More about my letters

In my letters home, I share with laughter and tears discoveries, insights, and growth experiences in the process of lifting South African roots and forming new petals in Switzerland as ex-pats.

The change is forcing us to get out of our comfort zones. It has a huge impact on our identity, outlook on life, and worldview. We discover new places and things. We make lifestyle adjustments. We overcome challenges and Covid-19 also plays its part. We learn to develop a thicker skin and laugh at ourselves.

Other people’s stories sometimes trigger something for us and have an impact on our own stories.  That is why I decided to share the letters that I regularly send to my family and close friends on a bi-weekly basis.

More about me

My name is Emsia and I am married to Charl. We have 3 sons. Jacques and Christo are young adults and had to stay behind in South Africa. Zander is an early teenager and has to adapt as an Afrikaans boy in an international school.

I have worked in the corporate world for 25 years and after that started my own consulting and coaching business before we moved to Switzerland.  In Switzerland, I have continued with my online coaching services.  In addition to learning German, I have also started pursuing other interests such as photography and writing.