March 07, 2025

Conquering Fears on Tafelberg: A Journey to Team Unity

15 minutes

Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Conquering Fears on Tafelberg: A Journey to Team Unity
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-03-07-23-34-01-af

Story Transcript:

Af: Pieter staan by die bus se deur.
En: Pieter stands by the bus door.

Af: Sy hande klam van senuweeagtigheid.
En: His hands are clammy from nervousness.

Af: Hy kyk na Annelie, wat stralend en energiek tussen die kollegas beweeg.
En: He looks at Annelie, who is radiant and energetic, moving among the colleagues.

Af: Dit is Pieter se eerste keer op Tafelberg.
En: It is Pieter's first time on Tafelberg.

Af: Hy probeer om nie aan sy angs vir hoogtes te dink nie.
En: He tries not to think about his fear of heights.

Af: Die sondige geur van fynbos hang swaar in die lug, saam met die belofte van 'n lewendige spanbou dag.
En: The sinful scent of fynbos hangs heavy in the air, along with the promise of a lively team-building day.

Af: Frans, altyd selfversekerd en vol idees, praat oor die bestygingsstrategieë wat hy op die internet gelees het.
En: Frans, always self-assured and full of ideas, talks about the climbing strategies he read about on the internet.

Af: “Ons gaan die kort roete vat,” sê Frans.
En: “We’re going to take the short route,” says Frans.

Af: “Minder bome, maar meer rots. Perfek vir foto's!”
En: “Fewer trees, but more rock. Perfect for photos!”

Af: Pieter sug.
En: Pieter sighs.

Af: Hy stel nie belang in rots of foto's nie.
En: He is not interested in rocks or photos.

Af: Hy stel belang in indruk maak.
En: He is interested in making an impression.

Af: Almal begin die klim.
En: Everyone begins the climb.

Af: Die staproete is steil en die son is warm op Pieter se nek.
En: The trail is steep, and the sun is warm on Pieter's neck.

Af: Hy hou sy oë op die grond gefokus om nie die afgronde te sien nie.
En: He keeps his eyes focused on the ground to avoid seeing the drop-offs.

Af: Annelie loop langs Pieter en vra hoe hy die dag tot dusfar ervaar.
En: Annelie walks next to Pieter and asks how he is experiencing the day so far.

Af: Met 'n glimlag antwoord hy, maar sy hande bly steeds styf om sy waterbottel geklem.
En: With a smile, he responds, but his hands remain tightly clenched around his water bottle.

Af: By 'n smal ledge stop die groep.
En: At a narrow ledge, the group stops.

Af: Die uitsig oor Kaapstad is skouspelagtig, die golwe wat die strande ontmoet onder die groot blou hemel.
En: The view over Kaapstad is spectacular, the waves meeting the beaches under the vast blue sky.

Af: "Kyk net daar," roep Frans uit.
En: "Just look there," Frans exclaims.

Af: Maar vir Pieter is die dieptes benoud.
En: But for Pieter, the depths are daunting.

Af: Hy los sy waterbottel neer en asem diep in.
En: He sets down his water bottle and takes a deep breath.

Af: Pieter weet hy moet 'n keuse maak.
En: Pieter knows he must make a choice.

Af: Bly hy hier, of stap hy verder saam met die groep?
En: Does he stay here, or does he continue with the group?

Af: Sy hart klop soos 'n trom.
En: His heart beats like a drum.

Af: Hy dink aan die bevordering, maar ook aan die verhouding met sy kollegas.
En: He thinks about the promotion but also about the relationship with his colleagues.

Af: Dan weet hy, hy wil nie net "daar" kom nie, hy wil "hier" wees, saam met hulle.
En: Then he knows he doesn’t just want to "be there," he wants to "be here," with them.

Af: Met 'n nuwe vastberadenheid beweeg Pieter vorentoe.
En: With newfound determination, Pieter moves forward.

Af: “Kom ons stap,” sê hy met meer oortuiging as wat hy voel.
En: “Let’s walk,” he says with more confidence than he feels.

Af: Frans draai om en glimlag breed, terwyl Annelie haar goedkeur aan hom gee.
En: Frans turns and smiles broadly, while Annelie gives her approval.

Af: Die groep volg hom en Pieter lei, al is dit net vir 'n kort stukkie, die pad.
En: The group follows him, and Pieter leads the way, even if just for a short piece.

Af: Later, wanneer hulle almal onder die skadu van 'n groot boom sit en hul toebroodjies eet, voel Pieter 'n trots wat hy nie verwag het nie.
En: Later, when they all sit under the shade of a big tree eating their sandwiches, Pieter feels a pride he did not expect.

Af: Sy vrese blyk nie meer so groot nie, die wêreld nie so eng nie.
En: His fears seem not so big anymore, the world not so narrow.

Af: Op die bus terug, terwyl die herinneringe van die dag in sy gedagtes gly, voel Pieter hoe 'n band met sy kollegas vorm.
En: On the bus back, as the memories of the day slide through his mind, Pieter feels a bond forming with his colleagues.

Af: Dit is nie net die bereiking van die top wat saak maak nie, besef hy, maar die pad saam daarheen.
En: It is not just reaching the top that matters, he realizes, but the journey there together.

Af: En met daardie gedagte, glimlag hy vir die eerste keer voluit.
En: And with that thought, he smiles fully for the first time.

Af: Wanneer Pieters se baas hom die volgende week komplimenteer oor hoe hy die span geïnspireer het, weet Pieter alreeds.
En: When Pieter's boss compliments him the next week on how he inspired the team, Pieter already knows.

Af: Groei beteken om jou vrese te staan maak en jouself oop te stel vir die wêreld, net soos hy dit gedoen het op daardie smal ledge van Tafelberg.
En: Growth means facing your fears and opening yourself to the world, just as he did on that narrow ledge of Tafelberg.

Af: En in daardie groei, vind hy die betekenis van 'n ware span.
En: And in that growth, he finds the meaning of a true team.

Vocabulary Words: