Letters Home - during our time in Switzerland as expats

Uncertainty to possibility

23/02/2021 emsia.kruger

The planner in me struggles with uncertainty. Several plans in my life did not work out. Despite the uncertainty, the circumstances did create interesting possibilities and opportunities. In most cases, the failure or challenge was necessary to change my perspective and my actions.

I reflected on times when plans did not work out and I had to look for opportunities.

The first major panic attack recall moment was my final exam at University. Everything was in place to start working in Stellenbosch the following year, but then I failed one of my majors! My dad was called to help. Despite his own work problems, he had to take leave and take me back to Bloemfontein for an oral exam. He had to motivate and support his eldest who was in great panic. Support has traditionally been my mother’s role. He went to buy chocolates while I wrestled with Company Law and Auditing Statements.

The oral did not go so well, and I was worried. Coming home, my mother’s smile and bunch of flowers were a great relief. Prof called with good news. The crisis caused me to experience my father’s love and support in a different way. Our father-daughter relationship was on a new level.

My biggest life dream has always been to have children. After six years of one line pregnancy tests, praying and begging, we made an appointment at the Infertility Clinic. The waiting list is long, and the first available appointment is months away in July. My body feels weird and I do another pregnancy test a day before the appointment. The most beautiful picture of two lines greeted me and nine months later I got the role I wanted most – the Mommy role!

At almost forty, my path crossed the Infertility Clinic again. I recall the doctor’s words, “Science creates possibilities, but you must always remember that the decision is made by God himself”. I was eventually blessed with three wonderful sons. Candice and Justin also joined our family later. Charl who thought he was never going to have kids always says he has one, three or five kids, depending on how you look at it.

From negative pregnancy test to having three boys

Family is my joy. After twelve years of marriage, I realised during an unexpected lunch date that my marital and family life as I knew it had irrevocably changed. The uncertainties stand in line with their frightening faces. How am I going to pay off the house? Will I be able to cope with housekeeping and raising the boys? Will I, with all my complexities, find a partner for the rest of the road?

I converted and rented out parts of the house to meet the financial challenges. In the process, I got to know wonderful and interesting people in crisis years of their own lives. The boys and I had special times together. I was forced to improve my technology and cricket knowledge and had to quickly learn about irrigation and swimming pools. The Father also sent me a partner who sometimes understands and sometimes tolerates my complexities.

Switzerland and the future remain another major uncertainty and now Covid-19 has also joined the list. I did learn to trust the Great Plan. I am still trying to understand and working on the possibilities that the situation creates. In uncertain times I cling to words of the wise.

“Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our life’s, won’t have a title until much later” – Bob Goff

“Trust the wait. Embrace the uncertainty. Enjoy the beauty of becoming. When nothing is certain, anything is possible” – Mandy Hale

“Every problem, every dilemma, every dead end we find ourselves facing in life, only appears unsolvable inside a particular frame or point of view. Enlarge the box, or create another frame around the data, and problems vanish, while new opportunities appear.” ― Rosamund Stone Zander, The Art of Possibility

Kind regards

Emsia

All of us are part of history

15/02/2021 emsia.kruger

As a child, I could listen for hours to adults’ stories about their personal experiences of historical events or natural phenomena. We all have unique experiences based on the period we live in and the places we have been. I share our stories.

Floods in South Africa during 1988

Recently heavy rains fell in South Africa after the prolonged drought. That reminded me of the floods in my first year at the university in Bloemfontein in 1988. We were looking forward to our first short holiday in March. Arriving home, the floodgates of heaven opened, and it rained for days. The Augrabies waterfall was a spectacle, and the Orange River was flooding.

By the time we had to go back to university for our first test series, it was an impossible task because of the rain that washed away the roads. The drive back to Bloemfontein required careful planning. Our journey included miles of detours and was terrifying.

The 1994 election in South Africa

The 1994 election had a significant impact on world history.
Nelson Mandela became the first black president of South Africa. Apartheid boycotts lifted that restricted overseas participation in sports and work. At the end of the exciting 1995 World Cup rugby final, Nelson Mandela presented the Webb Ellis Cup to South African captain François Pienaar in a rugby jersey. It had a positive impact on the hearts of all South Africans.

Elfstedentocht in the Netherlands

With opportunities offered by a new South Africa, we went to work and study in London for two years. In December 1996, we visited the Netherlands. This visit created the opportunity to experience the Elfstedentocht, which has only happened 16 times in history. The 200 km skating event only happens when it gets so cold that the canals, rivers, and lakes form a thick layer of ice. The circular route starts and ends in Leeuwarden, the capital of the province of Friesland, and it passes ten other towns. I recall the frightening picture of the rescue effort of a child who ended up in the icy water in a thin spot on the ice.

Lady Diana

During our last month in England, Lady Diana died. She was an icon. I remember how we, as school children watched the royal wedding on the big screen in the school hall at Kathu. With the announcement of her death, everything in London went pitch black, even the media boards. It was impossible to buy flowers. We, therefore, picked oak tree twigs to pay our respects at Buckingham Palace. I will never forget the morbid atmosphere in the city.

There are a few things I would associate with the strange Covid times. Large amounts of snow in Switzerland during our stay here jump to mind. I also sadly think about my longing for my sons and family that I cannot see. I will never be able to listen to the Jerusalem song without the tears flowing. Jerusalema is 2020’s theme song, which we now regularly listen to on Swiss radio here in Zurich. Worldwide, Jerusalema makes everyone dance.

September 11, 2001 experience

Charl was on vacation in the US during the attack on the World Trade Centre in New York on September 11, 2001. The fear, emotional impact and heightened security measures hampered their mobility and planned activities. Charl worked in Johannesburg during the time of the assassination of Chris Hani, head of the South African Communist Party. After the assassination, there were racial-fuelled riots and instability.

With PwC’s offices in Johannesburg’s city centre, he experienced the wild shooting. He also saw many corpses on the street and even experienced how a bullet hit an office window right next to him. He and his colleagues were regularly locked in the office building for safety. The instability influenced his decision to move to the Western Cape.

History books usually only outline the facts and consequences of important events. However, it is individual experiences and stories that give colour to this. One can only wonder what future events we will add to our existing list of experiences.

Kind regards

Emsia

Exceptional service during Covid-19 pandemic

09/02/2021 emsia.kruger

The world around us has started to look very monochrome due to Covid-19. However, a brightly coloured story is like sunshine for the mind. The golden story took place in a hospital in a small town here in Switzerland.

Hospital in a small town in Switzerland

The town is big enough for a government hospital and two private hospitals. Only scheduled operations take place in one of the private hospitals. The patients only stay a few nights until they are strong enough to go home after the procedure. The main aim of the hospital and staff is to take care of patients mentally and physically after an operation for a speedy recovery.

With the onset of Covid-19, the government announced that all non-essential scheduled operations must first stop to focus on Covid-19 patients. The hospital in the story does not have an intensive care unit, and the director realized that without scheduled surgeries the hospital would have to close during Covid-19.

He was still organizing his thoughts, plans and communication with staff when he received an important call from the state hospital. There are several people with Covid-19 who have indicated on their medical documentation that medical intervention should not be applied to them as they approach their dying hour. Connecting to a ventilator is an example of medical intervention.

Requirement for death guidance

The government needed the hospital as a quiet place with care where people could spend their last days. Almost all the patients were elderly. This request was a big shock because dying guidance was not part of the hospital staff’s training. Their forte is getting patients back on their feet after operations.

This hospital received 50 seriously ill Covid-19 patients. The staff cared for these elderly patients with love and care. All the love and care made such a big difference that 47 of them were able to go back to their homes here on earth.

After the first Covid-19 peak in Switzerland, the numbers decreased, and the government gave the green light for scheduled operations. Staff disinfected the hospital and got everything ready to resume normal operations on Monday of the following week.

The elderly patient wanted to spend his last hours in his birth hospital

On Friday afternoon, the hospital director received an unexpected call. A 96-year-old resident was very ill with Covid-19, and they knew his time on earth was less than 48 hours.

He wanted to spend his last hours in the same hospital where he was born. His wife, in her nineties, also had Covid-19 and came along. It was a difficult decision, but the couple checked into the hospital on Friday evening. He breathed his last on Saturday. His wife’s grief knew no end, but she continued to fight the disease and could and had to go home alone.

A week later, the hospital director received a call from the daughter of the elderly couple. Her mother could not get over the loving treatment she and her husband received in the hospital. Out of gratitude, the lady donated a large amount of money and requested the director to distribute it among the hospital staff.

The hospital director arranged a function to thank each staff member for their exceptional service. He handed out a special certificate to acknowledge each one for their extraordinary care during the pandemic. In these times, it was not their technical knowledge that made the difference but the love and care with which they acted. The power of love and caring was higher than that of any ventilator.

Kind regards

Emsia

Covid-19 freedom with responsibility

09/02/2021 emsia.kruger

30 April 2020

As the Covid gates open on the outside it feels like the colours on the inside are brightening as well. I get excited about things and privileges that I previously took for granted. Freedom means different things to different people. What each of us longs for most is unique to each of us as individuals. With many rules in place worldwide, we still cannot do everything that complete freedom would allow us, such as flying to South Africa. However, we are going to seize every opportunity with the limited freedom we do have.

Irises in Belvoir Park

When my Covid cage door opened, my first outing was to a park where different kinds of flowers and blossoms form a spectacle during different times in the spring season. May is the Irises’ turn and I wanted to see the last of them. The green lawns and variety of Irises in Belvoir park were beautiful, but the most beautiful of all was the space.

Lake Zurich

Zander’s biggest wish is to be in water. We miss the sea a lot. We miss the white foam waves on the blue and sometimes green water, the smell of salt hanging in the air and then of course the refreshing feeling of cold water rinsing your body. Our nearest water is now Lake Zurich. The lake’s water is still very cold, but I could see by the smile on Zander’s face, every icy drop was worth it. On the way back we bought him a delicious “cookie-dough” ice cream, because swimming and ice cream are equal to a holiday feeling.

Lucerne

Charl’s biggest wish is to be somewhere else without responsibilities for a while. We boarded the first train to Lucerne. Lucerne is a typical tourist city and usually packed with Chinese tourists armed with their cameras. What a strange sight not to see anyone next to the lake! The exception was one masked stray soul with her whole body and backpack covered with plastic. Luckily, the Chapel Bridge across the Reuss River was just as beautiful as ever, perhaps even more beautiful without all the tourists.

After a first year of change and adjustment, we were excitedly looking forward to our first European summer vacation. Typical Goosen style we booked a complex holiday with lots of tickets and booking.com deals. Even though the writing was seen on the wall, it was still a disillusionment when the boat cancellation between Denmark and Russia and the flight cancellations came through one by one. The state’s recommendation is that residents spend their summer holidays in Switzerland.

In Switzerland, the recommendation is that we should try to live despite Covid-19 and without panic. It is a challenge to keep morale high and create spirit in any country with so many social distance rules. We took part in a national fun run this weekend as a spirit-building activity.

Over the weekend, people had to cover 10km on their own time and route and then register it on a website. We covered 10 km in the forest near us. To keep my own morale high, I planted my first seedlings in Switzerland in two pots I brought along. The blue-purple Lavender and blood-red Malva make me long for my lovely garden in Welgemoed.

Kind regards

Emsia

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

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