Will you return to South Africa?

[Riekie]

There's a lot of (conflicting) talk about South Africans returning to South Africa. I was just wondering what the reality is. As you know, the forum polls on SAAustralia are all 100% anonymous, so please make your tick.....

[Mara]

Hi Petronel

Vasbyt, glo my, as julle vorentoe kyk, skouer aan die wiel sit, positief wees oor enige klein dingetjies wat miskien krap, dan gaan julle 'n sukses maak van 'n nuwe lewe in Aus.

Ek stem saam, dit is nodig dat 'n mens die goed en die sleg oorweeg, ek mag net noem, die goed sal my 'n week neem om te noem, die sleg, vergelyk met SA, het ek gelukkig nog nie regtig teegekom nie.

Daar is so 'n groot verskeidenheid van skole wat jou dogter kan bywoon dat ek baie seker is dat jy vir haar die regte een sal vind. Daarby is dit hoe jy en jou man haar grootmaak wat tel, teen die tyd wat buite invloed op haar reageer, sal haar verhouding met julle so goed wees dat sy julle nie sal wil teleurstel nie.

All I can say is that the quality of life in Australia is to me, way better than the quality of life in South Africa. We can debate this forever and a day, but in the end it is not what I have that counts but how safely I live that is important to me!

Good luck with your decisions and your move!

[Dax]

Soos ek verstaan is Australie baie kosmopolitaans, en is daar ietsie van alles daar. Net so is daar maar ietsie van alles hier in SA. Ek is maar net baie konserwatief groot gemaak en het in 'n geslote gemeenskap my ding gedoen. Tye het verander en ek het ook nou die verantwoordelikheid teenoor my kinders om my horisonne te verbreed en saam met hulle in 'n nuwe wereld te leef.

Dankie vir die 'reply'.

Groete Petronel.

Dagse Petronel

Welkom op die forum.

Moet jou nie teveel bekommer oor allerhande invloede hier in Oz nie.

Ek sal eerlik wees en se dat baie dinge veral aan die begin ‘n bietjie oorweldigend mag voorkom so kort nadat ‘n mens hier aangeland het.

Jy klink bekommerd oor jou dogtertjies – dis normal, vir enige ouer wat op die punt staan om ‘n sprong in die onbekende te waag. Ons “kortvolk” is kosbaar.

Kyk, hier in Oz is dinge baie soos in RSA, maar daar is ook dinge wat baie verskillend is. Een daarvan is hoe kinders dikwels hier in Oz is. Dis ‘n feit dat hulle baie meer liberal grootgemak word, maar gelukkig weet meeste Oz ouers goed wat die verband tussen “liberal” en “verantwoordelikheid” is.

Die probleem le by mense wat kinders grootmaak met die “natuurse-water-loop-oor-natuurse-akker” benadering. Hulle kinders is dikwels ‘n probleem, op skool asook die wye samelewing.

Moet nie fout maak nie, hulle IS hier in Oz.

MAAR

Jy klink vir my na doodgewone verantwwordelike ouer wat die beste vir jou kinders wil he. Mense soos jy le julle kinders se fondamente sterk, en dit is meestal ‘n goeie skans teen al die lewe se aanslae.

Verder, huo jou kinders se maatjies dop wanneer julle eers hier is, jysal gou leer om te diskrimineer tussen diegene wat liberal, maar nogtans veranwoordelik grootgemaak word, en diegene wat jy maar jou kinders moet ontmoedig om mee te speel.

Die goeie nuus – laasgenoemde is in die minderheid.

Groete en laat weet maar as julle nog dinge wil uitvind.

Dax

[Bruce boy]

Have no intention of going back thanks. Have broken all ties there!!!

Bruce Boy

[Michelle M]

Hi Petronel

Jy sou nie 'n goeie ouer gewees het as jy nie bekommerd was oor jou kinders nie. Ek is ook bekommerd oor seker goed waarvan ek "gehoor" het, weet nie of alles waar is nie maar mens moet maar net met 'n oopkom gaan en eerder voorbereid wees. Solank jy jou kind goeie waardes en beginsels leer en op jou knie bly kan mens maar net vertrou dat hulle wel eendag die regte pad sal volg - en dit tel vir enige plek in die wereld.

Ons sal nie terug kom nie. Dis moeilik genoeg om so groot skuif een keer te moet maak ek wil dit asb nie 'n 2de keer doen nie. Ons is baie opgewonde om dit te maak werk

[moegeploeg]

I am buying a one way ticket...

[LiezelM]

Ja ne?! Hier sit ons almal nou

Nee, ek dink nie ek sal terug gaan nie. Ek wil HUIL as ek dit se!!! Bienkie, dis waar wat Suidwes se, jy moet jouself herinner hoekom jy geskuif het, want glo my! As jy dink jy gaan onder wees net voor jy kom, wag totdat jy 'n rukkie hier is!

Ek is lief vir SA se Drakensberge, en die bosveld, maar Jhb - NEE WAT!!! Wou nog ALTYD UIT jHB UIT GETREK HET. Sal gaan kuier vir my familie en vriende. Hopelik kan hulle ook hiernatoe kom een dag, maar dit breek my hart om te hoor hoe dit gaan in my land.

Maar, in Aus gaan daar dinge ook wees waar jy dink, hmm, dit was eintlik bietjie beter in SA

Maar nee, sal net terug gaan vir vakansie

[DesV]

Hi

Ek ken 2 vroue in ons dorp wat terug gekom het van Aus af.

Die een vrou het nie 'n keuse gehad nie, haar man het siek geword en wou terug kom om by sy familie te wees ens. Sy wou nooit terug kom nie en sal enige tyd terug gaan Aus toe. Hulle was so 6 maande in Aus, en sy se dit was wonderlik.

Die tweede vrou het ek vandag ontmoet. Hulle was ook 6 maande in Aus, maar sy het niks daarvan gehou nie. Sy se sy was net vreeslik alleen, het niks van die stad gehou nie ens. Hulle het opgepak en terug gekom.

Die twee vroue kom letterlik van oos en wes Aus. Dink julle dit kan 'n verskil maak in watter deel jy bly?

Groete Wilna

Nee Wilna ek dink dit maak min verskil, dit is alles in die kop, na omtrent 6 maande is die honeymoon over en baaie mens voel eensame, geduirende hierdie typ onthou hulle all die goie dinge van RSA en kyk na all die sleg dinge van Aus.

Soek iemand wat langer as 2 jaar in Aus was an het toe terug getrek en praat met hulle, die kanse is jou sal sukkel om sulke mense te kry all die mense wat terug gaan RSA toe was nie hier lank genoeg om dit n kans te gee.

Ek Ken een familie wat eintlik uitgekom het vir een jaar toe het hulle anngebly vir 3 jaar toe was hulle terug RSA toe, 6 maande later was hulle terug in Aus.

Dis n groot ding om oorsee te trek, dit is moelik and is nie vir sissies nie. maar dit is die mooite werd.

[DeonJ]

Toe ons die besluit geneem het om te verhuis, het ons ook besluit om alle "ties" te breek, wat dit maklik kan maak om terug te kom. Natuurlik net die monetêre goed.

Ons het ook besluit om nie eers te oorweeg om terug te kom voor twee jaar nie. Mens moet die besluit 'n regverdige kans gee, anders moet jy nie eers gaan nie.

My vrou het nogal 'n waar ding gesê toe ons vir mense begin inlig het oor ons besluit. "Daar is baie min verskil of ons Johannesburg toe trek of Australie." Die effort en ontwrigting is dieselfde uit die Kaap uit. Die positiewes om Aus toe te trek is net soveel meer.

SA sal altyd in mens se hart bly, maar as ons die regte besluit geneem het, sal ons kinders SA sien soos ons Europa of VSA sien - 'n plek om vakansie te gaan hou.

Ons is nog hier, maar dit help nie nou om aan die hartseer te dink wat gaan wees, as mens op daai vliegtuig klim nie. Dit moet mens hanteer om daardie oomblik. Ek dink mense moet net besef dat die seer groot sal wees, maar die belangrikste is om nie jou besluit te bevraagteken nie.

[jacquesd]

Ek stem so saam met jou DJM.

Of jy nou Kaap toe, Jhb, Durbs of enige plek in Oz toe trek, dit is dieselfde.Jy vlieg net langer huistoe na familie, en jou oproepe is net meer snaakse tye en jy betaal met ander geld.

Eintlik is dit maar dieselfde.Jy betaal met die geld wat jy verdien.

Hoekom ek so positief is?Ek het my positiewe TRA gekry en voel ek kan almal vertel.Julle weet hoe voel dit, want dit vat 'n groot onsekerheid en senuweeagtigheid weg.

Toe ek my goeie vriend Langes vertel, toe se hy ons Ozzies is een of ander iets funny.Ek het nie eintlik geluister nie, so gelukkig is ek.

Dankie Langes.Jy's 'n vriend duisend!!

Laat ek vir my 'n lekker stywe enetjie gaan gooi, aangesien die Cheetah's weer gewen het(dit is my verskoning).

Die province het amper gewen, as dit nie vit die Cheetah's se laaste 32 punte was nie.

Cheers!

[chester]

No Thank you, Not even for a visit.

[Garfield]

Chester

Your word scare me. Not even for a visit. I live here and have to stay for at least 2 to 3 more years before we can leave. I hate the fear I live in and wish I could move earlier.

I loooove this country Chester, but cannot stay here anymore. I HATE to have to leave because of crime and the fact that my children do not have a future. Will not get jobs and have NEVER had the oppertunity to ride to the park with their bicycles.

I look at the house we have now, the garden and lovely swimming pool..........

I will never have this luxury in Aus. This I know, but we as a family will live and be free..

Ek is so flippen frustreerd oor die situasie hier ek kan n eier in my h.. kook

[Annecke]

Oi Garfield

My naam is Annecke. Ek is ook in die proses om te immigreer met my 2 kids - Toe ek jou briefie lees was dit asof ek dit geskryf het! Ek het net gewonder oor die eier kook......dit klink pynlik...Ek wil graag teen Jan 2009 hier uit wees en bid intussen dat die Here ons sal bewaar...

Ta ta

[Guest Chris Rimmer]

We are all exiles, but our roots are in SA, our friends and families still there our ways are forever a part of our life, so instead of hating, let us try and help, for the sake of those, that cannot leave or will not leave, the old the poor and those that are prepared to ride out the storm, and are convinced that things can change, if you read history all that is happenining in our beloved country, has happened in other countries, and history can repeat, as it did in other countries, the old people love their way of life, and their beloved SA, SO LET US KEEP THEM IN MIND

I agree. There's something about Africa. Once it is in your blood you can't just walk away from it. As much as I love Australia, I still feel South African eventhough I've been here many years. We are going back for a holiday again on 27th February. I must say all these reports of violent crime make me nervous as I'm going with two little kids but what can you do? I miss the place. We certainly do need to keep in mind all the people who will never be able to leave and also what a beautiful, complex and compelling country S.A. truly is. I have so many conflicting emotions about S.A. I find it difficult to put it into words. If I felt I was valued there and was safe - I would have stayed. Sadly, that simply wasn't the case. Lets all hope South Africa's future is bright. The pragmatist in me will insure that what ever contribution I make, in that regard, will be from Australian shores.

[MannyT]

Chester

I look at the house we have now, the garden and lovely swimming pool..........

I will never have this luxury in Aus. This I know, but we as a family will live and be free..

Ek is so flippen frustreerd oor die situasie hier ek kan n eier in my h.. kook

Hi Garfield

I am intrigued by your above comment "I will never have this luxury in Aus" and I must ask why not?

There are many people (including ex South Africans) in Australia and many other parts of the world that also live in big houses with beautiful gardens with swimming pools. I see no apparent reason why you (or anyone else)cannot aspire to own a big house with a beautiful garden and swimming pool etc when you move to Australia. I will however qualify my statement - unless you only leave when you are too old (like me ) and do not have the opportunity to accumulate the necessary wealth over time.

In life anything is possible. It is not about where you start but where you end.

Enjoy!

Manny

[Noddy]

Lots of interesting reading on this post.....

We've only been in Australia for 6 months, but feel like we've been here forever and have that sense of belonging. After 3 months, we bought our own home here - it is possible for South Africans to have the same type of home, or even better than what they had in SA! And the beauty of it is that you can enjoy your home and feel safe in it.

I don't miss SA - not one bit. When i think of the country it just brings fear, stress and tension. Having said that, it doesn't change the fact that i have family and friends in SA that i love and miss dearly.

We're going to SA in December to spend Christmas and New Year with our loved ones. I can't lie, as much as i'm looking forward to seeing the people, my stomach knots up at the thought of going back there.

I love Australia and the wonderful opportunities it's offered me and my family. My children are growing up in a safe environment. Even if SA changed drastically, i wouldn't go back. I'm here to stay - that's the honest truth!

Pam

[DesV]

Home is where your heart is and that is the bottom line, if you dont come to Australia with your heart you might have to go back, some people go back and feth thre heart (only after a visit they realize that Aus is the place they want to be) Migrating is a emotional rollercoaster, there are times in the begining when you forget the "bad" tings in SA and remember only the good and you dont see the good things in Oz only the bad.

The most important thing is to migrate because you ant to and try be positive.

I remember a friend who was going through a bad patch and to be positive they decided that every morning they would list the things they liked about Australia result

first week - I like kangaroos and I lke Koalas

but as the weeks dragged on the list got longer and now they wouldnt leave for anything.

keep you sense of humour remain positive and enjoy what you have.

[Marius]

No way, not is a million years. In fact, I am sorry I did not do it sooner.Maybe, thats a big maybe, in a few years for a visit. With my Aussie passport of course. Sad but true, I have heard it all when I make this opinion known, trator, runner, name it. Frankly,I dont care mate, i have found better life for my family here, a better secure career and quality of life in general.That my choice, just as it others choice to go back or remain there. Australia is not perfect, just damn close considering the conditions in SA. Still love the place, the beauty, but live there ? no way. Love Australia more, it is HOME and as my footer says, my heart is here.

[audz_oz]

Yeah i totally agree with everyone!! we will never leave oz, this is our new home and we love it, we would rather pay for our friends and family to come over here and visit with us, as we know what Sa is like, but most of our friends and family have never travelled here before:)

Cheers

Audz

[AlwaysCurious]

We have been living in Sydney for just over seven months now, and will not go back to South Africa for all the money in the world, except to visit. The freedom to live your life to the full and the positive environment we live in on a daily basis made the move more than worthwhile for us.

The only thing we really miss is family, and we are working very hard (subtly of course) to convince them all to move over here.

We do love South Africa though, and really wish the country and everybody remaining (by choice or out of necessity) there the best of everything. In the end it remains a very personal choice, and it is very important for all members of the family to be working towards the same goals.

Cheers

Mari

[Mandy B]

I love my new life here. Even if everything was rosy in SA and it was suddenly a first world country where everyone was educated and lived in harmony together, I would stay here purely because there is nothing here that I don't like, so I have no reason to leave. It's a real pain emigrating and starting your life over in another country. I just want to stay put and live my happy little life in peace.

Hi there

I just wanted to ask you something we going on 457 visa, and have not yet started the prosess on PR 175 visa. I believe that once we there we can apply is this true and did you do your ielts test here in sa or in oz?

As we leaving before Jan 2008 and the only date I am getting for ilets test in sa is in feb 08.

Mandy

[Mara]

You can do it in Australia!

[JanCPT]

I intend burning that bridge, as soon as we are over it

Jan

[AReyeP]

I too believe in NEVER SAY NEVER, but I doubt we would ever return to live. We made an informed choice to move on and start again so that's what we will do. I already speak about my "aussie grandchildren" because I know that's what they will be. My children and I will always be South African, my kids are 17yrs, 19yrs and 23yrs, but the next generation will be true australians. Every australian was at one stage an immigrant and that is how I see myself, the beginning of a new line of immigrants.

I love australia and hope to contribute positively forward instead of hoping I could move back. Even if everything changed in RSA we have already made our choice, we are HOME. We are here to stay!!!

You'll always be proud of where you came from, and rightly so. Despite the crime and problems in South Africa, it wasn't always that way.

On this note I'm glad to see Afrikaans being spoken (and hopefully taught) to kids of SA expats in Perth (and perhaps elsewhere in Aus?) I'm an Aussie but my wife is an Afrikaner, and there have been nights where she's wept for what's happened to her country. She's a proud South African and she always will be, and I'm proud she's that way.

[alanb]

You'll always be proud of where you came from, and rightly so. Despite the crime and problems in South Africa, it wasn't always that way.

Prior to all the crime and current problems we had apartheid, it's hard to be proud of apartheid.

As for SA, the only reason I will ever go back is to see my parents. After that, never. Unless the situation has improved dramatically.

[Jill]

Hi from D and J,

I was just reading this topic from beginning a few years ago to today, what an emotional rollercoaster ride. I feel for everyone, we moved here from Durban 3 months ago and boy am I homesick. We bought a house a month ago and moved in, our furniture arrived and that was wonderful, to all that think about leaving there stuff behind, don't, it definitely helps having all your familiar things around you, I fitted back into the slot in my bed. Wonderful. But missing SA is a constant for me. My husband and I both work, me a half day,which is wonderful and what I wanted. MY daughter of 15 is battling to find friends with the same morals and values as she has.

I hear what everyone is saying and the people that say people who emmigrate are chickens, have never been on this rollercoaster ride because leaving SA, even with all the crime, etc was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I just left friends behind, all my family slowly moved back to the UK, but I need the sun. We are living in Queensland in a lovely place called Emerald.

I read what Bob said about getting through the first year of thinking you have made a bit mistake. I can't wait to say what everyone else says, how they love Australia and wouldn't go back, because I don't feel that at all. I am not a negative person, I just find the people a bit rough ( and I say that with respect, that is just how they are, I have never seen so many tatoos on women in my life as I have seen in the past 3 months), and the way of life here so different.

But I will remain positive and hopefully will eventually feel the pull of Australia, but not feeling it now. We are going back for a holiday in 2 years time and at the moment that is all the keeps me focussed.

cheers for now and keep up the support, J and D