Growing up in Zim

This is from Joey Van Wyk . A Rhodesian and Zimbabwe National - who gives an insight of what it was like to grow up in Rhodesia 

https://www.facebook.com/1112252189/posts/10204404346004699?sfns=mo

11am, 11th day of the 11th month 1965 (note that 65 also makes 11) the Rhodesian flag was raised and UDI declared. 

The international world thought they would bring us to our knees by instituting sanctions, instead they made us stronger. We learnt to make our own products and therefore more jobs were created. They turned their backs on us and said they would not help us...our Rhodesian $ was stronger than the US$ and the British pound and our economy so strong I never saw a beggar on a street corner until I left my beautiful country, no beggars of ANY colour, race or group. We learnt to be thrifty and went without much yet never lived in poverty. Our meals so plentiful that we could always share a plate with unexpected guests. 

There was a war on and the amazing men of our country, both black and white, fought side by side against the communists / terrorists, putting their lives on the line to protect homeland and fellow countrymen, many losing their lives. I myself lost 3 family members and many friends to the war. The world said we were wrong yet they send their troops to OTHER countries to fight terrorists, we only protected our borders. 

The woman were left at home to take care of families, quickly becoming just as capable as the men in putting up shelves, growing vegetable gardens, fixing minor issues with the car or electronics, being both Mother and Father to the children and living in hope every day that their men would not be one of the casualties this time round, sometimes having that hope shattered.

I am grateful for growing up in a country that taught us to be resilient and forthright, speaking our minds with honesty and truth. 

That taught us to live in the moment, each moment with gratitude and joy, to always make the best of every situation, to not cry into our cups because someone looked at us the wrong way, our car broke down, the garage was out of petrol or the corner store did not have our favourite product in stock but make do with what they do have and appreciate it. 

We learnt to stand by each other, if something needed doing it would be all hands on deck, even for people you hadn't met. 

We learnt that there is strength in unity. 

We lived with respect, admiration and total acceptance for each other. 

There was huge respect between black and white, each acknowledging the others culture and their right to live their culture in peace. 

I salute my fellow countrymen and woman from the beautiful land called Rhodesia, our country may be lost to us and now lying in poverty and waste but our memories are rich and our character and love for each other remains.