2020 - Letters Home

Lent and Easter during Covid lockdown

09/02/2021 emsia.kruger

14 April 2020

These first few months of 2020 are going to get the a place in the History Books. Although not easy, it is a privilege to be a part of this history. We must challenge ourselves to write down our own personal experience of these times to share with the generation yet to be born. I read an interesting tale of Great Flu in 1918 on Facebook that again reminded me of the importance of stories.

It is very ironic that this time of restraint coincides with the time of suffering before Easter. At a soul level we are forced to be quiet and are stripped of everything that distracts us from the things we tend to focus on.

Good Friday in Welgemoed

In Welgemoed the illuminated cross on Tygerbergheuwels was synonymous with Lent and a good awareness of this special period on the church calendar. At sunrise on Good Friday, congregation members walked together to the illuminated cross. Everyone had time to be quiet alone after which we sang together and read from the Bible. Last year was emotional because we knew it was our last time, we would do it that way. It was shortly before Charl would fly to Zurich to make his new start and I had to wrestle further with real estate agents and moving boxes.

Easter in a new country

I was wondering what Easter would be like in a new country. I was hoping to attend one of the church services in an old church with the Swiss people. I believe that fellowship can be experienced with people who have grown up differently and speak a different language, because we serve the same God. Now we are going to celebrate Easter in isolation worldwide and attend the various church services on Radio, TV, or YouTube in our own mother tongue. There is something of a global community that is special in its own way.

The Easter eggs on the trees full of blossoms and buds, are so symbolic of new life. Our humanity has come to a standstill, but Mother Nature is continuing with her normal cycles. I was looking forward to taking beautiful photos of spring in Switzerland. However, I had to be content with photos of the gardens of houses near us. Hopefully, next year I can take pictures of the cherry blossoms in Berta street, Zurich with my own camera.

I was relieved to see that the Lindt Easter Bunny was at least not barred, like the rest of non-essential items. There is a large variety of Easter eggs and the most beautiful chocolate Easter bunnies for sale. Easter feels slightly pushed into the background in these uncertain times.

We miss the traditional hot cross buns we are used to, and which are not available here at all.

Kind regards

Emsia

Many adjustments to a new rhythm

09/02/2021 emsia.kruger

7 April 2020

The news that we will no longer be able to come to South Africa during April is a great disappointment. Zander made long lists of everyone he wanted to see, things he wanted to do and food he wanted to eat. Among other things, he just wanted to eat ProNutro for breakfast again, barbecued meat and boerewors rolls with chutney and tomato sauce for lunch and go to Spur for a Hamburger and chips and Nachos.

More bad news came when we realized that Christo and Michaela could no longer visit during the June holidays, because the Swiss Embassy had informed them that they were closed until mid-June and no visas could be obtained. We are now trying to change our flights so that we can fly to South Africa in June.

Groceries

It is a whole lifestyle change with everything, but grocery stores and pharmacies closed, and people being forced to work from home. Only a few people are allowed in the shops at a time after a security officer has made sure you have disinfected your hands. The people get angry if you move too close to them. With spring in the air, we are very allergic. If you want to go shopping, you must therefore make sure that you have blown your nose and finished all your sneezing before someone wants to throw a sauerkraut bottle at you.

Working from home

Charl works incredibly long hours away from home and is at video meetings all the time. As the rules in the country change and new challenges emerge, business leaders must make new plans all the time. Everyone was forced to set up home offices and there are nowhere more cell phones and computers available in Switzerland. The cell phone and internet networks are under pressure because it was never designed with the heavy use in mind

. In the hospitals, all pre-planned surgeries have been postponed making way for the growing number of Covid patients. The Hirslanden group’s experience is that cyber-attacks have doubled in recent weeks. People have more time on their hands and businesses are more under pressure and vulnerable in uncertain times.

School and socialising with friends

Initially, the changing situation was very traumatic for Zander. He was restless and struggled to sleep. Fortunately, he soon found a new rhythm that works well for him. Every day the school sends work for the day and he and his Mexican buddy do it on the computer at the same time while they talk to each other over the phone. The completed work is sent back to school which is marked by the teachers before the next day.

In the afternoons he plays at our apartment complex with other boys his age. The five, which is the maximum according to the rules, are a mix of Singapore, Pakistan, Germany, the Netherlands and of course South Africa. They all play outside cobs-and-robbers, football and Zander has also taught them to play handball tennis which they played during breaks at Welgemoed. He comes home tired at night and seems to be enjoying his new routine.

Appreciating nature

The weather is getting nicer and we can go for a walk every night. Early in the morning the birds chirp unaware of Corona. Everywhere people walk and ride bikes with their dogs and children. It is especially young parents with toddlers on scooters who dominate the picture. Parents’ creativity in keeping the little ones busy as well as their patience is tested. We are thankful that we have not yet been banned from leaving our apartments and houses like the people in Italy and Spain.

Corona virus situation fortunately created an opportunity for us. Churches are now making their services available on YouTube. We miss church services in our mother tongue and the many services available in Afrikaans create for us a sense of togetherness.

I am convinced that Corona is going to help us look at things and relationships differently. We will be tired of technology, want to spend more time outdoors and spend more time with precious people and relationships. With the huge economic impact that the situation is going to have on many organizations and individuals, I suspect that people are going to be economically forced to live simpler lives.

Kind regards

Emsia

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

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