Marita van der Vyver

Marita van der Vyver (born 6 May 1958) is an Afrikaans author who has written several books for both adult and youth audiences. Since 1999, she has been living in France with her husband and four children. Van der Vyver wrote a collection of humorous essays detailing life in the countryside of France, titled Die hart van ons huis in 2004, after which her first volume of short stories, Bestemmings was released, together with an English counterpart. Quotes I learned that there is always more than one side to every story. When my friends in South Africa complain about strike actions and I tell them how continuously the French strike, they can’t believe me. France is a wonderful country in which to live, but it also has its problems, it is most definitely no paradise. Just like SA remains a wonderful country despite all its problems. When I visit SA, I can examine everything happening over there with my “French glasses” – and in France I examine all the problems and pleasures while wearing my “SA glasses”. This way I always see the wider picture – and it’s a big benefit, for me as a writer, but also just as a common person. My lifestyle most definitely improved. Not only because I live in France, but perhaps even more so because I live in the French countryside. My stress levels are much lower than what was ever the case in SA! I learned to be more relaxed, prepare food leisurely, eat slowly. The entire “culture of food” in France unbelievably enriched my life. And the appreciation of my French friends for good movies – not only American blockbusters – and durable clothes and intelligent company and art-as-part-of-everyday-life; these things still enrich me. Friends that I have known since my youth. Friends with whom I go back such a long way that I never need to explain anything to them. We have a shared field of reference. We laugh at the same jokes. And then I miss hearing Afrikaans around me, in cafes and on the street. And of course, certain foods that I can’t get in France, such as whole wheat rusks to dip in my coffee. And pawpaws and guavas and koeksisters. External links Category: Living people Category:Novelists from South Africa Category:Short story writers from South Africa Category:Women authors from South Africa Category:Children's authors Category:1958 births Category:Women born in the 1950s Category:People from Cape Town