]

Left in 1985. Haven't been back.

Served in Angola for 6 months with the British Army and that cured any feelings that I might have had for Africa.

Without the people the drive to 'go back' diminishes a bit. Family have all left as have the people that I knew. I figure there are great places to go see for the scenery elsewhere, which is all the current Zimbabwe now is.

Maybe one day I will take my sons there. If ever thnings were to improve.

[sally]

even though you have not been back for so many years, it is still your home of birth!! Its not the best place on earth right now, and even if you have no familly there you will always have friends there! The people of zimbabwe are people who will always be friendly and compassionate to each other, when you feeling low or need help, zimbos are always there. In this day in age we have all learnt that we have to stick together....regardless!!!

[Zulu]

Agreed it is where I grew up but the current environment is alien to me. The picture I have of life growing up in Zim and Rhodesia before that is very different to the current reality.

I left at 18 and have since been fortunate enough to visit many parts of the world and feel that my future is somewhere else. I would not want to put my family in the situation that we had to deal with when we left.

I love Zimbabweans and know that they are always out there ready to help in virtually every corner of the globe. Trouble is that all the guys I knew and went to School with are not in Zimbabwe. I have more chnace of meeting them in the UK or Australia.

I live now in the Middle East and have found that the people in Oman are great. The country is clean and generally runs OK. There are no shortages and my salary gets moved off shore somewhere safe in hard currency.

I guess, whilst I will never forget my roots, I am also determined to move on and not get caught forever looking backwards for a place that exists only in my memory.

[nightape]

I guess, whilst I will never forget my roots, I am also determined to move on and not get caught forever looking backwards for a place that exists only in my memory.

This last part of what you said Zulu is how I feel mostly. I feel also that what we have all been through over the decades has turned us into a special breed of people, and no matter where we are, makes us determined to make the best of every situation. Strong and proud.

We left in 2002, and though I never say never, have no intention of going back. Africa will always be in my heart, where she is beautiful and cannot be turned into a monster.

[FerrariSucks]

I have a question to ask people who had not been back to Zim for a number of year and then went. Did they have any problems with passport control after being away from Zim for so long?

If I were to go after not being there for 6 years, do you think I will have problems?

[Poison]

I was last in Zim for New Years 2005-06. Had a great time..

It is very run down but that was home..

[Lindsey]

We try go back every 2 years... We were last there nearly 2 years ago - had a fantastic holiday. We closed our eyes to the politics - put our 'be on alert' senses on and made good use of our £'s ... Kariba, Nyanga (National Parks ... believe it or not) and places like Bally Vaughan were incredible - Staff were amazing and very accommodating... as was Lake Mc and enjoying all the new little restaurants and coffee shops that had popped up. Oh yes and went to Reps theatre and watched a very well performed professional dance show!! Yes - it's not the same as it used to be and my heart bleeds for the hardships some are undergoing - but there is no place like 'home' for a a holiday... and hard earned £'s go a long way when spent wisely .... Our kids loved it too!!! We will go back .... as many times as we can afford to...

[sally]

I have a question to ask people who had not been back to Zim for a number of year and then went. Did they have any problems with passport control after being away from Zim for so long?

If I were to go after not being there for 6 years, do you think I will have problems?

If you have a zim passport then they do ask a lot of questions if you have been out of the country for a long time, i got asked about my british passport cause it said i was born in Zim, but i think i just had a guy who was in a shitty mood!! depends on the guy at the desk i suppose!!

[squeakyB]

last time I was home was about 2 years ago - and the change then shocked me but still had a wonderful time as it will always be home and you don't get anything better than a house boat on Kariba

[FerrariSucks]

thanks sally

[sally]

No problem sunshine!!