Japanese blogger spots a South African in Vienna
This wholesome interaction between a Japanese man living in Vienna and a South African has all the feels.
There’s something special about meeting a fellow South African while travelling or working abroad – it's almost as exciting as encountering a foreigner speaking the language of your home country.
Language has always been a bridge that connects people, overcoming cultural and linguistic barriers. While it can sometimes divide, it's the multicultural approach many take when meeting someone new that truly stands out.
The genuine interest in learning how to greet and wish others well is often what leaves the most lasting impression.
And let’s not forget the second thing people tend to ask about: learning unique phrases or slang that immediately resonate with foreigners.
A Japanese blogger, Yuzi Beleza, living in Vienna, Austria, shared a wholesome moment he had with a South African man. Beleza surprised the man with a greeting in Afrikaans, leaving him grinning from ear to ear.
Of course, he took a bit of a gamble with that one, as South Africa is home to many languages, and Afrikaans is just one of them.
It was truly touching for the South African man to hear Beleza speak Afrikaans and show such a genuine interest in the language. Many others who saw the post shared their thoughts, expressing their joy at the interaction:
"Finally someone from South Africa. 🇿🇦 You can tell that he's South African - the warmth and his calmness. Yuji, you must learn other South African languages and visit our country."
"This dude was extra happy when he heard Afrikaans."
"South Africa my country... waited long time for this."
Watch their encounter below – courtesy of TikTok.
@yuji_beleza Langauges are about connecting hearts ❤️ . Surprising a SouthAfrican man in Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹 . #afrkaans #southafrica #japan #vienna #austria #wien #japan #zulutiktok ♬ original sound - yuji_beleza
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Image courtesy of TikTok