Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Blooming Bonds: An Unexpected Friendship in Kirstenbosch
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.org/blooming-bonds-an-unexpected-friendship-in-kirstenbosch

Story Transcript:

Af: Pieter stap rustig deur die Kirstenbosch Nasionale Botaniese Tuin.
En: Pieter steps calmly through the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.

Af: Die lente se gees is in die lug.
En: The spirit of spring is in the air.

Af: Die blomme bloei helder, en die geur van varings en proteas vul die tuin.
En: The flowers are blooming brightly, and the scent of ferns and proteas fills the garden.

Af: Hy kom geleentheid om nuwe idees vir sy botaniese navorsing te kry.
En: He comes to find new ideas for his botanical research.

Af: Maar Pieter is altyd bietjie senuweeagtig om met ander mense te praat.
En: But Pieter is always a bit nervous to talk to other people.

Af: Aan die ander kant van die tuin sien Anika deur haar kameralens ook 'n wêreld vol kleure.
En: On the other side of the garden, Anika sees a world full of colors through her camera lens.

Af: Sy het onlangs na Kaapstad getrek en is op soek na nuwe vriende en inspirasie vir 'n fotoprojek.
En: She recently moved to Cape Town and is looking for new friends and inspiration for a photo project.

Af: Sy hou van die manier waarop die lig op die King Protea val, sy gunsteling blom om af te neem.
En: She loves the way the light falls on the King Protea, her favorite flower to photograph.

Af: Toe Pieter opmerk dat Anika foto's neem van die King Protea, skraap hy sy moed bymekaar.
En: When Pieter notices Anika taking pictures of the King Protea, he musters up his courage.

Af: Sy kennis van hierdie plant is groot.
En: His knowledge of this plant is vast.

Af: Hy stap nader.
En: He approaches her.

Af: "Mooie skoot," sê hy saggies om haar nie te skrik te maak nie.
En: "Nice shot," he says softly so as not to startle her.

Af: Anika glimlag en antwoord, "Dankie, dis 'n pragtige plant.
En: Anika smiles and replies, "Thank you, it's a beautiful plant."

Af: "Hulle gesels en deel stories oor die verskillende blomme.
En: They chat and share stories about the different flowers.

Af: Pieter geniet die gesprek en besef dat Anika belangstelling toon in sy vertel van die plante se geskiedenis.
En: Pieter enjoys the conversation and realizes that Anika shows interest in his stories about the history of the plants.

Af: Anika waardeer Pieter se kennis en vind die gesprek maklik en natuurlik.
En: Anika appreciates Pieter's knowledge and finds the conversation easy and natural.

Af: Skielik begin dit reën.
En: Suddenly it starts to rain.

Af: 'n Skielike, vars lente-reënstorm.
En: A sudden, fresh spring rainstorm.

Af: Hulle hardloop na 'n nabygeleë glas-kweekhuis vir skuiling.
En: They run to a nearby glass greenhouse for shelter.

Af: Binne-in is dit stil en beskerm, gevul met plante net so interessant soos buite.
En: Inside, it's quiet and protected, filled with plants just as interesting as outside.

Af: Hulle sit op 'n bankie en gesels verder.
En: They sit on a bench and continue to chat.

Af: Pieter vertel haar van die tye toe hy gevoel het hy pas nie in nie, en Anika deel haar ervaring van nuut wees in 'n groot stad.
En: Pieter tells her about the times he felt he didn't fit in, and Anika shares her experience of being new in a big city.

Af: Daar in die kweekhuis, weg van die reën, bou hulle 'n band oor hul gedeelde passie.
En: There in the greenhouse, away from the rain, they build a bond over their shared passion.

Af: Met die reën wat steeds saggies op die glas val, besluit hulle om hul talente te kombineer.
En: With the rain still gently falling on the glass, they decide to combine their talents.

Af: Hulle ruil kontakbesonderhede uit en besluit om saam te werk aan 'n projek—Pieter se kennis saam met Anika se fotografie.
En: They exchange contact details and decide to collaborate on a project—Pieter’s knowledge with Anika’s photography.

Af: Wanneer die reën ophou, stap hulle saam na die uitgang van die tuin.
En: When the rain stops, they walk together to the garden's exit.

Af: Die lug is vars en helder.
En: The air is fresh and clear.

Af: Pieter voel meer selfvertroue, meer verbind met die mense om hom.
En: Pieter feels more confident, more connected with the people around him.

Af: Anika voel nie meer vreemdeling in die stad nie.
En: Anika no longer feels like a stranger in the city.

Af: Hulle groet mekaar met 'n handdruk en die belofte van 'n toekomstige projek.
En: They say goodbye with a handshake and the promise of a future project.

Af: Pieter en Anika stap in die rigting van nuwe vriendskap en avontuur, elkeen 'n bietjie verander deur die ontmoeting in die tuin.
En: Pieter and Anika walk toward new friendship and adventure, each a little changed by their meeting in the garden.

Af: En so het die manne van die botaniese tuin hul gedeelde raakpunt van die lewe gevind—tussen blomme, reën, en vriendskap.
En: And so, the people of the botanical garden found their shared connection in life—among flowers, rain, and friendship.


Vocabulary Words:

• calmly: rustig
• spirit: gees
• blooming: bloei
• ferns: varings
• find: geleentheid
• nervous: senuweeagtig
• lens: kameralens
• inspiration: inspirasie
• musters: skraap
• courage: moed
• startle: skrik
• appreciates: waardeer
• sudden: skielik
• shelter: skuiling
• quiet: stil
• protected: beskerm
• continue: voortgesels
• bond: band
• shared: gedeelde
• talents: talente
• exchange: ruil
• confident: selfvertroue
• connected: verbind
• stranger: vreemdeling
• handshake: handdruk
• promse: belofte
• friendship: vriendskap
• adventure: avontuur
• changed: verander
• encounter: ontmoeting