`` our neighbors made their fortune in mining , and retired in oudshoorn to breed horses , they were also childless , and as a result mutual circumstance had made my new family and theirs very friendly , '' she paused to brush an imagined speck of dust from her skirt , smoothing it down while she gathered her thoughts , `` many people in the area were immigrants , and our neighbors were also original polish nationals , '' `` sounds like oudshoorn was a melting pot for european culture in africa , '' this brought a ghost of a grin to my hosts face .