I am American and studied in Antwerp for one year and in Ghent for three years. Later I learned Afrikaans on the Internet, which I found easier than Dutch, but the Dutch studies made learning Afrikaans easier. Maybe one day I'll get to South Africa, but for now I listen to South African, "Radio Sonder Grense" on the Internet. The Antwerp dialect seems closest to Afrikaans.
That's interesting that you find Afrikaans easier than Dutch! With all the moving abroad and studying languages it sounds like you are a very cultured individual, Jim!