emsia.kruger - Letters Home

Corona virus has taken the world by storm

09/02/2021 emsia.kruger

20 March 2020

Corona virus has taken the world by storm! People’s varnish layers become thin and the uncertain circumstances bring out the distinctive colours of the different nationalities when they are under pressure. Our South Africans survive difficult times with humour and creativity. The Swiss deal with difficult times with rules and processes. In the circumstances, we now more than ever appreciate all the jokes on Facebook and are grateful to everyone who posts them.

Every morning, as Charl tries to figure out which fires are burning the highest, we get the latest news about the Corona virus situation. The hospitals are closely monitoring the situation to be ready. The first impact was the government announcing that all gatherings of more than a thousand people should be cancelled. This time of year, there are many festivals and gatherings to carry people through the last winter cold, which has now been cancelled.

Working from home

Employers have recommended that employees not travel by public transportation and that meetings be held online. Processes and technology are put in place so that non-medical staff can work from home. The hospitals are setting themselves up to care for patients as needed. Agreements are made with suppliers to ensure availability of medical items such as face masks and ventilators. Most suppliers of the items are ironically in China!

On-line schooling

At Zander’s school, they also began to make the necessary preparations should the schools close. They are equipped and the children are trained to attend school in a virtual classroom on their computers from home. All sporting events and school meetings with parents have been cancelled. The event where all Grade 5 parents could hear and watch the children’s hard work on their world problem research was also cancelled. It is ironic that the cause of the change in plan is an unexpected world problem called Corona virus.

Impact on tourism

Charl has a favourite fondue restaurant in Zurich that he has been visiting for 25 years. Previously, he had to book a table at least two weeks in advance. Lately, the restaurant has only been a quarter full. Tourists are fewer and especially the lack of Chinese tourists leaves a big gap. The owners are very worried about the future of this top ten restaurant in Zurich. Many people in the tourism industry have already lost their jobs. There are also fewer people visible on the street and in the trains and buses.

We have heard many stories of birthday celebrations or wedding anniversaries in the most beautiful parts of Italy that had to be cancelled due to quarantine. The daughter of a friend is a student at Milan University. They heard at 23h00 that the University was closing, and Milan was being quarantined. She immediately got into her car and drove to Zurich because the police immediately started placing restrictions on the people’s movements. Luckily, she was able to get out of there just in time.

We are watching the situation closely and giving our cooperation. My biggest fear is that the situation will turn so bad that we will not be able to visit South Africa in early April. Charl’s biggest fear is that we will go to South Africa and not be able to return to Switzerland again!

Kind regards

Emsia

We make enjoyable winter fun discoveries

02/02/2021 emsia.kruger

28 February 2020

An unexpected week-long sports holiday in February came as a surprise. In Switzerland, schools close for a week or two between the end of January and mid-March to give people the opportunity to go skiing. The December holidays are very short, and often the snow has not fallen yet. With great excitement about the ski holiday, people book their cottages in the mountains well in advance.

When I tried to make a booking, I realised that demand for accommodation was greater than supply. I also realised that a ski holiday is a very expensive outing between accommodation, ski equipment, clothes and passes to get to the top of the mountains. We have the additional problem that we cannot ski and with Charl working at a hospital group, well informed about the number of ski accidents per year. Day trips were a great way to make new discoveries and gain more information for the future.

Thermal spa’s

One of the wonderful discoveries was the thermal spa’s that one finds in the European countries. We visited two of them and both were a big treat. The Swiss understand what a welcome pampering the hot water is for tired muscles. There is usually one large pool with water sprays on the side massaging your body. Visitors stand in a row and move from one high pressure spray to the next every two minutes. The first water spray aims at your calves and the last one ends at your shoulders.

I love the steam baths that release different aromas of steam. Most spa areas have an outdoor pool where you stand with your body in a lovely warm 38-degree water while looking at white snow-capped mountains and feeling the icy air on your face. It feels unreal and is breathtakingly beautiful. One spa has a salt bath in an underground cave-like area with soothing sounds. At the entrance there are long explanations of the health benefits of salt for the human body. It made me look with new eyes at the benefits of a sun, sea, and beach holiday.

Heated pool with snow on mountains at the back

Rhine falls

One of our day trips was to the waterfalls in the Rhine River close to the German side. It was beautiful to see the masses of water, hear the roar and feel the light spray on your face. We decided that we would return in the summer to experience the spray from a rowboat on the river.

Sledging at Elm

Fortunately, there are several ways to enjoy the snow if you are not proficient on skis. As South Africans who are not really used to snow and all the options are a bit overwhelming. One option is sledging, when you slide down the hills with a wooden sledge. Another option is snowshoeing. Large flat extensions are attached to your shoes to help you walk on top of the snow. Cross-country is another option for those who are skilled enough to walk long distances with their skis in the snow. We decided to start with the sledging to gain confidence.

Unlike previous years, almost no snow has fallen near us and the Swiss attribute this to global warming. There were at least two light snowfalls that provided great excitement. Fortunately, there was more snow in the French and Italian parts of the Alps. Arriving at Elm, a cable car took us five hundred meters higher, from where we slid down the mountain on a sledge for a twenty-minute ride.

The ride was sometimes very bumpy and scary as we picked up speed while we can see the steep drop right next to us. We braked fiercely with our shoes to keep the sled in the road while the snow splashed in our eyes. Our shoes, socks and pants were soaking wet, but we enjoyed the adrenaline pumping through our veins.

Kind regards

Emsia

Symbol of hope in nature or in people

26/01/2021 emsia.kruger

We keep a close eye on the media to keep abreast of events and news in our country. South Africa is going through a difficult time, and our family and friends suffer for various reasons. My family’s business is farming, and the farmers in South Africa have several challenges. Farm murders, fires, drought, and land expropriation without compensation confront them without end.

Box for farmers’ wifes

Despite these challenges, there is something of mutual support and love that becomes more visible as things get more challenging. The box for farmers’ wifes’ project in South Africa is a creative idea to make love and support tangible. My sister Ansa shared a specific experience with me that gave me so much hope that I would like to share it as a symbol of hope to you in difficult times.

With the recent fires in the Free State, the farmers there received so many boxes for a farmer that they decided to send some to the Northern Cape as hope for farmers suffering from severe drought. One evening Andre came home with filled boxes from the Northern Cape Farmers’ Association.

Along with the boxes were also letters with encouraging words or a bible verse, but mostly without a name. However, one of the boxes had a letter with a name and telephone number, and even though it was late in the evening, Ansa decided to send a thank you message.

Ansa wrote:

“Dear Gerda,
I am sure you are already asleep. Anyone who has worked hard today is already asleep. You do not know me, but tonight you made me cry like a hungry dog. Tonight, my husband came from the farmers’ association with your special box with gifts. Not only did you share your precious food, coffee, bath salt and toilet paper with us today, but your heart as well. While opening the box, I could experience love, even though I do not know you.
Thank the Lord for people like you. Thank you for wanting to help us without knowing us. We are going to have a relaxing bath, and we love coffee! When my husband saw the coffee, he was excited. You will not know what this means to us. May the Lord bless you and Grandpa very much! You are still so privileged to have a dad! If I type incorrectly, I cannot see through the tears and need glasses at almost 50. May the Lord, in return, bless you with something special just as you blessed us!
With love, Ansa van Zyl”

Gerda answered the next morning:

“Dear Ansa, hello!
Today you made my day. I told a friend I wished I could be there when someone opened one of my boxes. The Lord granted me that wish. Thank you so much for the thank you note to me!
You are the most beautiful woman with the most beautiful children with a gift with words! I am grateful for everything I hear. I have never tried that brand of coffee in my life. An old school friend in the Kalahari – a farmer’s wife, gave me advice on what to give. She has also received boxes. She suggested things that would make farmers feel spoiled, even if it is only a few items.
I wanted to know what brand of coffee farmers drink. Coffee was first in my heart! She sent a photo and told me that was what she was drinking now, but she believed any coffee was okay. I wanted the coffee to be extraordinary. I grabbed that coffee for you from the shelf with a cheer in my heart. Maybe I should spoil myself with a bag too.
I heard on the radio three trucks with gifts for the farmers were burned and wondered if my three boxes perished in ashes. It is a theme in my life that I give to others without knowing what happens to my gifts. And lately, I sometimes get tired and discouraged because the struggle is big.
The confirmation that my box has arrived and blessed a family is a huge comfort to my heart. My tears are flowing. Thank you, dear Ansa, for your beautiful letter to me. Can I pray for you? How are you? Enjoy every moment of everything in that box. I sent the box with love and prayer.
love Gerda”

Our Father uses us to pass on His love to others. In our world, there are many hardships and many opportunities to show God’s love. The mutual love expressed between two families who do not know each other is another great inspiration for me.

God has also recently shown His Love in a direct way that farmers understand best. In areas with severe drought for years, the floodgates of heaven opened, and a lot of water fell. The arid earth showed gratitude and quickly transformed into the most beautiful green landscape.

When things get tough, and we think we can go no further, we must take a good look. There is always a symbol of hope. Sometimes it is in nature, but other times it comes as people who show up unexpectedly and help where needed. In these Covid times, we all need symbols of hope. We must act when chosen to be the symbol of hope for someone else.

Gerda sent with her letter, also a song. Feel free to listen to the words of the – I have this hope song while looking at photos of the Kalahari’s transformation after the rain.

Kind regards

Emsia

Migration is happening worldwide

19/01/2021 emsia.kruger

At Zander’s new school, migration was the first topic on which they had to do research and a class presentation. Migration was a great topic to start with as it affects all the families at his school. They discussed specific factors that cause migration and had to select an appropriate migration example from the history of their country of origin for their research project.

Fortunately for our South African history, Zander was able to do his entire project on Jan van Riebeeck and the spices from India. The school even invited some parents to share personal migration stories, which the children found very interesting.

In South Africa, migration is a big reality – in and out. There are so many people moving to South Africa from African countries in the hope of finding work and a better existence. There are just as many people moving out of South Africa. They hope for work and a better future.

Samuel from Malawi

Technology helps to keep in touch with family and friends. Samuel, our gardener in South Africa, is from Malawi. The language was challenging, but he asked early on for the “wee-fee password” to communicate with his people at home. I listened with great compassion as the man with his beautiful smile told stories about his little children in Malawi. With a heavy heart, I knew it was also a future reality that my children would be so far away from me. Samuel regularly and with pride sends me photos of our garden in Welgemoed, which he still maintains with love and care for the new owners. I assume he also got their “wee-fee password”.

Samuel and his wife, their house in Malawi and his son

Refugee camp Zurich

People migrate for different reasons, but a large group of people who migrate are refugees. I am part of the school’s “Community Impact” mum group that visits the refugee camp in Zurich on Fridays. The refugees’ stories are disturbing. By the time the refugees arrive safely at a refugee camp, they have been through a lot of trauma. The saddest stories are when parents and children get separated from one other during the flight process and then have no certainty whether they will ever see each other again.

Communication is a challenge because of language differences

I try to focus on the positive and contribute to an enjoyable experience when we visit the refugee camp. We only go for two hours and make pizzas together and play various games with the kids. Communication is a challenge because most of them speak Persian or Arabic.

They start learning German from the beginning, and it is the only common language most of us have with them. There I am forced to practice my German. Fortunately, they speak slowly and in beginner’s German. The teenagers correct my German! I especially enjoy the little ones who easily sit on my lap or take my hand to show me what they want or do.

Many of the refugees come from Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan with Persian as their language, and then the ICS moms who can speak Persian (Farsi) often serve as interpreters. They listen to the refugees’ stories and share them with us. In many countries, people are suffering due to corruption in the government.

In some countries, the government abuses the Muslim religion to manipulate citizens. They discriminate against women. Women and girls are forced to wear the headscarf (Hijab) in public and are thrown in jail or heavily fined if they do not comply. In Iran, men have a lot of power over their family members due to the laws, and I soon realized that many women and children are fleeing Iran due to domestic violence.

Lack of privileges offered by citizenship

People flee or move because of hope for something better in another country. Their expectations are often not fulfilled because they soon realize they will never have the same privileges as citizens of that country. Foreigners will always be outsiders.

One can learn to eat food and speak the language, but culture is not transferable. Culture forms part of your identity from an early age. It helps you understand the context, be aware of the unwritten rules and enable you to laugh together when someone makes a joke.

Moving to another country always impacts the people close to you, and they were not necessarily part of the decision. They do not experience the adventure, only the loss.

One may never judge another person’s choices and decisions. The factors and circumstances that drive decisions are unique to each person. With our short-term contract here in Switzerland, we get a taste of how it feels. My conclusion is that migration is not a decision that one takes lightly. There are many challenges in such a change process. I am sure the millions worldwide who have had to make decisions and adjustments over the centuries for their unique reasons will confirm the fact.

Kind regards
Emsia

My children are leaving the nest

12/01/2021 emsia.kruger

At the end of each year, a group of children leave school and start preparing for a new chapter in their lives. Initially, everyone is scared and uncertain with the start of the after-school chapter, and parents hope and pray for the best. However, it is a privilege to observe the transformation and growth in confidence in each of them. So far, I have experienced the development of Candice and Jacques, and Christo is now ready to start his new chapter.

Candice

Four years ago, as an insecure first-year student, Candice moved into a residence in Potchefstroom. She worked hard, made wonderful friends, seized more opportunities, and transformed into a beautiful young independent woman. Candice has just completed her education degree at NWU in Potchefstroom and is looking forward to a year of teaching with her friend Tristan in Thailand.

Christo

Christo moved to Matieland as a first-year student to study engineering. I would love to help pack and drive around to get the last necessities for Christo’s new chapter. I wanted to listen to the rector’s speech on a beautiful summer afternoon in Coetzenburg while I got excited about the wonder of being young. However, I could only sit on this side of the globe and look at residence moving-in photos with Stellenbosch’s blue mountains and green oak trees colouring the background. I watched the rector’s speech on a video that a dear friend sent me.

University of Stellenbosch

Years ago, I fell in love with Stellenbosch. I loved the Eerste River, old oak trees, and exuberant student cheerfulness. Already working, we enjoyed the Maties Vensters event and the festivity of the first-year students’ contributions to the entertainment program. I was looking forward to the day I could be part of my own children’s student years in this historic town. A few years ago, we bought an apartment in Stellenbosch between the Faculty of Business and Engineering so that the student accommodation for the boys was in place.

Jacques

Within a week after January 2018 arrived, I realised Jacques would not be Matie. I had to accept that our Heavenly Father had other plans for him. With a heavy heart and uncertainty about his future, I had to say goodbye to him on his journey to Potchefstroom, which is 1 300km away.

The first night he slept in Candice’s new empty apartment with a thin blanket as that was the only bedding that could fit into his suitcase. The rest was up to him. He used the blanket as a pillow and the curtain as a sheet. Many miracles later, he finally had a place to live in Campus Key and had to take care of himself.

NWU in Potchefstroom

Two years later, I can see a beautiful young man who quickly had to become independent, cook delicious food, make a difference in other people’s lives, and work hard on his future. Jacques is eager to complete the final year of his business degree at NWU in Potchefstroom so that he, as a born entrepreneur, can implement all his ideas and plans. I am very proud of him.

On 22 January 2020, Christo moved into Helshoogte men’s residence in Stellenbosch to start his chapter as a student. With his mother far away, there are many similarities between my two sons’ situations. He had to make plans by himself, make decisions and get help where needed. It is going well, and he enjoys all the new experiences and people. I am grateful for all the angels on our path who help with so much love and care. Just like I did with Jacques, I plan to visit Christo in Stellenbosch in April 2020 to see his new home and life. I cannot wait!

Christo moving into Helshoogte residence, Stellenbosch

These few years between leaving the nest and becoming a young adult, fly by quickly. It is a period of making new friends, testing values, discovering who they are and what role they want to play in society. The young people become independent and the relationship between parent and child changes to a relationship between two adults. It requires growth and adjustment for both parties.

Kind regards

Emsia

Our challenging first year ended on a high

07/01/2021 emsia.kruger

We have awaited the new year in many different places and gathered precious memories over time. Each country has its traditions, and we were curious about the Silvester experience, as they refer to it in Switzerland. It was our first winter experience, and with icy temperatures, it was very different from our summer experiences.

Rigi Kulm in the Alps

Candice and Tristan wanted to end their Swiss visit in the snow-capped Alps. As part of a day trip, we visited Lucerne and Mount Rigi Kulm. A cable car took us 1800 m high to see the pure white and breathtakingly beautiful landscape. Slippery ice covered large areas, and we all got a turn to land embarrassed on our buttocks. Candice and Tristan’s visit ended literally and figuratively on a high.

Lausanne

In the last two days of 2019, we experienced Lausanne on the French side of Switzerland. The low temperatures forced us to look for indoor activities. Museums are usually not high on our tourist list, but our visit to the Olympic Museum was a highlight for me. I learned a lot of informative facts through visual and interactive activities.

Finally, the last day of the decade has arrived. Until 5 pm, the shops were still open, and the streets were full of people, but later on, there was almost no one to be seen anymore.

We marvelled at the champagne and wine chilled on the windowsills of the apartments. People were ready for the new year for the celebration.

New Year’s celebration

In our search for a festive New Year’s celebration, we finally found an area with street markets and music. I experienced a Quiet disco for the first time. Bodies moved around with illuminated headphones. The colour of the lights of the headphones distinguished the different songs they played at a given time. Dance partners could therefore listen to separate songs at a given time.

The visible policing was limited to three officers, who got off the train with coffee and snacks for the winter evening. We saw no fireworks. It was a stark contrast to Rio de Janeiro, where the police filled the streets with machine guns from early in the morning the previous year. Everything was a stark contrast to Rio, including the number of people, the noise, the temperature and the visual spectacle of fireworks that continued until early morning in Rio. The only common denominator was the strong smell of marijuana in both places.

The year ended in Lausanne with an organ performance in the city’s beautiful cathedral. I was so looking forward to attending, but the price of the entrance tickets made us turn around in our tracks. We went home for hot chocolate. We went back to the cathedral just before midnight with masses of people coming out of their cosy apartments. At 00:00, the cathedral’s bells began to ring deafeningly for 15 minutes, with red lights and smoke making it appear as if the tower was on fire. The Swiss welcome of the New Year in Lausanne was a memorable experience.

The ski town of Leysin

On New Year’s morning, we went to the ski town of Leysin to experience a Swiss winter holiday. It felt like a beach town in South Africa, only with a snow theme. This holiday village also has many tourist shops and a shortage of parking spaces. Instead of queues for the water park, there are rows of people waiting for the cable car up to the ski area. Instead of designer bikinis, the girls were wearing designer ski suits.

In the evening, everyone was exhausted from snow fun. In South Africa, the waves, building sandcastles and the sun were responsible for the exhaustion. A beach holiday in South Africa is much cheaper than a ski holiday in Switzerland. It is impossible to compare a Swiss cheese fondue or raclette with a South African braai or potjiekos.

May 2020 treat you all well and bring you pleasant surprises and opportunities. Since life is in balance, I hope we all find creative solutions to the challenges that cross our path and peace and acceptance with the things we have no control over. I look forward to our SA visit in April 2020.

Kind regards
Emsia

My children’s visit was my big Christmas gift

17/12/2020 emsia.kruger

As a South African, December holidays are synonymous with the sea, beach, long sunny days, barbecues, family, and friends. This prospect has helped me every year when my energy tank’s needle is touching empty. Preparation for the holiday and festive season is as enjoyable as the holiday itself.

I could hug my children

This year is a different experience. Winter in December for a South African is just as strange a concept as a sunny Christmas for any European. This year, I dedicated most of my planning and preparation to my sons and Candice’s visit in December. Despite the visa challenges and delayed flights, everything was worth it when I saw them walking through the doors of Zurich airport and could give them a good hug. Their visit was my Christmas gift!

Lake Zurich and Christmas markets

I was eager to show them the Christmas decorations in the main street on the evening of their arrival. We walked from the train station to the lake and enjoyed the festive atmosphere created by the Christmas markets.

I had to carefully plan to share all my discoveries with them in the short time they were here. We strolled through the forest near our house and explored the old town of Zurich. We took beautiful photos of the bridges over the Limmat River and the many church towers. With our flask of coffee and a lunch box full of sandwiches, we had a picnic next to Lake Zurich.

Rapperswil

We took the train along the lake to Rapperswil. It has a beautiful old town on the shores of Lake Zurich, and the Christmas markets and food stalls have created a cosy atmosphere. On the hill of the city is a beautiful 12th-century castle.

Lindt chocolate factory shop

A visit to the Lindt chocolate factory shop was a must to buy gifts for everyone in South Africa. The shop is next to the factory, and the chocolate smell hanging in the air is seducing. At the front of the store are all the beautiful displays of coloured chocolate treats, and at the back are the bargains available in bulk.

Our first snow experience

The highlight was the unexpected snow one night just before bedtime. We all became kids again and ran outside, trying to catch the snow, making snowballs and taking pictures. The following morning, a pure white layer of snow covered the world. Candice and Zander wrote letters to their friends in the snow. I will cherish the shared first snow moment forever.

Candice’s wish was to celebrate her birthday on 17 December in Amsterdam, and the three of them got on the plane with great excitement to meet Candice’s friend Tristan there and make their discoveries. They stayed in a youth hostel, met interesting people, and had exciting experiences. After Amsterdam, Jacques and Christo went to London to enjoy Christmas and New Year in the UK with the family. Candice and Tristan flew back to celebrate Christmas with us.

Christmas service in German in the Fraumünster church

We attended the Christmas service in German in the Fraumünster church. The church was packed. They lit the candles of the Christmas tree in front of the church with a long stick, and the choir sang Christmas songs.

Our Christmas lunch consisted of a mixture of South African and Swiss dishes. For the rest of the day, we enjoyed a playing card competition in our warm cosy apartment while it was freezing outside.
Even though I longed for all the other family who could not be with us, my heart was satisfied.

Kind regards
Emsia

Entertainment for dark winter evenings

09/12/2020 emsia.kruger

By five o’clock in the afternoon, it is already dark in Zurich. It is freezing and dark outside, and we must find things to keep ourselves busy. Over time, the Swiss created many customs and opportunities to entertain themselves. We participate and attend where we can to learn from them.

Turnip lantern festival

At the end of October, Halloween kicked off the winter program. In early November, there is a turnip lantern festival. People hollowed out large turnips and carved images into the walls to serve as lanterns for the festival. Zander and I attended the school’s turnip festival. The younger children created the most beautiful lanterns during school time, and children and parents went for a walk in the forest behind the school with the lanterns late afternoon.

The children sang Swiss folk songs in the middle of the forest next to a huge campfire. I understand the custom goes back to the 1800s when people ate turnips as a staple food. End of November, they celebrated the end of the harvest season with a thanksgiving service at the church and then walked to church while singing with the turnip lanterns.

Fondue and Raclette

We see a large variety of cheese and accessories for Fondue and Raclette in the shops. We were fortunate to be invited to a fondue dinner at the house of a colleague of Charl. I never thought dinner consisting of bread and cheese could be so special! The Swiss wine also made its contribution. After all the cheese, they recommend drinking Kirsch (cherry brandy) to assist digestion.

Raclette is a thick slice of Swiss cheese that is melted in a raclette oven and eaten with bread, boiled potatoes, or vegetables. The dinner invitation inspired Charl’s birthday celebration. He has a fondue set he received years ago as a gift after hosting a training session in Zurich.

Ice hockey and ice skating

Ice hockey is a spectator sport in Switzerland during winter. We had an opportunity to watch an ice hockey match in Lausanne, close to the French border. It is a fast sport and was an exciting experience. This time of year, the children celebrate their birthday parties on the ice rink. The ice rink has a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and is a popular attraction.

Christmas markets and shopping street

In late November, officials switched on a Christmas tree decorated with Swarovski crystals to kick off the official Christmas celebrations. They decorated the shopping street between the Zurich train station and Zurich’s lake with the most beautiful lights that make it look like a starry sky. Everywhere there are stalls selling Christmas gifts, food, and mulled wine. The warm wine has a deliciously sweet spice flavour and provides some heat when it is so cold.

My Christmas gift this year will be the visit of Jacques, Christo, and Candice. In my heart, I will carry all who celebrate a Summer Christmas and picture everything on your Christmas table. I will sing with you – Christmas is coming, Christmas is coming – Give God all the glory. Grant us a bright Summer Christmas with many blessings in our country Lord!

I hope you experience a wonderful time together and a blessed time this December.
Kind regards
Emsia

God selects our angels here on earth

02/12/2020 emsia.kruger

People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When we meet them, we do not know the significance of the role they will play in our lives. Only time will tell.

I firmly believe that with our journey here on earth, our Heavenly Father selected with great care specific people to be our angels here on earth. The way individuals crossed our paths and the unique role that each one plays in our journey confirm this for me. Many angels in South Africa still help and support in many ways. Fortunately, here in Switzerland, we have also started noticing the angels.

Zander’s teacher, Sandy Hill

Sandy Hill, the teacher of Zander, is an example of such an angel. She is of British descent and has years of experience as a teacher and a mother who knows how to handle pre-teens. She is also the coach of his indoor soccer team. Her passion for rugby contributes to Zander’s conviction that she is a perfect teacher for him.

The Friday before the 2019 rugby world cup final, she was dressed in her English supporter shirt. However, the Monday after the rugby final, she congratulated him on the Bok’s victory in front of the class. At tennis, the two British moms also congratulated me, and the Japanese mom told us how everyone in Japan is now suddenly rugby crazy.

At the end of the first term, we had individual parent-teacher meetings. After all these years, I am still nervous about meetings with teachers. In preparation for the discussion, I asked Zander what feedback I could expect from his teacher.

Oh, mom, I think she will say I am doing pretty well academically, but I talk too much in class. It is not a problem for me, but it may bother some other children.

Ms Hill confirmed with a smile that Zander provided a good summary. From her feedback, I could see that she made an effort to get to know the children individually.

Zander’s friend Nate and his mom Ellen

Zander’s friendship with Nate, the American from San Francisco, began on the first day of school. I ran into Nate’s mother, Ellen, independently on the same day and invited her for coffee. Over coffee, we realized that our careers and interests had many similarities. We have been hiking a few times and joined the same German class.

Pumpkins and Halloween

At the last weekend of the autumn school holidays, we visited a pumpkin farm. Zander could not believe his luck when Nate and his family also happened to arrive on the same day and time. We were amazed by the creative pumpkin exhibits. There was a delicious spice scent of pumpkin soup and mulled wine in the air and an opportunity to carve pumpkins in preparation for Halloween.

Halloween is a big event at the international school. We, as parents, had the opportunity to sign up for assistance with the Halloween celebrations. The options were decorating, baking for the cake sale, supervising at the disco, and making your car available as a “trick or treat” point with a boot full of sweets. I signed up for the cake sale and made chocolate oatmeal cookies with a sour worm. I only saw all the beautiful baked artwork when I handed in my cookies! I plan to supervise at the disco next year.

Our Swiss angels, Stephan and Barbara

Our Swiss angels are Stephan and Barbara, who live close to us. Stephan is a colleague of Charl. He has helped with a few lifts to work and many helpful tips and advice. He is qualified as a medical doctor, and his wife is a nurse. They own a few goats. They worked for a long time in Yemen, where their four children went to school.

He told me that he learned to speak and write Arabic when he realised that his interpreter was making recommendations far removed from his diagnosis. His story serves as an inspiration when I struggle with German. Barbara was so kind to invite me to an event at their church to make Advent wreaths and to her house for coffee and Swiss cake.

I finally started with my German classes. We are a group of 12 students representing 12 countries. I look forward to getting to know the people better over the next six months.

Only time will tell whether the people we meet come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

Kind regards
Emsia

Celebration of milestone birthdays

25/11/2020 emsia.kruger

Birthday and Christmas celebrations make me nervous. It creates expectations whether you are on the giving or receiving end. Somehow someone is always left disappointed. I have made peace that our Christmas or birthday celebrations will never come close to the magazine or Pinterest pictures. Some planned celebrations can be an extreme disappointment, while other unplanned days become special, memorable moments.

My vision for a family get together

However, I was contemplating the possibility of using my fiftieth birthday in October 2019 as an excuse for a family get-together. I pictured us having a fun time along the banks of the Orange River. In my mind, I could hear children playing in the water and smell the barbequed lamb chops. I requested my two eldest sons to keep the 2019 October holiday free from other social events that might cross their path.

My fiftieth birthday celebration turned out very different from my initial plans! I celebrated my birthday on a wet, cold autumn day in Zurich instead of a sunny spring day along the banks of the Orange River. Instead of being with my family for a whole weekend, it was just Zander and me in Zurich who knew I was celebrating my birthday. Charl had to attend a conference in South Africa during the same week as my birthday.

Every get-together is a celebration

I am grateful that I have decided to approach this celebration differently. In my mind, I perceived all my last coffees, meals or social time with friends and family as a celebration. I saw the time shared and connection as my gift. In the beautiful Western Cape, I celebrated with friends every week. My celebrations with my family were among the big old camel thorn trees and red sand in the Kalahari. I had a special celebration with Jacques and Candice next to the Vaal River in Parys, Free State.

Our France visit

We visited Paris in France the weekend before my fiftieth birthday in October. We were amazed by the buildings that tell stories of times long before we walked on this earth. We discussed the French Revolution and how many people lost their lives on the same soil where we could peacefully sit and enjoy lunch. The highlight for Zander was when we visited Disney Paris to celebrate his birthday at the end of September. We had lots of fun on the roller coaster rides through Star War galaxies!

On my birthday, Zander and I stayed at home so that I could talk to everyone in South Africa without interruption. I saw every call and message as a gift because people made time for me.
The distance highlights how precious physical togetherness is. On my fiftieth birthday, I reminded myself that we must celebrate every day and see every moment we enjoy with those close to us as a gift, and free ourselves from all the magazine or social media expectations of celebrations.

Kind regards
Emsia