RETURNING 2 South Africa

[RSA-Klong]

Ek het lank gedink of ek my tyd moet mors om iets te skryf, maar het toe maar besluit dalk sal dit vir iemand iets beteken, dalk nie. Soos talle voor ons, het ons alles gepak en was vol lus vir ons nuwe lewe in Oz. Die lewe het toe nie so mooi uitgedraai soos alles in ons drome was nie.

Ons sit hier vanaand, amper die laaste aand in die wonderlike wereld down under. Ja, ons vlieg binnekort terug SA toe. I must admit that this was one of the most expensive journeys I have undertaken to discover who and what I am at this stage of my life. I am so sad that I ever had the opportunity to experience Oz, for it must be one of the best places on earth to live. I am sad that I will never be able to call this home or to make it my own.

I suppose that I am one of those people for whom immigration does not work. The friendly people that helped us to pack the few things we bought here informed me that we are the second family for the day that they have packed, returning to South Africa. My jaw dropped to the table. I asked them if they often get this. For the second shocker, YES!!! Last week one team of the ten teams, packed up 5 families returning to South Africa. This was confirmed by the office. Who these people are, nobody knows, but they are there, and they are more than we think or like to think.

I know people will now say that, yes there are people returning, but think of the thousands that are coming here. I also know of the thousands that are coming here, because we were part of them. But what people do not realise is that hundreds are returning as well, and we NEVER hear from them. Why do we not here from them? If you read my first sentence again, you will know why. ……………… Why bother, I already feel like a failure, and the last thing I have energy for now, is to hear what a bad place South Africa is and to be crucified by some members.

This forum have helped me so much and I am not trying to undo the good work of the forum, but rather would like readers to know there is another side as well. Die meeste van julle is wonderlike mense. Sterkte aan die wat bly en sterkte aan die wat terugkeer.

[hagar]

Hierdie "winter depression" is nie n grap nie. Ek is in 1984 weg Amerika toe vir n werk in Rochester, NY. Dit is nou n plek waar jy nie eers in die somer die son sien nie, want dit is so bedompig. Daar is so n grys haas wat oor alles hang. En as dit nie reen nie, sneeu dit! Na 2 jaar was ek absoluut gatvol, ek het my familie gemis, ek het nie vriende gemaak nie, kon nie my motorfiets ry nie, en het niks belang gestel in wintersports nie.

Gelukkig toe het ek n Amerikaanse vriendin ontmoet wat my die wereld se goed gedoen het. Ek en sy is later getroud en het amper SA toe getrek, sy was mal oor die plek. Gelukkig het ons besluit om Phoenix, AZ toe te trek, die totale "antipode" van upstate NY. Daar het ek weer ontpop, ek kon nie genoeg kry van die woestyn nie, baie soos die Noord Transvaalse bosveld. Daar was coyotes, bobcats, bergleeus, bere, takbokke en elk om te jag, en ek was omtrent elke naweek erens aan jag, skiet of kamp. Ongelukkig het my vrou meer belang gestel om miniatuur pincher honde te versamel, en het niks van die buitelewe gehou nie, en ek en sy is in 1992 uitmekaar uit. Weereens is ek amper terug SA toe, en het in 1995 vir 3 maande teruggekom SA toe om dinge uit te kyk.

Ek is bly my verstand het my vertel ek moet hou wat ek het, en net na ek teruggekom het, my 2de Amerikaanse vrou ontmoet. Sy is ook mal oor SA, ons is in 1998 in die Kaap (Worcester) getroud, en sy sal eerder soontoe trek as ek.

Die grootste tragedie in my lewe was toe al die groot rekenaarmaatskappye in Phoenix basies al hulle konsultante en meeste voltydse mense afgedank het, en alles of na Indie ge"outsource" het, of almal met Indiers vervang het. Ek het vir 2 jaar sonder werk gesit, en honderde CV's uitgestuur. Ek was nie bereid om my rekenaarloopbaan prys te gee ter wille van in AZ te bly nie en karre of huise te verkoop, en moes maar verkas na die eerste plek waar ek n goeie werksaanbod gekry het, en dit was SC. Nou sit ek en verlang na AZ, nevermind SA! Nie dat SC n slegte plek is nie, die weer is baie lekker, ek bly in n mooi huis op n meer, en die visvang is uitstekend. AZ was egter die plek waar ek die vryste in my hele lewe gevoel het, dit is asof ek helfte van die staat besit het, en kon maak net wat ek wou sonder dat enige iemand my pla. Ons het daar gekamp op plekke wat jy vir maande nie n mens sou sien as jy hom nie saamgebring het nie.

Die laaste keer wat ek in SA was, was einde 1999, en ek het geen begeerte om ooit weer te gaan kuier nie. My suster werk vir SAA, en sy vlieg gereeld hiernatoe, en my ander suster is n CA en het genoeg geld, en kom ook gereeld kuier. Beide van hulle het in die laaste 6 maande aan my genoem dat hulle dit ook oorweeg om VSA toe te trek. Wat die res van my familie en vriende betref, as ek hulle nooit weer sien nie, is dit te gou. Hulle is baie lief vir jou as jy kom kuier, en pes jou ongenadig oor wanneer jy weer kom, maar sodra jy op die vliegtuig klim en terugkom, is dit of jy nie vir hulle bestaan het nie. Daar word nie gebel nie, of as hulle wel bel, is dit "hallo, hoe gaan dit, kan nie lank praat nie dit is te duur, koebaai". My Pa het ook altyd vertel hy is te bang, dit is te ver, en dit of dat, maar hy en my ma kon Engeland toe gaan vir n vakansie. Ek het 10 jaar terug aan hulle n ultimatum gestuur dat as hulle nie hulle gedrag gaan verander nie, dat hulle my nie weer daar sal sien nie, of van my hoor nie, en hulle wou nie luister nie. Ek hoor maar dieselfde stront van my ander SA vriende. Hulle familie weier ook om te kom kuier, offer nie geld om te help betaal nie, maar hulle word verpes oor wanneer kom hulle weer kuier. Ek dink die beste raad wat ek aan iemand kan gee wat oorsee trek, is skeer jou los van jou familie en vriende so gou as wat jy kan, want hulle gaan dit aan jou doen. Jy kan nie elke keer teruggaan vir n troue, siekte, begrafnis, Kersfees, kind se doop of watookal nie.

Byt maar vas, alles werk uit op die einde!

Edited October 19, 2007 by hagar

[LeeInOz]

Answers to your questions and reasons:

We miss HOME. Family, friends and the known. It is probably silly, but this is my silliness and what I think: I miss the soil, ja die grond en sand. Dit is net nie dieselfde hier nie.

THE BAD

– lots of people with tattoos and body piercing, school boy’s long hair, traffic – dam traffic, BAD Graffiti and some more Graffiti and some more Graffiti – it can drive me crazy, expensive property, not used to wooden houses with dry wall inside.

I know I will miss this place so much.

Oz will have a tiny place in my heart and a huge chunk of my mind. The sad thing is that no matter what I do, stay or go, Oz will always welcome me but it will never feel like home. I knew this before I came, but did not realize that I could not live without it.

See ya.

Sad. Sad and a waste of time and money.

Migrating is one of the toughest things to do.

I think this should be read by all who say they want to come but have some doubts.

Some points

1 At least you did give it a try, rather than pretend it was not for you and make reasons for not coming

2 You miss HOME, but will home miss you. I returned for a visit after a few months, and saw changes for the worse in such a short time it galvanized my attitude.

What I mean by this is I hope you are returning to something similar that you left. ( i have doubts)

3 I think it is criticla to get involved in the community as soon as possible to avoid the boredom and loneliness.

4 of those returning to South Africa, some go back becuase they were on a 2 year work visa, and this was their aim, others cannot get PR, and of course there are the peopple who just dont like it. I have met some who went back, only to come back here after realising they were wrong.

On the lighter side. Someone we know said they went to live in Germany and returned to South Africa. They say it was the most expensive holiday thay have had with their furniture

On your BAD list I had to smile. If these are the things you find bad in Australia, it shows how little is wrong with it.

Good luck and I pray you find what you are looking for.

[Amaozzie]

Ek het lank gedink of ek my tyd moet mors om iets te skryf, maar het toe maar besluit dalk sal dit vir iemand iets beteken, dalk nie. Soos talle voor ons, het ons alles gepak en was vol lus vir ons nuwe lewe in Oz. Die lewe het toe nie so mooi uitgedraai soos alles in ons drome was nie.

Ons sit hier vanaand, amper die laaste aand in die wonderlike wereld down under. Ja, ons vlieg binnekort terug SA toe. I must admit that this was one of the most expensive journeys I have undertaken to discover who and what I am at this stage of my life. I am so sad that I ever had the opportunity to experience Oz, for it must be one of the best places on earth to live. I am sad that I will never be able to call this home or to make it my own.

I suppose that I am one of those people for whom immigration does not work. The friendly people that helped us to pack the few things we bought here informed me that we are the second family for the day that they have packed, returning to South Africa. My jaw dropped to the table. I asked them if they often get this. For the second shocker, YES!!! Last week one team of the ten teams, packed up 5 families returning to South Africa. This was confirmed by the office. Who these people are, nobody knows, but they are there, and they are more than we think or like to think.

I know people will now say that, yes there are people returning, but think of the thousands that are coming here. I also know of the thousands that are coming here, because we were part of them. But what people do not realise is that hundreds are returning as well, and we NEVER hear from them. Why do we not here from them? If you read my first sentence again, you will know why. ……………… Why bother, I already feel like a failure, and the last thing I have energy for now, is to hear what a bad place South Africa is and to be crucified by some members.

This forum have helped me so much and I am not trying to undo the good work of the forum, but rather would like readers to know there is another side as well. Die meeste van julle is wonderlike mense. Sterkte aan die wat bly en sterkte aan die wat terugkeer.

I wish you all the very best back here in SA.

Your post has proven that we SAFFERS can be honest to ourselves and others.

What you are doing takes an enormous amount of courage.

Once you are settled again, please come back and let all of us know how you are getting on.

Regards,

Craig

[Ajay]

My only regret on this thread is that I didn't get to read it sooner. it shows the immense maturity, understanding and plain decency amongst our very special forum community and I'm more proud than ever to be part of it.

RSA-Klong - I wish you everything of the very, very best and hope that you find the peace and serenity that you are seeking. I concur with one of the other posts - you sound really depressed (not suprising under the circumstances!) and might benefit from finding someone to talk to about your feelings.

odelia and sa2uk2auz - thanks for inspirational, soul searingly honest posts.

And finally to Ziggy - hang in there, my friend. I remember that post you wrote all that time ago when you were still in the Free State and realised that you had made a mistake in returning and how your poignant honesty touched me then, as it still does now. You will get the rich rewards that you deserve.

Love

Ajay

[MANDYL]

Ons loop ook maar deur met die aksent en party van die Ozzies praat swaar !! hulle moet so 3 keer herhaal voordat 'n mens hulle vestaan. Ons is maar rustig wat dit aanbetref en in die aand wanneer ons by die huis is en die dag word bespreek dan lag ons lekker oor die nuwe woorde wat ons elke dag leer want dis nie net die aksent nie, ek en my man dink die ozzies het hulle eie woordeboek ook !!!

[Lonewolf]

You're nuts!!

[Mara]

Havoc99, please explain...."You're nuts!!"

[Carlos Carvalho]

RSA-Klong

We've been keeping tabs on your post since its start, and all that have emigrated before us and are active on a daily basis in this forum know that it is extremely tough. It is not for everyone...some find it relatively easy ...others relatively hard . Our prayers are with you and your family on your return to the RSA.

To all those thinking of Aus; we don't consider ourselves expert on Aus, nor are we Forum addicts, but from our own experience to date, don't underestimate the 'mental fitness' required that is needed for one to suceed. Remember, why you are doing this, and that should strenghten your resolve! Other, helpful hints; do not compare, appreciate that Woman's Weekly is actually a Monthly issue and that Woman's Day is a Weekly issue, make Aussie friendships, live the Aussie life (we don't mean that you should get yourself tattoos and a beard) , if you need to read the Beeld on-line, do it, but make sure you catch up on Aussie news and yes, keep contact with South Africans that you know in Aus, get together if at all possible, and share to your hearts content.

The Carvalhos in Peterborough (and have we mentioned that it is pouring up here! No golf for Carlos today!)

[Riekie]

Like my bestest friend always says: "Oi"....

RSA Klong - ek wens jy kon bietjie langer bly en toelaat dat Oz soos mos op jou groei. Maar dit sou onregverdig wees teenoor jou, want jy moet doen wat reg is vir jou en jou gesin. Dit is vir my net wonderlik om te sien dat jy so objektief daaroor kan wees - dit sou tog soveel makliker gewees het om Australië sleg te maak om jou keuse te regverdig, veral as jy nou terug is in RSA en almal wil weet hoekom jy dit nie "gemaak" het nie. Ek haal my hoed af vir jou!! Ek kan jou net sterkte toewens en hoop dat jy met ope arms terug verwelkom sal word in Suid Afrika en gou weer jou voete sal vind. Dit is jammer jy het die forum nou eers ontdek... Bly asseblief in kontak en laat weet ons hoe dit met julle gaan. Ter wille van ander wat dalk ook die terugtog oorweeg sal dit van groot hulp wees as jy jou ervaringe (en mense se houding teenoor jou) kan deel. Net die beste vir jou!!

Odelia, you've been through so much in such a short time. You had a baby, moved countries, moved back, started a new job and now, planning to give it another go. You must be a very strong woman and I don't think you give yourself enough credit. If it was me, I'm sure I would have lost it..... Good on you for taking this journey and I wish you all the best for the future!

Aan almal wat ry en bly of ry en teruggaan - dit bly 'n groot stap, maak nie saak hoe mens daarna kyk nie. Hierdie is nou regtig 'n baie interessante (en baie nodige!) "thread". Dit plaas dinge net bietjie in balans en ek het nou baie begrip vir mense wat kies om terug te gaan.....

[Lonewolf]

Havoc99, please explain...."You're nuts!!"

RSA-Klong is Nuts!!!

[Mara]

I don't think so, perhaps he is just doing what is right for him! In turn, he may think we are all nuts for staying..... Different strokes for different folks!

[da_feemail]

Ek het die hele thread gelees en ek weet nie hoe ek regtig voel oor dit nie.

Ons almal het vir verskillende redes die besluit geneem om te immigreer na Aus toe. Maar as ek kyk na RSA-Klong se ""bad" lys, dan moet ek innerlik smile.

Dit is nogal iets om aangewoond te raak, ja ek stry nie, maar dis nie te sê ons moet so wees nie. Manlief het 'n fobie oor tatoes, en glo dat as die Liewe Here wou gehad het ons moes met dit rondloop het Hy is sommer self opgesit. Ek stem saam, dit is lelik om 'n mens se liggaam so te skend. Op die einde van die dag (ou Naas se geliefkoosde aanhaling) bly jou liggaám 'n tempel van God.

Ek begryp ook nie lekker hierdie huise van hout en drywall nie, maar ons is in die proses om een te koop!

My argument rondom dit is: hoeveel huise moet nog afbrand voordat hierdie mense besef steenhuise is beter!! Het hulle nog nie die verhaal van die 3 varkies gehoor nie?

Ek kan nie glo dat om steenhuise te bou soveel meer gaan kos as hierdie "ongeluk wat wag om te gebeur" huise nie.

Ek het simpatie met RSA-Klong, maar soos baie van die replies deurgee, gaan hy werklik terug na die SA wat hy agtergelaat het? Ek glo nie.

Hy meld nie waar in Aus hy is nie, miskien het ek dit misgelees, ek weet nie.

Ons het ons besluit om na Aus toe te kom 99% gebaseer op die feit dat ons seunjtie (5) GEEN toekoms in SA het nie, die skole is op die afdraande pad, en hoe lank voordat die universiteite in SA se grade nêrens in die wêreld herken gaan word nie? Ek was nie bereid om hom deur die moontlike trauma van 'n aanval op laer- of hoêrskool te sit nie, dus die enigste alternatief was om uit die land te gaan. Hy mag dalk hier "gebully" word, maar hier kan mens redeneer met iemand en niemand gaan jou herinner aan jou "aandeel" aan sy patetiese agtergeblewe status nie!!!!!!! My kind begin gelukkig in die skoolsisteem van die begin af, so hy sal dit seker maklliker hê as 'n kind wat dalk in Year 5 of year 9 moet kom in pas.

Manlief wou nie regtig kom nie want hy het 'n baie lekker werk gehad met wonderlike omstandighede. Ja, die persoon vir wie hy gewerk het, het wel 'n kontrak van baie miljoene losgeslaan vir 'n tydperk van 3 jaar, en ja, ons sou baie van die geld self kon "pocket" maar sou dit die situsie in die land verander? Nee, dit sou nie, ek is baie gespot omdat ek nie daar wou bly nie, maar geld is nie alles in die lewe nie.

Manlief het gesê dat hy sou kom as ek vir hom werk kry, hy gaan nie soek nie. Wel, verkeerde uitdaging om vir my te gee, want hier is ons nou, ons gaan ons 3de maand in en ek moet sê, die Liewe Heer het gesorg, en het Hy nie gesorg nie!!!! Manlief werk baie lekker en die mense by die werk is almal baie vriendelik en hy was veronderstel om 3mnde op proef te wees en dit is klaar vir hom gesê dat hy nie meer op proef is nie, ons SA mans kan werk! Ek is baie trots op hom.

Nou die ander kant van ons storie, ons het ook familie en vriende agtergelaat, alhoewel ons albei nie ouers meer het nie, dink ek dit is hoekom ons dit dalk makliker vind om aan te pas. Die familie en vriende maak beurte om te bel en ja, ek kan nie met sekerheid sê hoe lank dit gaan hou nie, maar dit werk op hierdie stadium van die geveg.

Iemand het ook genoem dat familie en vriende in SA met hulle lewens aangaan, en dit is so, Niemand kan verwag dat iemand anders se lewe moet stilstaan ter wille van jou besluit nie.

Ons het Aus ons nuwe tuiste en land gemaak, nie omdat ons "verraaiers"is nie, maar dit is 'n besluit wat geneem moes word, om dinge makliker te maak vir ons. Ek het nog nooit Nkosi se woorde geken nie maar ek ken wel die Stem se woorde!!!!

Ek glo en vertrou dat ons eendag sal kan terugkyk en sal kan sien dat ons die regte besluit geneem het om hier onder te kom bly.

Dit is RSA-Klong se goeie reg om sy eie besluite te neem en ja, kom ons ondersteun hom, want dit is wat hy besluit het, moenie lelik wees nie, Havoc99 jy veral.

Dit is jou mening dat hy "nuts" is, en dis jou goeie reg, maar wees net bietjie meer taktvol as dit.

Ek sou ook graag wou keer dat hulle terugaan, maar dis nie in ons hande nie.

Dit is maar net my 5c

Groete

Carelene

Edited November 4, 2007 by da_feemail

[UysMan]

Havoc99, please explain...."You're nuts!!"

Nogaals interessant om te sien dat iemand wat so 'n kort en sinlose opmerking maak (Havoc99), tog na die thread kom kyk het. Is dit dalk 'daemons' wat hy self moet uitsort? Anyways, ek wil maar net vir die res se wat ordentlike opmerkings gee, ek waardeer dit. Kyk moenie my verkeerd verstaan nie, ek wil graag Oz toe gaan, maar ek hou daarvan om die kat eers goed uit die boom te kyk. Mens moet weet van die goeie EN die slegte voordat jy 'n ordentlike besluit kan neem. Ten minste is jy dan voorberei. (of so hoop ek)

So asseblief "Havoc99 tot die mag 3". Gee ordentlike opmerkings die forum is om mense te help en by te staan en ordentlike inligting te gee. Ons wil mekaar help en bystaan. So vat eerder hierdie opmerkings na ander chat websites toe.

[JanCPT]

Ek het van Havoc99 se kommentaar gelees op ander threads en ek dink hy is eintelik 'n kind wat reaksie soek.

Sal ook verbaas wees as hy hiedie inskrywing sal kan lees

[Lonewolf]

You're all a bunch of Hippocrates!!!

I just had the balls to say what every single one of you was thinking in the back of your head, In my opinion it was pretty dumb to post such a thing on a website trying to promote emigration to Australia which probably makes this person the attention seeker,not me.

To further emphasise on my "you're nuts" post I said that because not only did this person blow a whole lot of money on this little experiment but also the fact that she's leaving a perfectly respectable and secure country to return to one which is infested with criminals, which no amount of biltong could make any better.

But ultimately I know this person will be back soon, once the honeymoon period wears off.

[Queensland Girl]

To Havoc99

This forum is not about " promoting emigration to Australia"

It is not designed as a counter site for Homecoming Revolution.

This is a site to ASSIST people who are in the process of deciding/ or have made the decision to leave South Africa, and to give as much information as possible to make the transition easier.

And to be true it is important to give a BALANCED view.

Not everyone can cope with the process of emigration. It is tough. Would it not be unfair to prospective emigrants to paint a picture that is "all just rosy".

Personally, I find the decision RSA klong made a bit hasty , but that does not mean that I do not understand.

[Mara]

I agree with Queensland Girl.

Havoc99 there are better ways to say things than to go out and post two words "you're nuts!" You should only voice such an opinion if you knew RSA-klong personally and all the circumstances surrounding their decision. As I presume you don't perhaps you can tone down your comments?

Not all of us experience immigration the same way, for some it is the easiest road under the sun, for others, it seems to be the worst decision that they have ever made.

Whilst it is unthinkable for those of us that are happy here, that anybody could decide to go back, I have to admire them for having the honesty to write about it here and therefore I despise remarks like those made by havoc99.

[Nilo]

Ditto!! Mara and Queenslandgirl!! I fully agree!

[Michelle]

Ek wil net iets byse. Ek het nou in die afgelope jaar 2 gesinne geken wat vir net 'n paar maande hier was en toe terug gegaan het Suid Afrika toe. Hulle het al 2 in Suid Australie in die middel van nerens gaan woon en veral die vroue het glad nie ingeskakel nie. Australie is 'n groot land en ek dink mens moet partykeer dink om net in 'n ander deel van die land ook te gaan probeer bly eerder as om terug te gaan Suid Afrika toe. As iemand van hier bv De Aar toe gaan ipv Kaapstad gaan hulle ook nie gelukkig wees as hulle nie 'n klein plekkie (weet nie hom om dit beter te beskryf nie) mens is nie.

Ek sou ook wou se dat mens dit langer as 'n jaar moet kans gee, maar as mens regtig ongelukkig is moet mens doen wat vir jou goed is. Sterkte RSA klong, ek hoop als werk uit vir jou en jou gesin.

[Nicki G]

For someone still in SA, it is a sobering and also concerning forum. It was said in the initial start to the post by SA Klong that the ozzies respect each other and themselves, let us not prove that we are different. It is so important to allow others their point of view. I think it is important that one can show their feeling without being judged and you may think others feel as you do and the only one with guts (havoc) we have no right to assume that. Let us understand and empathise for others and do not alienate others that wish to be honest of THEIR experience.

If you noticed in the original post from SA klong it was about missing family predominantly and each to their own, for those that stay, good on you, for those that feel it is not for them, good on you for being able to admit it.

I hope we will settle and start a whole new generation and family down under. With Gods help we will.

See you soon

Nicki

[Mupersan]

Havoc 99, you are behaving like an immature adolescent frustrated with the fact that life hasnt yet happened for you. Grow up and pass comments that are relevant and unselfish. You are clearly trying to attract attention, and have picked the wrong forum to do this. Maybe you should try a small amount of intellect and pose a topic, with reasons as to why you feel this way.

As to the discussion, Thank you to all of you for the input. Wow, what an eye opener, I havent left yet, and am now doing the waiting thing for my 457 visa, very nerve wrecking. Over the past few days, I have had all sorts of thoughts. I have wanted to go since age 13, but circumstance and a lack of readiness prevented it. Now it is finally happening, and Sydney is the destination. I have read so much of the country and listened to so much streaming audio that I feel part of it already. However, that said, I have never been out of SA, and the feelings of leaving family and friends are scary, and I feel doubtful some moments. But I know why I am doing this, and it is for the same reasons as many of you, better life, better chances, prospect of having a child that I would never bring up in this country.

After reading this whole thread, i realised that there are so many of us with similar feelings, some are able to make the adjustment, and others not. Remember there are thousands of people who have no desire to leave, and who believe in this country.

Good luck to all of you, and respect and admire the courage of all those making thier own choices, regardless they must live with them.

Scott

[Thinus]

Ditto!! Mara and Queenslandgirl!! I fully agree!

Dit verskil jong - ons het in 2000 van Maputo (2jr daar en voor dit in Pretoria) na 'n plekkie in die middel van nerens in Suid Australia getrek - die plek het net 300 mense in die dorp gehad en vir vier jaar het ons 'n fantastiese lewe daar gehad. Die kinders het groter geword en my werksure het begin vang en ons het toe geskuif - nou in Canberra en geniet dit. Mis nog steeds RSA maar gaan ook beslis nie terug nie

Thinus

[Dreamcatcher]

Hi SA Klong,

Ek het al noudiedag die thread begin volg, en dit spook baie by my. Ek voel soveel hartseer in jou woorde aan. Weet net dit, ons dink aan jou en jou gesin, en ons bid vir julle. Mag julle geluk vind in watookal julle doen. En moenie jouself blameer oor "foute" nie, ons almal maak foute.

Groetnis

Dreamy

[Carlos Carvalho]

Hello to all Forumites

Here we go again! Having another punch-up in the school yard...

Havoc99, please ensure that in future you correctly spell out your meaning! I was just about to blow my top, when Liza indicated that you were actually paying us all a compliment...calling us Hippocrates...commonly regarded as the father of medicine, instead of hypocrites. Thank you.

According to your profile, you have not landed yet (unless you haven't updated your profile), so I hope that when you do arrive in Australia, you are well equipped for the change in culture, lifestyle, mind-set...call it whatever you like! Immigration is a bloody hard decision to make in the first place, and to return to the RSA must be an even worse decision to make.

So to each his own. In the words of The Beatles...Let it be.

Cheers

Carlos

[WouterG]

Thank you everybody for the sobering thoughts.

We are in the "malle gejaag" to get everything done. Selling left, right and center. In a moment of quiet the big questions are still coming up.

Why are we doing this? How did we get to this point? We have been very fortunate up till now. No hi-jackings, no break-ins. Nothing. We have a brilliant live in South Africa.

We have brilliant support structures, we have family, we have friends that are as good as family. Why are we doing this? Then I look at my son and daugther. He has a small learning delay. Will he be able to do an "apprenticeship" in a SA company? Will he be able to start from the bottom in a SA company? He might in 10 years time.I am not going to wait 10 years for a might.

Will my wife be able to continue to run without fear in our neighbourhood ? I do not have the answers, the doubts are there and they are very real. When do we become part of the statistics ? I am not willing to take that chance. My family is too important to let them become statistics. I will miss my family and friends for sure. We can't wait for the family to come and visit. Skiing in the winter. Walks on the beach. The winelands. I have broken so many mental ties already. I cannot turn back now.

We WILL make it work.