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”.

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