March 11, 2025

A Father's Journey: Letting Go in Cape Town

13 minutes

Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: A Father's Journey: Letting Go in Cape Town
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-03-11-22-34-00-af

Story Transcript:

Af: Die oggend begin vroeg.
En: The morning begins early.

Af: Die lughawe kafees is vol mense.
En: The airport cafes are full of people.

Af: Dis laat somer in Kaapstad en 'n warm gloed skyn deur die glasvensters by die Cape Town International Airport.
En: It's late summer in Kaapstad and a warm glow shines through the glass windows at the Cape Town International Airport.

Af: Pieter, 'n middeljarige man, staan by die vertrekterminaal.
En: Pieter, a middle-aged man, stands at the departure terminal.

Af: Sy dogter, Megan, gaan universiteit toe in 'n ander stad.
En: His daughter, Megan, is going to university in another city.

Af: Dit is 'n dag van trots, maar ook van swaar hart.
En: It is a day of pride, but also of heavy heart.

Af: Pieter hou sy dogter se hand styf vas.
En: Pieter holds his daughter's hand tightly.

Af: Haar vriendin, Lize, is ook daar.
En: Her friend, Lize, is also there.

Af: Sy het 'n klein geskenkie vir Megan gebring.
En: She has brought a small gift for Megan.

Af: "Jy gaan dit maak," sê Lize glimlaggend terwyl sy Megan se hand druk.
En: "You're going to make it," says Lize smiling as she squeezes Megan's hand.

Af: Megan glimlag breed.
En: Megan smiles broadly.

Af: Sy is opgewonde, maar sy weet ook dat haar pa emosioneel voel.
En: She is excited, but she also knows that her dad feels emotional.

Af: Die drie staan by die groot skerm wat die vlug inligting wys.
En: The three stand by the large screen displaying the flight information.

Af: Die luidspreker kondig aan dat dit tyd is vir Megan om aan boord te gaan.
En: The loudspeaker announces that it is time for Megan to board.

Af: Pieter voel 'n knop in sy keel.
En: Pieter feels a lump in his throat.

Af: Hy wil die beste vir sy dogter.
En: He wants the best for his daughter.

Af: Hy weet dat hy haar moet laat gaan sodat sy haar drome kan volg.
En: He knows he must let her go so she can follow her dreams.

Af: "Ek is trots op jou, Megan," sê hy sag, amper in 'n fluisterstem.
En: "I'm proud of you, Megan," he says softly, almost in a whisper.

Af: "Maak jou drome waar.
En: "Make your dreams come true."

Af: "Megan kyk na haar pa, liefde blink in haar oë.
En: Megan looks at her dad, love shining in her eyes.

Af: "Dankie, Pa," sê sy.
En: "Thank you, Dad," she says.

Af: By die veiligheidspoort hou Pieter en Lize stil.
En: At the security gate, Pieter and Lize stop.

Af: Megan draai nog een keer om.
En: Megan turns around one more time.

Af: Haar blou oë soek haar pa s’n in die skare.
En: Her blue eyes search for her dad's in the crowd.

Af: Pieter, met 'n glimlag wat sy trane wegsteek, waai vir haar.
En: Pieter, with a smile that hides his tears, waves at her.

Af: Dit is 'n oomblik van verlange en liefde, van trots en pyn.
En: It is a moment of longing and love, of pride and pain.

Af: Wanneer die vliegtuig uiteindelik in die lug opstig, kyk Pieter uit oor die lughawe.
En: When the plane finally lifts into the air, Pieter looks out over the airport.

Af: Die geraas van die motors en mense vul die lug.
En: The noise of the cars and people fills the air.

Af: Maar daar is 'n stilte in sy hart wat hy moet hanteer.
En: But there is a silence in his heart that he must deal with.

Af: Een fase van hul lewens het geëindig, en 'n nuwe een begin.
En: One phase of their lives has ended, and a new one is beginning.

Af: Pieter onthou die oomblikke toe Megan nog 'n klein meisie was.
En: Pieter remembers the moments when Megan was still a little girl.

Af: Nou is sy grootmens, gereed om haar eie avontuur te begin.
En: Now she is an adult, ready to begin her own adventure.

Af: Hy draai na Lize en sê, "Sy gaan oukei wees.
En: He turns to Lize and says, "She will be okay.

Af: En ek ook.
En: And so will I."

Af: "'N nuwe gevoel van kalmte spoel oor hom.
En: A new feeling of calm washes over him.

Af: Pieter het besef dat, alhoewel dinge verander, dit nie noodwendig sleg is nie.
En: Pieter has realized that, although things change, it's not necessarily bad.

Af: Hy weet Megan is op pad om haar drome waar te maak, en hy troos homself daarmee.
En: He knows Megan is on her way to making her dreams come true, and he comforts himself with that.

Af: Hierdie lewe is nie net ‘n eindbestemming nie, maar eerder ‘n reis vol nuwe beginne.
En: This life is not just a final destination, but rather a journey full of new beginnings.

Vocabulary Words: