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Category: 2021

Greece shared her beauty with us

Greece shared her beauty with us

I often marvel at the variety of beauty that the earth offers us. Beauty comes in different forms. Our senses, heart and emotions help us experience beauty. Each of us lives in a place offering a whole package of environment, people, food, and experiences. Sometimes, however, we need to experience different places to appreciate the beauty of our home.

During our 2021 summer holiday, we looked forward to experiencing South Africa’s beauty again with our senses and hearts. Due to Covid restrictions, the time was unfortunately not yet right, and the Greek islands had to make up. The sun, sea, landscape, people, food, and experiences were like soul food and felt like South Africa.

Swiss feedback about South African beauty

The Swiss woman who helped us at the Covid test centre with our PCR tests immediately recognized my South African accent. With a smile, she told us that their South African holiday at the end of 2019 was their most enjoyable holiday ever. They cannot wait to go back and experience more beauty.

Naxos

Upon our arrival in Mykonos, we immediately boarded one of the large ferry boats to sail to Naxos.

Our accommodation was right next to the beach. During early morning coffee, we watched the town wake up. The roads were full of scooters. We were amazed at how the Greeks managed to talk or text on their cell phones. They even had intense conversations with hand gestures on the scooters. One Grandma and her grandchild on a quad bike delivered fresh tomatoes and melons every morning.

We discovered a stunning restaurant and ate all our dinners there. The friendly interactions, beautiful Greek music and sunset views were medicine for the soul. I tried all the traditional Greek dishes, and we ate tzatziki with our bread every night. Zander caught up with his meat intake. The owner made jokes with Zander and spoiled him with a bowl of ice cream on our last night.

We had an interesting chat with the facility manager at our residence. He lived in England for 23 years and returned to Greece 5 years ago. His remark was,

“In England, I learned to speak English and earned good money but lived little. Now I enjoy life again but sometimes lie awake about money”.

Mykonos

Mykonos was a different experience than Naxos, and we learned a few new things. There are a lot of tourists, and everything is just as expensive as in Switzerland. It made sense when we realized Mykonos is the party island of the rich.

We lived close to Paradise Beach, high up on a hill. We could see and hear the parties on the beach. Private yachts were visible everywhere, and private jets arrived in the early morning.

At most beaches in Mykonos, nudism is acceptable. Zander, who is at a sensitive age, did not know where to look.

Covid impact

The Greek government announced new Covid restrictions in Mykonos two days before our return. The new rules prohibited music at restaurants and places of entertainment and introduced a curfew. The sudden silence was strange.

Our holiday was a memorable experience. I share the visual version of our holiday.

We eventually had the privilege of experiencing a South African summer and Christmas in December 2021!

Kind regards

Emsia

The Christmas bag full of emotions

The Christmas bag full of emotions

During the festive season, my emotional highs and lows are usually intense. However, the flight restrictions almost pushed me over. The recent updates to the Swiss rules suddenly make a SA visit possible again. My heart rejoices!

As a result, many families whose children are studying or working in other countries may be together for Christmas. I am grateful to everyone who encouraged and supported me with positivity and hope. I pray with those who are still waiting in uncertainty for good news.

The festive season in Switzerland

The festive season experience in Switzerland is exceptional, with many traditions and customs. The Swiss Christmas winter experience is different from the South African summer Christmas experience.

Switzerland’s winter evenings are particularly long and cold. At 5 pm, it is dark, and the morning only arrives by 8 am. Fortunately, the streets and houses are creatively decorated with Christmas trees and lights to create a festive atmosphere. People can enjoy cheese fondue or raclette in the wooden chalets that pop up during the advent season.

On the last Thursday of every November, the authorities in Zurich switch on the festive lights, and the Christmas markets open. The whole atmosphere becomes warm, cosy, and enchanting. The smell of hot mulled wine hangs in the air, and chestnuts, fried on the open fire, are for sale at all the “Heisse Marroni” stalls.

Christmas as a child

Samichlaus is the German-Swiss version of Santa Claus. In December, the Jelmoli tram rides through Zurich, and children can listen to stories by Santa and his angel helpers. Samichlaus also visits the kindergartens and some primary schools and appears at points in the forest during the first week of December. I can only imagine how real and exciting Santa must be through the eyes of young children.

Christmas as an adult

As a parent, you do everything to create this enchantment with lights, atmosphere, and gifts for your children. With time you learn there is an outer festive season with trees and lights and an inner festive season inside your mind. Sometimes the inner and outer moods conflict. You carry a heavy bag full of emotions and are relieved when the end of the festive season arrives.

Everyone you want around the Christmas table is not there for different reasons. Covid made its contribution in various ways. In addition, ego instead of love unfortunately still dominates many relationships and situations because we are all only human.

I do not think there is a perfect Christmas. It’s just as perfect as you see it.

Every person sitting with you around the Christmas table is a gift if you look closely. Covid taught us to look differently. If we look at this festive season with gratitude and love and appreciate its true meaning, our inner festive season will be full of light and gratefulness.

Kalahari Christmas

We are hoping for a summer Christmas in the Kalahari this year. I look forward to being with the people close to my heart.

In my imaginary picture, the stars in the sky will be our Christmas lights. Everyone’s familiar voices are going to be our Christmas music. Our togetherness and love for one another will be our greatest gift to one another.

During all this uncertainty, I must constantly remind myself that the Christmas in my heart is the determining one, regardless of the place, season or people with me. I, therefore, have to work hard on the thoughts that impact my inner festive season. May the way I look at Christmas be my gift to myself.

May it be a blessed holiday season for you and your loved ones, wherever you are.

Regards
Emsia

A snow blanket comforted me

A snow blanket comforted me

I saw my sons and family more than two years ago. Our planned visit to SA consequently keeps my heart and mind busy. It is the fifth time we are trying to fly to SA, and I was hopeful. The disappointing news about Omicron and flight restrictions was like a nightmare. Every news article wanted to suffocate me, and I struggled to sleep and hold my tears. However, the snow came softly and wrapped me comfortingly in a white blanket.

Snow is enchanting

Snow, especially the first snow, is enchanting. The coloured landscape becomes monochrome when snowflakes fall lightly like feathers to the ground. The silence that comes with the pristine pure white landscape is sacred. Snowfall initially creates a feeling of calm and then excitement. Children laugh, and adults talk. Families build snowmen and boast about their creations.

Zander and his friends enjoy the snow with their sledges after school and on weekends. In the evenings, he is hungry, cold, and tired. It takes good planning to get his snow jacket, pants and gloves dry again before the next day. Charl and I enjoy walking in the snow. Fresh snow crunches under your shoes.

During November, preparations commence for the expected snow. The farmers plough the fields, and the municipality plants red wickets to indicate the roads in the white landscape. Lights and Christmas decorations make their appearance and give a fairytale-like feel.

Safety in snow

After a snowfall, road scrapers, with their orange warning lights, scrape the roads, sidewalks, and train stations starting early in the morning so that people can continue their daily activities. As soon as the snow starts melting, the night temperatures cause it to freeze to a slippery ice layer which is very dangerous to walk on. There is a high occurrence of knee, hip, and wrist incidents in these conditions. We now understand the need for warm waterproof shoes with thick soles.

Motor vehicles have a set of tires for summer and a separate set of tires for winter. Chains increase traction control when driving in snow or ice. Similar chains are available for shoes to walk on slippery surfaces. Even the trains sometimes slip on their tracks due to the snow or ice.

Snow means a lot more to me than just white flakes

During our first December in Switzerland, my children’s visit was my big Christmas present. The first snow began to fall the day after their arrival. Just before bedtime, the first snowflakes appeared from the sky. As South Africans, we are not used to snow. It was, therefore, our first snow experience and an enchanting, shared experience! We played outside like children and enjoyed the snow on our faces and tongues.

This year’s snow has more meaning to me than just white flakes. The white blanket helped me calm down. I experience inner peace and a knowing that everything will work out as it should. There are no guarantees, but I have hope that should carry me through the uncertainty.

I hope you also get your sign of hope that will bring you peace and joy for the festive season.

Regards

Emsia

Creativity is intelligence having fun

Creativity is intelligence having fun

During the past two years, Creativity introduced itself to me. I have drawn a lot of enjoyment and value from the relationship. My relationship with Creativity was a perfect example of the expression – “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear”.

Since I do not consider myself a creative person, the following words by the author Kurt Vonnegut speak to me:

“Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow. Being good at things is not the point of doing them. I think you got all these wonderful experiences with different skills, and that all teach you things and makes you an interesting person, no matter how well you do them.”

I have not focused too much on creative activities in the past. I blamed it on a lack of time and creative abilities. The Covid lockdown forced me to find something to do. I started focusing more on taking pictures, writing, experimenting with new recipes and painting with acrylic paint.

Pictures

With pictures, I decide on a subject and then try to capture it through my lens from different angles. Sometimes it’s a season, place, occasion, or time of day or year. I try various techniques that force me to look at everyday objects differently. A level of detail I have never noticed suddenly becomes visible to me. It excites me to observe the colour, design, and patterns of things in nature that are constantly changing. I shared my observations in my letter entitled Photography as a teacher of the art of observation.

Baking and Cooking

Since I must cook every day, I decided to incorporate more creativity. The fresh produce on the store shelves is seasonal and constantly changing. As soon as something new appears, I try to find recipes to test it out. The Swiss, for example, have Spätzli, which is almost like pasta, with seasonal vegetables. I also regularly try new variations with Gnocchi and Risotto.

My eldest son has a Vegan Bakery, the Cinnamon Club, that bakes the most beautiful cakes. I am constantly amazed by the creative outcomes. I share more about this in my letter Cooking with love, inspired by my son.

Painting

My painting efforts are still at the Grade 1 level. We started Paint-by-Numbers as a winter month entertainment project. I enjoyed it so much that I acquired paint, brushes and paper. The outcomes are not yet something I am willing to show, but I find the process enjoyable. My latest pictures are more of an abstract nature and develop as I go along. I enjoy abstract artwork more since there is less room for visible mistakes.

Pleasure in creativity

I’m still a beginner in many respects, but the enjoyment and positivity I experience when I do it are invaluable! There is a lot of personal satisfaction in trying something new and seeing how you progress. It is also very relaxing and transfers me to a different world. I had to accept that I was doing this simply for the enjoyment of it and had to send my inner critic away as far as possible.

I like Albert Einstein’s expression, “Creativity is intelligence having fun”. Creativity helps me to look at the world and objects around me in new ways. I suddenly find correlations between things I never noticed before. I am more aware of and find joy in the little things.

All of us can benefit from the relationship with Creativity and should invest more time in this fun friendship.

regards

Emsia

Budapest was a feast for our senses

Budapest was a feast for our senses

I prefer experiences as gifts. It is immortalized in our memory and cannot be broken or stolen. This year, a visit to Budapest was my birthday gift and one I could share. We travelled on the overnight train through Austria to Budapest.

Budapest is known for its historical sites, including the Chain Bridge, which connects Buda and Pest on either side of the Danube River. The central part of Budapest along the Danube has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has an enormous thermal groundwater system with about 80 thermal springs. Hungary is one of the more affordable countries in Europe because it is not yet part of the Eurozone. Their currency is the Forint.

Overnight train experience

The overnight train experience was a first for me. Due to the high volume of bookings, I ended up in a sleeping cabin other than Charl and Zander. I shared the 4-person sleeping cabin with three young German women. Fortunately, one of them could speak English well and helped me with information. The following morning, I had the opportunity to get to know Melanie better while drinking coffee. She is a travel blogger and owner of the blog goodmorningworld.de. As a result, she was able to give me many travel tips about Budapest.

Upon our arrival at the beautiful Budapest train station, she informed me that masks in Hungary are not mandatory.

Great Market Hall and Hungarian food

Our first stop was at the Great Market Hall, consisting of three floors. Traders sell fresh products, gifts, clothes, backpacks, and Hungarian street food. Many stalls sell Paprika which traditionally comes in eight different flavour profiles. There are lace embroidery and Russian dolls too. 

We had the Hungarian Langos for lunch and loved it. It is dough fried in oil and tastes just like South African vetkoek. On top of the flat vetkoek are cream cheese, grated cheese and any other topping of choice. I also tried the goulash soup, which reminded me of my mother’s soup with pieces of meat.

Castle hill

We visited Castle Hill in the late afternoon, where we had the most beautiful views of the city. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains medieval monuments and museums. The 13th-century royal palace is impressive. We, unfortunately, missed the “Changing of the Guards” ceremony but at least saw two men in royal outfits on their horses.

Parliament building and Jewish shoes memorial

I admired the symmetry and detail of Budapest’s parliament building on the banks of the Danube River. It is the third-largest parliament building in the world and is very impressive.

Close to the Parliament building is a memorial of shoes that moved me immensely. It is in memory of the Jews who lost their lives during World War II. The Jews had to take off their shoes before being shot on the riverbank. 

Szechenyi Spa Baths

Hungary is known for its thermal baths, and the Roman settlers built the first baths. The Szechenyi Baths and the beautifully decorated palace existed for more than 100 years. There are 18 swimming pools filled with mineral-rich natural hot springs and ten saunas and steam rooms.

The energy in the air was happy and relaxing. In one pool, there are even chessboards for visitors to play chess while relaxing in the water.

Zander experienced the spa baths as a highlight, and it was a relaxing way for us to conclude our Budapest visit.

regards

Emsia

The layer of fog that clouds my mind

The layer of fog that clouds my mind

During November, Zurich is almost permanently shrouded in a fog layer. When we open the curtains in the morning, it looks like a white wall on the outside. Sometimes the fog stays all day. On other days, the dark silhouettes of buildings and trees become more visible as the sun rises.

The Swiss warned us about the fog from the beginning. The fog layer has a depressing impact because it is dark, and you feel trapped. On weekends, many people visit their homes in the mountains to enjoy the sunlight and temporarily escape the fog.

My Eglisau message

The autumn colours in Switzerland are exceptional this year. I was excited about a sunny day because I wanted to take pictures in the village of Eglisau with its beautiful vineyards along the Rhein River. My disappointment was huge when the whole town was shrouded in fog. I decided to stay in the hope that the haze would clear.

After a while, I realized how beautiful and mysterious everything appears in the fog and that I must appreciate things just the way they are and stop clinging to my picture. I get this message regularly but still struggle with it sometimes.

A worldwide layer of fog

Travelling to new places and cultures is one of the things Charl and I enjoy doing together. We were very excited about the opportunity to live in Switzerland for a few years because of the possibility of exploring Europe without long flights and a Schengen visa application. However, Covid has fallen around us all like a thick layer of fog.

The country’s borders were closed for a long time and reopened only recently. The Covid situation forced us to discover Switzerland. We visited many beautiful places and had experiences we would have missed if Europe had been open. Worldwide, the restrictions forced people to look with new eyes at the beauty of their own country and environment. In the process, many people discovered gems that they had previously overlooked.

In the fog, I saw my own family more clearly

Christmas time is synonymous with family time. Christmas markets and celebrations provide great excitement. Last year there was only one big silence. Due to all the strict rules, we spent the Christmas holidays inside our apartment. We ordered creative projects online and kept ourselves busy. All three of us later admitted that it was a precious and peaceful time and that we enjoyed each other’s company.

From the beginning, we planned to visit South Africa and my sons Switzerland once a year. After their first visit in December 2019, we could not see each other again. It was an exceptionally dense fog to me. The distance and situation encouraged us to connect more often and engage deeper. I consequently got to know my sons differently. I write more about this in my letter with the title words have become my lifeline.

The fog teaches me to enjoy the now.

The fog has become a metaphor for me and reminds me to enjoy the present situation. I must stop clinging so tightly to my picture of “perfect” that I overlook the beauty around me.

In the fog, our usual familiar environment appears mysterious. The fog dims the background and makes the most critical items stand out. It helps us focus on the elements that are indeed visible. The fog layer is not permanent. It will clear up, and the sun will shine again.

Regards

Emsia

Friends who ease the motherhood turbulence

Friends who ease the motherhood turbulence

Many of my friends’ youngest children write their final school exams. November is a stressful month, and soon they will have to adjust to an empty home. They experience the conclusion of a meaningful chapter in their life book.

God handpick our friends

Every mother looks back and thinks with a smile about the turbulence of motherhood. I know I would never have survived without the input and help of friends. I believe that God handpicked these friends for me.  There is no coincidence in the selection or timing of people crossing our path. I wrote more about it in synchronicity is never accidental.

Friends see your need and help without you asking. They encourage and give honest opinions. They challenge you to try new things or to see situations in new ways. Sometimes they can spot or create humour when you are on the verge of despair.

Little boys

Jackie and I crossed paths when our boys were little. She ended up in Cape Town after her husband’s heart transplant. It was at the same time that I was going through a divorce. Despite her challenges, she was always ready to help. Many times, she took my boys home with her after school. It allowed me to finish my work and then enjoy a glass of wine on her porch as we watched the sunset view of Table Mountain. Sometimes she also spoiled us with delicious, cooked food.

She was happy for me when Charl showed up in my life. I found love again, but shortly before our wedding, her husband died. With a lot of raw emotion and loss, she bravely attended our wedding. It was our turn to help and support where we could.

Fortunately, she found love again. We both understood the challenges of raising teenage boys with the help of a father who is not their own. Our boys are young men now, but we are grateful for the role we were able to play in each other’s lives.

Young men

In Christo’s final year of school, he fell in love. Just before we moved to Zurich, his girlfriend’s mother, Ronel and I went for a cup of coffee to get to know each other. We enjoyed each other’s company, and we could not stop talking. Little did I know what critical role Ronel would play in my life.

I did not know there was a pandemic on the way and that Ronel’s house would become my child’s home for almost 18 months. She dropped him off at the residence and regularly spoiled him with treats. Nothing was too much trouble for her, and she kept me up to date with pictures and messages. She understood the situation well since her parents also relocated to work abroad after she finished school, while she stayed behind in South Africa for her studies.

Our children’s relationship, unfortunately, did not survive Covid-19, but Ronel and I decided that our friendship would continue. After our one-time meeting, our connection grew through calls, messages, and letters. With her love of travel, we hope she can visit me in Switzerland.

My sister, my friend

I am very blessed that one of my friends is also my sister. We are four years apart, and I did not put her in the friendship category for the first twenty years. In my teens, she and her friends sometimes drove me crazy. One afternoon, they hid in a big tree next to the school’s rugby field and howled like foxes while the rugby team practised. It was a significant embarrassment because I was in love with one of those players.

I never thought she would be my 911 if I needed advice and perspective as a mom. We have approached our teenage years very differently, and her perspective on certain situations is valuable. There were times when I called her in the morning with a heavy heart on the way to work. However, I arrived at work much lighter with perspective and motivation. She also has a great sense of humour, and her laughter therapy always works.

Friends are gifts from God, each wrapped in their unique packaging. They walk the path of life with us, providing support, encouragement, perspective and acts of love and caring.
Thank you to everyone who walks the path with me and is there for me.

Regards

Emsia

Black Forest cake and cuckoo clocks

Black Forest cake and cuckoo clocks

We celebrated Zander’s 13th birthday in the Black Forest in southwestern Germany. It is known for its cuckoo clocks, black forest cake and The Grimm brothers’ fairy tales. From afar, the forest appears black because the trees grow so densely.

Triberg and tourism

We spent most of our time in the tourist town of Triberg. After we showed our Covid certificates, the owners of the hotel and restaurants received us very friendly.

I admired the most beautiful traditional clothes of the sales and service staff. The men wear leather pants with suspender belts and waistcoats. The women wear colourful skirts with white lace blouses rounded off with an apron. We could understand the area’s German quite well, and the people politely tolerated our efforts to speak it.

Cuckoo Clocks

The area is known for its cuckoo clocks. It is quite an experience to visit such a shop since the clocks play the most beautiful tunes, and the cuckoo sounds remind you of the forest. We also viewed the largest cuckoo clock in the world. It is therapeutic to look a the giant gearwork. Some of the cuckoo clocks are unique and sought-after collectable items.

A German clockmaker, Franz Ketterer, invented the first cuckoo clock with the cuckoo bird and sounds during the 1600s. Double bellows that send air through small pipes create the sound.

Forest and waterfalls

Germany’s highest waterfalls are in Triberg, and we visited the park. Several footpaths lead you to the 164m falls. The atmosphere is calm with the green forest that shows signs of yellow. I loved the sound of falling water mixed with beautiful bird sounds. We even saw some squirrels excited about the peanuts that the visitors handed out. The squirrels in Europe are much darker in colour than the South African squirrels.

Black Forest Cake

We promised Zander a big slice of black forest cake for his birthday. It is a popular treat, and guests can order it with or without alcohol. It consisted of several layers of chocolate sponge cake interspersed with cream and cherries and was rich and delicious.

The Hotel that was once a clock factory

We stayed in St. George on Saturday night. The hotel interested me because it used to be a clock factory for 130 years. In 2016 the new owners converted it into the hotel FederWERK with the restaurant FeinWERK. In the corridors, black and white photos of people working in the factory hang on the walls. 

We kicked Zander’s 13th birthday off with coffee on the veranda while we watched the sunrise over the Black Forest. I always feel a little emotional and deeply grateful on my children’s birthdays for having them in my life. Zander’s wisdom, compassion, and sense of humour are like sunshine in this Switzerland period. The weather was gracious with us because an hour later, during breakfast, it started raining with thunder.

The outing and the weather worked out perfectly.

regards

Emsia

Traditions connect generations and families

Traditions connect generations and families

Traditions represent a critical part of any culture or family. Our move to Switzerland helped me understand the valuable role traditions and customs play in our identity.

The celebration of traditions

Traditions tell a story of where we came from and remind us of the aspects that helped shape our lives. During family or cultural celebrations, we can reflect on the things that matter. We also have the opportunity to say thank you for the contribution someone has made. It connects generations when families come together and reconnect with friends. This feeling of unity and belonging is a precious way to create lasting memories.

Our exposure to other cultures gives me a sincere appreciation for the traditions, and I try to learn and understand more about them. I also cherish South African traditions more. You are welcome to read about our Braai tradition in Switzerland in another letter. Every cup of rooibos tea or traditional South African meal increases our longing. We crave rusks with our morning coffee and chutney with our curry and rice.

The Swiss tradition celebrating the cows coming from the mountains

The Swiss have many traditional celebrations, and we recently attended a spectacular one. During autumn, the cattle, sheep, goats, and alpacas come from the Alps to the villages for the winter months. The Swiss celebrate this descent of the cows’ event festively with market stalls, music, and delicious food. 

The cattle herders decorate the animals with seasonal flowers such as sunflowers, chrysanthemums, or dahlias. The people wear beautiful traditional Swiss clothes, sing yodel songs, and make music with the alphorn musical instruments.

We attended the Flimserstein festival. Early in the morning, the cattle herders moved down the spectacular rock walls of Flimserstein mountain with more than a hundred beautifully decorated cows. They arrived at Bargiz at lunch, where the villagers were waiting for them. After refreshments, they left again for Fidaz and Flims. Check out this video showing the descent of the cows, “Alpabzug”, at Flimserstein.

Our family get-together tradition

As a family, we have an annual week-long get-together tradition. Before we moved to Switzerland, we sometimes shared time in the Western Cape and other times in the Kalahari. During the Cape Town visits, Ansa’s children experienced the city. We visited historical places, white beaches, strawberry farms, and craft shops. At home, they played on our lawn and created their games.

During our Kalahari visits, my children experienced the farm. From the back of the bakkie, we watched the Kudu’s and Springboks, cooled down in the farm dam and admired the Kalahari sunsets.

As a family, we have agreed to maintain our annual get-together tradition, despite living abroad. However, Covid deprived us of the privilege for two years. We are planning a special family celebration along the banks of the Orange River in December 2021. A recent note from Marga, my sister’s daughter, reminded me again of the preciousness of this tradition through her eyes. She wrote:

Regards

Emsia

Newcomer to the social media community

Newcomer to the social media community

I grew up during a time when you went to visit someone for your social contact need and got lost in a magazine for escape. Magazines provided stories and an escape to faraway places. It also provided inspiration with beautiful things, new ideas and thoughts. Technology has changed the way we live and lately, social media addresses our need for socialization and escape.

Our ways of social contact and escape have changed

We carry our social networks and escape on our phones with us. The stories we read and the pictures we look at are about people we know. We choose the friends whose news and photos we want to see and can even comment on or joke about it. We can be part of groups with people with the same interests as us, get tips, ideas, and advice from people with shared passions and make new friends. Our interests determine the advertisements and information we receive.

How does social media work?

I wanted to learn more about the mystery of this new social world that I sometimes find intimidating. I researched Facebook as a platform and learned a few things. Social media platforms must ensure users find value during the time they spend on them. Facebook has, therefore, put Algorithms in place to make sure users get quality information based on their interests. It was good to see that the principles of the algorithms are very much in line with ordinary social behaviour.

Social behaviour principles

Participation and contributions are required. To be part of any social system, you must participate and contribute. Your contributions should be interesting to provoke conversation. It should be about topics that interest other people, make them laugh, give hope, inspiration, or new ideas. The algorithm ensures a contribution circulates as long as people comment or respond.

Promote participation. Conversations about topics that provide people with the opportunity to participate are winners. I enjoy contributions that make me think, evoke emotion and give me more information and the opportunity to comment.

Timing is important. You need to post when your social media friends are available online and will have time to respond. Businesses that use social media for advertising must determine the optimal time for their target market to respond. Good timing will, therefore, help to ensure that the ad stays in circulation.

Show reaction to encourage participation. It took me a lot of courage to become part of this online social network. I was so scared that no one would respond to my contributions. After conversations with my friends, I realized that this fear is only human. Humorous, thought-provoking or caring comments make people feel their contributions matter and are appreciated and encourage them to keep going.

Part of a virtual social community

It is a challenge for any new resident to join a community. As an introvert, I first watch before gathering all my courage to start participating carefully. Sometimes new residents have so many other things that take up their time, and their need is just for escape. In that case, it is enough for them to watch and not participate. We must respect people’s needs and choices.

I am grateful to every former resident of the social-media world who made me feel at home as a newcomer, and I undertake to do the same. In a new country with Covid constraints and a social need, I experience togetherness in this virtual social community. I discovered old friends from different stages of my life and met new friends with shared passions. I also gained better insight into the lives of acquaintances.

Even though I was initially sceptical, I can honestly admit that social media contributes to my life. However, I carefully assess the origin of posts and the time I spend on social media.

Regards

Emsia