Trademan's journey to honour

[Denzil]

Chapter 1

I do not know how a journal really works but here goes nothing. (I am a Writer of science fiction novels)

It's now 7 years ago when me and the wife and stepdaughter made a decision to get a better life.

I worked as a boilermaker for the same company for 11 years.

We finally decided to pay the R500 to see an agent for this process.

Very nice office and all the bling you will expect.

With a map of Australia on the wall and pictures of poeple whom he helped was spread around the map and small wires to where they lived.

Felt very confident that this must be the man that will help us.

As he talked I took notes and the wife wrote down the costs.

The end of a good interview we were confident.

We asked about the step daughter that she was not on my name and he assured that as we are married it will be no problem. (Was not looking forward to the adoption process or even know how it works).

He send mails and called us dayly asking what we want to do and if we made a decision.

We gave the all clear two weeks later and started with signing documents and all the good stuff.

Made some hefty large sums of money payments and everything was looking good.

Everything had to go into his company's account and he will make the payments...It's how everyone else did it before.

We were on our way...our way to poverty yes.

He send slips for houses and cars and furniture as he stated "You must have this to be able to enter the country"

We paid the Agent as he is the one that knows best...he knows the laws and such and has helped so many before us.

We sold everything, resigned our jobs, have the passports in hand ans family drove us to his office to get the Visa.

We arrived there finding about five or six families also standing there around with suitcases in hand and staring....at an empty office.

The office was empty and all of a sudden his phone did not work.

We all did not know what was going on and we even tried to phone his "Sydney office" and that number even did not work.

All those families was in the same boat as we. We all even opened "bank accounts" and all the savings was paid into the Company's account as he will do the transfer as to not pay so much Tax on the money being transferred.

What do you do in such a situation? Sit on a rock and cry? I'm from Potchefstroom and my Fathers name was Henry and he did not raised a failure.

Went back with the family, knowing we have to start all over again, in the same country we tried to leave.

Went back to our old jobs and beg for the work back with a punnishing downgrade in pay as we were so confident that we are leaving that we did not even work notice, just left.

Lived with the family for a few months to get back on our feet.

[Denzil]

Chapter 2

Now eveybody will think that I felt HATE but no, I was disappointed in myself that I placed my trust in a man and can be so easily taken for a ride.

the world is a small place and if I should run into him, I wil shake his hand and say THANK YOU.

He has made me stronger and wiser.

Well I worked hard at my company that it resulted in that I should go for a lower back operation (Whick I did not want to do as all the horor stories I heard).

Fot them I was tainted and "broken" and need to get rid of me and so I did find another job and such, bought a house and build up all my earthly things again.

A friend of mine went to New Zealand with his girlfriends parents and he landed a good job there.

I finally got a good job(Where I still work at for 5 years now).

This friend of mine told me that they are looking for a good boilermaker and his Boss called me the next day and it all looked good.

He was willing to sponsor everything, so I could not resist taking the offer.

We went to NZ embassy to find out how the process works and told them about my stepdaughter.

They said that the biological father must give permission for her to leave the country and she must ne on my name.

So like a good man I went to the father and tried to reason for him and explaining that it's for the good of his child but he refused and said that he will rather see her dead before she leaves the country.

So reasoning did not work.

We went to a lawyer to ask for help and paid $$$$$$$$$$ for getting nothing and nothing can be done as letters was send to him but he refused still.

I heard one of the guys at my work said that we should go to an adoption agency as they might know the right way as they work with it dayly.

I did send countless mails to the new company in NZ letting them know what is going on and they were getting inpatient with the waiting.

As some might know the adoption takes a long while and making a short story long, I manage to adopt my daughter and loose the sponsorship.

We thought that it was maybe a sign that we need to stay here and for us to make a better life for ourselfes and for the children is not destined for us.

I have recieved a boy and another girl in the meantime and life was not great but we survived.

[Denzil]

Chapter 3

Ok so we lived only to survive but then things started to happen again that sparked to need to leave the country as the kids needs a safer place to live and be children.

we stayed in east-lynne and poeple that know Pretoria will know how that is like.

The workers at work had a paper going around which all the balcks signed stating "One bullet, one Boer"

It was Hushed down as they don't want to make a big scene about it.

My duaghter had to go for her baby injections and the wife left the house and was gone for 10 minutes and in that time they managed to break in the house and steel laptop and phones.

Now if the wife was at home what would have happened....I dare not think about it.

My eldest daughter is in Rietondale Primary school and there they have sex education, not like we had in school, but with graphic pictures of Pornografy.

they even tel, the children what you should do if you have a tong ring and how to give oral sex and what to do....What the freaken hell???? They are children. They should play outside and not be bothered by that untill at a certain age.

Got mugged in the city when want to pay water and lights, wallet stolen out of wifes hand in daylight between poeple by a snatcher.

Some one at my local bank managed to drain my savings and max out my credit card. Still paying it off as the case is still "Pending due to investigation".

Armed robbery on a sunday at the church, at a church of all places.

Everything was getting out of hand.

My daughter is very talented with signing, acting and music. Took her to a music school in JHB to water her talent but was told in these words "Your daughter might be talented but her skin colour is all wrong. We do not have enough black children in the school at the present time." Now tell me how do you explain that to a child that her color is wrong.

Then one friday afternoon 14:30,I stopped at a traffic light and saw with my two eyes how two highjackers pull a woman out of her car and she was trying to get hold of her baby on the back seat.

They hit her with fists and I jumped off my scooter to help as all the other poeple just stared on and did nothing. Locked their cars and roll up the windows.

I was on my way when the car next to me grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

3 Black police officers in the van. He told me that I should not go and help as they will kill me. I ask them why are they not doing anything and then the shock "We are off-duty".

I managed to pull myself free and help the woman to get her baby out of the car.

Thyen as she sat on the tar road the car that was behind her even blown his horn for the woman to get out of the road as the light is green and he needs to ride.

Now the question is, why do I want to stay here if the poeple are liek that. No justice, no compassion, no care in the world.

The woman and baby was fine as we manage to get hold of her husband and he rushed to come get them.

That was then and there that it was no longer an option to stay but a nessesaty to leave.

If that happened to my family...rather not think about that.

We made the decision to leave and then we choose the right country for it and Australia was Number 1.

[Miley]

Hi Denzil, thanks for your post. I was sitting sipping my tea, reading your story and I was riveted. So happy you have finally got your visa and you are on your way to a new chapter in your life, you deserve it!

[Mara]

Denzil, that was interesting reading, I hope you carry on with your chapters. Where are you planning to settle in Australia?

[rozellem]

Wow. You must be one of those people they call n "kannie dood". Keep 'em coming.

[Denzil]

Chaper 4

So it started that night, I dusted my CV off and tried to improve on all my skills and strated to send them out.

I signed in on every known Job hunter website. I google evry company in Australia and if they had contact references, my CV was send.

I think that I send over 100 CV's per night for almost a month. (I think every HR in Australia knows my name.)

I did get a few replies asking where I am and some just stating my qualifications are too high for them to employ me.

A agent got hold of me (Patrick from catapultpoeple.com) and he said we need to skype.

We talked and he mentioned a company in Adelaide.

We skyped with the company and they said i must "Quickly fly over to them to meet them" and my reply was "Cool send me the ticket".

The did not send but Patrick helped me with no fee at all.

We exchanged 100 emails between each other in a sigle month as he asked if I did my IELTS test to speak english.

To make a long story short, he send me the links to IELTS and send me links about Vertasses and such and immigtion news.

After a while he was silent and I was left on my own. Now when that happens some poeple will go in a frenzy and stress because "WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, HOW?"

I had all the documents I needed for the IELTS and bbop of this forum helped me to make a decision and hadenougofjuju send me a IELTS test book whick I studies like mad.

Wrote my test and had a 6 overall score (At that time I only needed a 5 for my initial 457 Visa application)

Then it came with my Vertasses and skill assesment. First I looked at the money needed to spend, I could not breath for 2 days.

As a Boilermaker in Pretoria, that kind of money does not lay around in my house or back account.

I tried to negotiate with the potential employer but they told me that it was something I must do, as it shows my commitment. (Sounds fair to me).

I applied for my skills to be assesed and then they send me a list of things they will need to asses my skills.

Sounds easy enough....hahaha....I waited 3-4months for my previous employer to give me the documents I need as I did my apprenticeship at their company.

In saying that the company lost interest in me as I take too long. (I did send dayly updates to them...but still it took too long.)

The agent then moved on with other potential skilled workers that allready have the needed documents.

I was yet again left in the dark, not knowing what to do next but I was determined.

The wife printed me anything I need at her work and I did the reading at night and getting all the ducuments ready to send to Vertasses.

Then I stopped as I want to confirmn the adress as it's a lot of money for courier.

I asked around on the forum and Facebook but no one could or would confirm it.

All I got from the forum poeple as that I should contact the two agents here as they might know.

For reasons of my own, I will not mention their names, but if they read this they will know.

I send the mails to each of them asking to confirm the adress that it's correct and then "Send your CV and we will have alook at it"....I just want to confirm the adress, thats all.

I did send my CV and the next mails I got was...We can help with after you deposit $400 for the start of the process. (This was the man agent)

I send CV to the woman agent and reply I got..."I do not do trade poeple as I only work with engineers and professional poeple but with a $200 deposit I can confirm the adress."

Now everyone want to know why I don't trust an agent as far as I can thow one.

Now that was a back track but I was determined.

I phoned Vertasses and the TRA different department to confrim the adress and eventually I send all my documents.

To make avery long frustratinmg story short, I did my IELTS test.

I send my documents to Vertasses and after that all the many smart poeple got in a panic when I told them I used the police stamp for my papers.

So I stressed about this as I needed to pay a lawyer or a court to stamp it but it went through without any hazzels.

I then had to go to a skype interview for my assesment and no ona again could tell me how this is being done or what is going to happen. Again I was in the dark.

I did not know what will be ask and I took all my boilermaker notes and went through them again and again.

Long story short I went to the skype and it was just plain questions that was commin knowledge to me.

So finally I have my Skills assesed and have my IELTS tests.

Now I was ready and attached the documents to my CV and send it to every company again in Australia, in hoping to find a sponsor for a 457.

For two months nothing happened and the blues got hold of me.

I stopped doing fun things, I stopped coming to the forum, I stopped writing my novels, I stopped everything as It felt like I will never get anywhere, but still I did not seek help from any agent.

Then one day out of the blue a company contacted me for a sponsorship and they were willing but I need to come and work for them for 2 weeks so that they can see what I can do.

They offered the plane ticket and accomodation for the two weeks and in a way I tried not to go and looked for any excuse not to go but decided to take two weeks leave at work and just go and have a look.

The trip was the light I needed as I saw how a person must live and what it's all about.

I did not get the job as the comapny man said "You are a racist as you come from South Africa". (The reason for that is because I had a picture of Hitler where he stands with his hands out shouting 'It's friday'...Then after a week the man send me a very long email detailing his family that was in the concentration camps and how the suffered etc, so I send him a mail back also stating of my grandparent that was also in concentration camp and such...he never replied but i am thank full for him to be able to go there and see what the life is like.)

Being back here I was more determined than ever and start looking for other companies willing to sponsor.

Then the new law of EOI came in and everybody was rushing to get the aplications in before that time.

I waited till the middle of the night and as soon as it came online I started my aplication and three hours later I was number 5916.

I had 50 points and with that I will not be elegable for a 189 or 190, just a 457 and that I read later that it's harder with medical support and that a person is like a contracter and can be fired or contract can end at any moment and poeple on 457 is getting the unfair treatment as they must just work and say nothing.

[AlBrough]

I'm waiting in anticipation for Chapter 5

[Denzil]

Chaper 5

So I ended up doing my IELTS test 4 times to get enough points for a 60 point in order to stand a chance for an invitation.

I tried to apply for a SS but there they want liqued funds...what is that? Free money in the bank?

I have lost everything twice and where will I have money free?....so in the end, no SS for us and no 5 point on the EOI for a better chance for an invitation.

In the meanwhile I got another company willing to sponsor me and we did so many skype interviews that I thought this could be it.

It was a 457 Visa and the contract looked good and everything was in place and then the company came with a backlash..."You are responsible for the plane ticket"...Sounds fair....

Got to bank to arrange the funds for the plane ticket and guess what...someone in the bank drained my little funds and I had a ZERO back balance...Case is still pending after 8 months.

I contacted the company and explained that I am willing to work overtime for free for two years if they can help me...Absolute silence after that....no reply, no nothing.

I was made Project Manager of 3 contracts and I figure with this I will be able to afford the tickets and such for the 457.

The whole december I worked without taking leave as i have bills to pay and save up for the ticket.

On 5 january I told the wife that (After 2 invitation rounds were done, no invite for me) I think we should look for another 457 Sponsor as I think we will NEVER get a PR invitation...I felt down and low.

My life will stay the same and I will be forced to stay here and try to provide for my family as best as I can with all the corruption around me and the bad luck that seems to be following me since I got into Pretoria. I was down and blue...

On the 6th of January I recieved an email and read it and read it and called the wife and she read it and we both read it.

It stated that my EOI has been suspended and I sighed and thought what could have gone wrong.

It said that it will be suspended if it's two years later, if the inviation has been send out or that soem information was false.

5 Min later we recieved the second email and we could not understand what it was. our brains could not comprehend the words.

I BBM'ed everyone I know trying to find out what exactly it is and a good man Steven told me that we recieved an invitation to apply for a 189 PR visa.

So I had to go back and do more reading on this Visa as I was only focussed on the 457.

I immedialtly applied for the Visa and the last stepped had me gasped for air. $3300 for the application of the Visa and have only 3 months to apply.

I could not go to the bank as I was still paying of the thiefs debt and can't make a loan as I had made one for my trade assesment.

The next day 7th I heard there is a project where you have to go to the UAE to finsih the project. It was given to me as the time line was late and the job had to be rushed and be finished by the 14th Feb as the cargo plane is on it's way to pick up the two products and stioll needs integration offshore.

To make a long story short, I managed a 6 month multiple project in a month and did the integration on site and it was ready for the show.

With the time spend there the company pay S&T and I got a little extra for my "Effort"...as luck will hold it, it was enough for the Visa aplication and as soon as I landed I applied and paid the fees.

We waited for confirmation and the CO and again poeple will say that it takes from 2 months to 1 year to get everything finalized.

Then my good friend Steven suggested to go and do the medicals so long that if the CO ask for them that it will be ready...

So we went and did it and a day after we did it an email was send to us, stating this guy is our CO and he needs the following documents...mediacals and my Tax papers.

I replied with that it has beed done and mailed him the Tax documents.

The wife's tests had to wait for another week as with woman...things are sometimes difficulty...no need to eplain that further.

So a week later the wife did her tests and it was send off.

We waited for 2 weeks and heard nothing and looked about 10 times a day at our onine aplication.

I know everybody said it can take very long and I read here that poeple are waiting 10 weeks, 16 weeks, 6 months etc.

I decided to send a mail on the 20th asking a confimation email that all documents are recieved and if the needs anything else.

That night i could not sleep but fell asleep infront the TV and with the "Ping" of the phone that woke me up at 00:55 i read the mail on the phone but could not understand as it staes that my EOI are now fully off the system.

I switched on the computer with fear in my heart and started to read the mail and could not understand why it will be cansseled and with that at 00:58 another email arrive with a notification that our Visa had been approved and such.

I could not accept it, it was impossible that something has gone my way after all this time.

i woke up the wife so that she could also read what I am reading and she confirmed it. She went back to bed and I celebrated all by myself and looked at the pile of paperwork I had to go through and let everyone know and phoned my brother in Taiwan after that as I promised him form the start.

So if anything, I hope that anyone who thinks the world is against them and things does not seem to be working out, read my story, make it your own and know that you are never alone.

There are poeple out there that have struggled just like you and know how it feels like to work and read and feels like it's getting no where.

Some poeple in life has it easy and some of us has to work hard for what we want and in that we will enjoy it more....

Just final words of wisdom...Nothing is possible if God is not in your heart. Be patient and know that HE gives you what you need and not what you want.

[Miley]

Thank you for another great read, inspiring words!

[Toitjie]

you had a journey indeed! huge pat on your back for persevering Denzil...congrats on the visa

[Sa2Nz2Oz]

You have been through so much, I am glad for you that you are finally moving forward. You are tenacious and never give up so you will be successful with your new life. Good luck with your journey forward.

[Gizmo]

Wow - this is a phenomenal story!!! You have amazing tenacity to keep going in the face of such adversity!!! Well done - you deserve it!

[AndreaL]

Gosh, I don't know that I would have had the strength to keep going as you did. Well done!

[Denzil]

Thank you for all the comments....

If I have made up my mind...my mind has been made up.

I do not take failure so good and failure is never an option...might be who I am or how I was raised...I am thankfull none the less.

I like this forum a lot and read most of the posts and sometimes I just read om poeple selling the one house and have to sell the other one as well....

Then poeple wanting to move thousands of rands to Oz dollars and I just sit and grin...

They will have a much easier lifestyle once they get there and I nod and say "that's good mate...enjoy it."

Knowing I have to work twice as hard to get to that point, but I WILL get to that point...slowly but shurely.

[Werns]

Hey Denzil,

Just out of curiosity, what is your brother doing in Taiwan? And which city is he in?

I'm working in Taichung, teaching at an International school.

[AndreaL]

Hi Denzil

My hubby is an electrician and i can promise you that there is plenty of work for tradespeople here, so if you are willing to move around a bit you will never be without work.

The other good things is yes it is tough to do it with no money, we came with $5000 and 2 kids and nothing else, no pension, no house sale, but I think because of that there is only one way for you to go.....up...... and life is easier in a way because of that.

We found the first year incredibly tough financially, but each successive year has gotten better and better.

[Denzil]

Just a short update!!

The last week I am feeling down.

I can not explain it, can not put it into words, can not even draw a picture.

The whole process I was happy, sad, frustrated, angry etc.

But this last week I just feel drained.

I don't feel the need for smiles, have no energy to do anything at all.

It might be because the realization has stepped in and the "Honeymoon feeling" is no gone.

It might be the fact that I am forced to sit at work the whole day and having nothing to do exept google and be on the forum.

It might be the fact that I see everything I have worked so hard for getting sold and donated around me.

It might be the fact that now the new beginning is coming up very strongly.

The Wife and kids are happy and just loving all of this, but why can't I enjoy the joy?

What is stopping me? What is preventing me from being happy?

The answer is that I am stopping myself to be happy, but now how do I get out of this "Slump".

I will in the future read this again and wonder why did I feel like this, so this is just a place for now to put my "Feeling" in.

I just hope that this will go away soon, because I do not like this feeling at all.

[technician]

amazing journey bro.

[Eyebrow]

Wow! What a journey. Your tenacity is amazing!

[Gizmo]

Denzil - I found that the hardest part of our journey was in fact the time BEFORE we arrived in Aus. It was such a rollercoaster of emotions - excited, sad, drained, nervous etc.

Also, on top of all of that was the weird sensation of living in "limbo" - you didn't want to start or commit to anything new as you were waiting to leave. It was almost like our lives were on "pause" - I found that very hard to deal with in particular.

[bbop]

Hang in there my friend. Once the wife and kids go over aswell, you will feel better.

[Denzil]

This is now 2 days before liftoff....so excited and scared...

Last day at work and "Bang", a surprise from my team of workers.

A pocket knife to remember them.

It is more emotional than I have thought it will be. Being their Manager and giving them so much hard times and laughter at better times, filled my heart will an ache I have never felt before.

It feels like I am at a Funeral of a best friend.

My heart ache's today and have to swallow down the tears and the "knop in my keel".

I did not even think that I might have felt like this on my last day, I am not a man that goes to tears at all, but today is different.

I will miss everyone here and...let me top here before the water comes.

[AndreaL]

So Denzil

You will have arrived now. Hopefully you can let us know your first impressions once you get connected.

[Lyn]

Anyone know how Denzil is settling in ?