December 15, 2025

Chasing Dreams: Braam's Karoo Christmas Journey

14 minutes

Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Chasing Dreams: Braam's Karoo Christmas Journey
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-12-15-08-38-20-af

Story Transcript:

Af: Die son bak fel oor die uitgestrekte Karoo, die landskap is stil en eindeloos.
En: The sun beats down harshly over the vast Karoo, the landscape is quiet and endless.

Af: Braam het al lank gedroom van 'n vakansie saam met sy gesin.
En: Braam has long dreamed of a vacation with his family.

Af: Hy wil graag die oop pad van die Karoo toer, die lang reguitpaaie en die rustige plaaslewe ervaar.
En: He wants to tour the open road of the Karoo, experiencing the long straight roads and the tranquil farm life.

Af: Maar voor hy dit kan doen, moet hy eers sy kantooraangeleenthede klaar kry.
En: But before he can do that, he must first finish his office matters.

Af: Dis somer, net voor Kersfees, en Braam is gespanne oor sy einde-van-die-jaar prestasie-oorsig.
En: It's summer, just before Christmas, and Braam is anxious about his year-end performance review.

Af: Hy werk al jare vir Elsie as 'n betroubare werknemer, maar sy vrees is dat hy nie die bonus sal kry wat hy nodig het vir die gesinsreis nie.
En: He has been working for Elsie for years as a reliable employee, but his fear is that he will not receive the bonus he needs for the family trip.

Af: Johan, die jong talentvolle kollega, werk hard en maak soms vir Braam onseker.
En: Johan, the young talented colleague, works hard and sometimes makes Braam feel insecure.

Af: Braam voel die druk van finansiële sekerheid en sy verantwoordelikhede as gesinshoof.
En: Braam feels the pressure of financial security and his responsibilities as the head of the family.

Af: Braam besluit om sy vrees in die oë te kyk en gaan reguit na Elsie se kantoor.
En: Braam decides to face his fear and goes straight to Elsie's office.

Af: Met 'n sagte klop, stap hy in.
En: With a soft knock, he steps in.

Af: "Elsie," begin hy, effens huiwerig, "ek wil net weet hoe ek vaar met die laaste projek.
En: "Elsie," he begins, slightly hesitant, "I just want to know how I'm doing with the last project.

Af: Ek is bekommerd dat dit nie aan die verwagtinge voldoen nie.
En: I'm worried that it doesn't meet the expectations."

Af: " Elsie glimlag.
En: Elsie smiles.

Af: "Braam, ek is bly jy vra.
En: "Braam, I'm glad you asked.

Af: Ek dink jy het goed gedoen, veral in jou samewerking met Johan.
En: I think you did well, especially in your collaboration with Johan.

Af: Dit is juis jou leierskap wat hom gehelp het om uit te blink.
En: It is precisely your leadership that helped him to excel."

Af: "Die spanning in sy maag begin verdwyn.
En: The tension in his stomach begins to fade.

Af: Braam, met 'n nuwe houding, besluit om Johan by sy tafel op te soek.
En: Braam, with a new attitude, decides to seek out Johan at his desk.

Af: Saam werk hulle deur 'n laaste taak, die beste uit albei se idees put.
En: Together they work through one last task, drawing the best from both of their ideas.

Af: Een middag sit hulle by die venster en kyk hoe Wildebeeste in die verte beweeg.
En: One afternoon they sit by the window watching Wildebeest moving in the distance.

Af: Hulle besef dat 'n sterk span meer bereik as individuele sukses.
En: They realize that a strong team achieves more than individual success.

Af: Met die einde-van-die-jaar-vergadering ontvang Braam lof van Elsie.
En: At the year-end meeting, Braam receives praise from Elsie.

Af: Sy prys sy werk en die manier waarop hy Johan ondersteun.
En: She commends his work and the way he supported Johan.

Af: Die groot verrassing is die toekenning van die Kersbonus.
En: The big surprise is the awarding of the Christmas bonus.

Af: Toe Braam daardie aand by die huis kom, trek hy sy gesin nader.
En: When Braam comes home that evening, he gathers his family close.

Af: "Goeie nuus!
En: "Good news!"

Af: " sê hy opgewonde.
En: he says excitedly.

Af: "Ons gaan deur die Karoo ry vir Kersfees!
En: "We're going to drive through the Karoo for Christmas!"

Af: " Die glimlagte van sy familie is die grootste beloning.
En: The smiles of his family are the greatest reward.

Af: Braam besef iets belangriks: samewerking en vertroue is sterker as vrees.
En: Braam realizes something important: cooperation and trust are stronger than fear.

Af: Hy is dankbaar en gereed vir die avontuur op die oop pad, die Karoo wat voorlê met sy beloftes van vrede en ontdekking.
En: He is grateful and ready for the adventure on the open road, the Karoo lying ahead with its promises of peace and discovery.

Af: Soos die Karoomiddel wind deur sy hare waai, voel Braam dat hy 'n nuwe koers geslaan het - een van selfvertroue en gesamentlike groei.
En: As the Karoo wind blows through his hair, Braam feels that he has set a new course—one of self-confidence and collective growth.

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