Letters Home

The International Festival is one of the annual highlights at Zander’s Inter Community School (ICS) school in Zurich. There are families from 55 countries, and during the festival, compatriots work together to teach others more about their food, clothes, language and culture. Each country has a stall where people can see and try traditional food.

“Wow, I enjoy this feeling of patriotism!” Zander said with a smile and his South African shirt on. He certainly wasn’t the only one. In each stall, people talked to each other in their native language, beautifully dressed in traditional clothes that united them. Sometimes they just danced happily to their traditional music.

There were a few stalls that caught my eye for different reasons.

Ukraine

Last year, Ukraine had a stall at the festival for the first time. The international festival was just a few months after the outbreak of the war. I walked past the Ukrainian food stall with compassion because it reminded me of the trauma many families experience.

They decorated their stall with sunflowers, and the women wore wreaths of flowers on their heads that gave them an angelic appearance. Sunflowers are Ukraine’s national flower and appear in most of their decorations. Sunflower oil is a significant export product, and the Ukrainians have used sunflowers as a symbol of peace throughout their history.

Nepal

Our ICS school has a special connection with Nepal. In Nepal, schooling is not compulsory. There is a boarding school (SMD) for children from remote Himalayan villages in Kathmandu, Nepal. Our school has a partnership with this school.

ICS offers scholarships to learners from Nepal to complete grades 11 and 12 and forms part of ICS families’ households during these two years. During a talk, I learned more about life in Nepal and was amazed at the simplicity but also the strong values of the people. Some families must travel for days to get to the school, and the school can only accommodate a limited number of learners.

Nepal is in a high-risk area for earthquakes. In 2015 the earthquakes damaged and rendered the SMD school buildings unusable. The ICS community contributed financially to the school to help with repairs and rebuilding.

Every year Nepal has a stall at the festival. Volunteers assist the Nepal learners with preparations. Nepal food is a mix of Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese cuisine.

Spain

The Spanish stall was close to us. The smell of Paella prepared by the Spanish families in a large pan hung in the air. Customers could enjoy it with a delicious glass of Sangria.

I admired the most beautiful Spanish dresses and enjoyed it when the mums happily danced to the music in the stall on Mother’s Day

Benefits of learning about other cultures

The opportunity to live in another country and our commitment to the international school made me look at cultural diversity differently. We made friends with people from other cultures. I like to ask questions and try to learn and understand more.

I like to ask friends what they miss about their country of origin. In addition, what they enjoy here in Switzerland, but also what they find challenging. My answer would be that we are fond of Swiss cheese and other traditions and events that connect generations. However, we sometimes struggle with all the many rules and have been unknowingly in trouble a few times.

Knowledge helps us to live with greater cultural sensitivity. We have specific beliefs about what we consider normal or abnormal. Once we get exposure to other cultures, we learn how people from different backgrounds view the world. It teaches us to think more critically and even creatively.

When we learn and understand more about other cultures, it helps us to be less judgmental. It teaches us to respect our differences and be more tolerant of each other. South Africa is known for its ethnic and cultural diversity, and we have learned from experience how important it is to learn and understand more about other cultures.

I like the quote by John Hume about diversity.

“Difference is the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity.”

Kind regards

Emsia

Just like 17 years ago, I also celebrated this year’s Easter weekend with my mom and sons. Last time in 2006, my circumstances were very different. I found peace in the togetherness and the beauty of nature after challenging two years of being a single mother and keeping my head above water. It was also the end of the period I allowed myself loads of solitude to find the real me between the ashes.

Before we returned home, I asked my mom to watch my two little boys so I could go rowing on the lake. Everything was quiet, and the water was like a mirror.

I prayed out loud and asked God for a second chance.

Lord, I’m ready for the rest of the journey
and need guidance on the way
Please send me the right travel partner
one ready for challenge and adventure
Please handpick that person
Someone who will steal my heart
and love and care for my children
But above all, someone who loves You.

Receiving second chances

Charl and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary this April. For us, it was a celebration of gratitude for second chances. In our case, it was a second chance at a marriage relationship.

However, second chances come in different guises and areas of our lives. Second chances differ from first chances in many ways.

First chances give us more experience.

First chances are excellent teachers, but we only realize this with time. We learn quickly through experience because the feedback is loud and clear, and we experience it first-hand. It widens our frame of reference and teaches us to be less judgmental, as we have usually experienced other people’s judgment through failed first chances. It gives us more insight, compassion, and perspective.

First chances teach us perspective.

When we first step into situations, we usually have a lot of expectations. Without realizing it, we focus on the benefit we will get. With second chances, we have learned to shift our focus to what we can bring to a situation or relationship instead of what we will get out of it.

Sometimes we assume we are entitled to all life experiences. We see something as a privilege when we cannot have or have lost it. They have different priorities in our lives. We approach them with more respect and put more effort into them.

First chances teach us that nobody is perfect, and people often do not display their best version.

In most cases, others’ behaviour is more about themselves than about us and teaches us to look at others through lenses of love, understanding and tolerance. The hardest part for me was learning to look at myself through these lenses.

Giving second chances

Sometimes you reach a place where you must decide whether to give another person a second chance. The ability to give each other second chances is one of humanity’s superpowers, and we must use it wisely.

Giving second chances is also a chance that you must choose to seize or not. When you need to make that decision, it is critical that you decide from a place of love for the other person and yourselves rather than fear or pain. You should also only do it when you feel that you and the other party are willing to put in the effort and time to make it work again.

Life consists of chances

Looking back on my life’s path, I realize that life offers us different chances or opportunities in various aspects of our lives. Before each event, we decide whether we want to risk it or not and this decision will determine what the next chapter in our book of life will look like. When we take a chance, there is always the risk that we could lose something, which is painful. The fear of pain often cautions us to take second chances because we have experienced the pain. However, it is also true that we will never win anything if we do not open ourselves up to first or second chances.

People often refer to the “The 3 C`s of Life

Kind regards

Emsia

When I recently visited SA, I had a few specific objectives. Above all, I wanted to spend time with my mom and sons. However, I also had administrative tasks, such as renewing my driver’s license and bank cards that were about to expire. In addition, we also needed to complete a few actions before Christo could be the legal owner of a second-hand car, we bought him.

Load shedding

With load shedding due to the electricity crisis in South Africa, I expected long queues and frustrated people. However, I gained a new respect for the resilience and adaptability of the people of South Africa. The compassion and caring I experienced in my interactions with fellow South Africans, filled me with pride and hope for the future. After a previous visit, I also wrote about how I look at South Africa with new eyes.

We stayed at the D’Aria wine farm in Durbanville. D’Aria equipped their cottages with load-shedding lamps and spoiled us with home-baked rusks and a bottle of wine every day. My mother grew up among vineyards, and our morning coffee and biscuits overlooking the autumn-coloured vines evoked good memories for her and tranquillity for us.

On my arrival, Jacques installed the load-shedding app onto my phone. He visited us during load shedding for a walk among the vineyards and brought us some of his cakes to enjoy afterwards.

Unexpected compassion and care

During my visit, I experienced compassion and care in unexpected places.

While waiting in a line

I consulted the load-shedding schedule before I fell in line for the renewal of my driver’s license early in the morning. The woman behind me and I initiated a conversation about our fear of the eye test. Later we had such a good time talking that we didn’t even notice how quickly the lines were getting shorter. I was pleasantly surprised when she waited for me at the exit afterwards to “just greet me properly and wish me well on my way”.

During an installation

We had to install an alarm system in Christo’s car for insurance purposes. The technician explained that the installation would take a few hours, and when he saw Mom, he offered to take us to the nearest mall and pick us up again. He spoke Afrikaans for my mother’s sake after she informed him that she comes from the Kalahari where English is like a foreign language. We could have a leisurely Spur breakfast and a good chat while he kept me updated on their progress.

Looking for parking

I hoped for my boys to be students at the University of Stellenbosch. I looked forward to my lunches with them at the Katjiepiering restaurant in the University’s Botanical Garden and bought myself a visitor’s card. However, Jacques ended up at another University and during Christo’s student years at Stellenbosch, we lived in Zurich, and Covid visited the world.

Fortunately, my Botanical Garden opportunity came during our recent visit and I could even share the experience with my mom as well. I wanted to park near the gate to reduce the walking distance, but like on any campus, parking was a problem. A security guard observed my dilemma, had compassion, and unexpectedly made a private parking space close to the gate available for me. Due to his positive attitude, I could eventually use my Botanical Garden visitors card with my family after seven years!

When I made a mistake

A day before my return, I had to collect my new bank card and change the pin at the ATM. However, I made a mistake, and my new card was blocked! Embarrassed and hat in hand, I returned to the counter and apologized. The lady smiled compassionately.

“O madam, we all make mistakes sometimes. I can only imagine your head is probably in a different place with the flight to Switzerland tomorrow.”

On the flight, I read the following quote, which confirmed that the people of South Africa have the right hearts to bring about the change required in our country.

Kind regards

Emsia

Recently, an article reminded me of the words from The Call of South Africa, the national anthem before 1997. 

At thy call, we shall not falter,
Firm and steadfast we shall stand,
At thy will to live or perish,
O South Africa, dear land.

Ever since I can remember, South Africans have wrestled with many challenges. During my school years, all young men leaving school were conscripted for military service and had to protect our country at the border against the “Communist Danger”. Many young men who fought on the frontier never returned home, and those who did were never the same. Was this what the words from the Call of South Africa meant?

In 1997, the “new” South Africa got a new anthem. Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika consists of 5 of the 11 official languages. We ask God to bless Africa and us as her children and to end wars and oppression. It requests all South Africans to stand united and strive for freedom. It is a noble pursuit but such a difficult road getting there.

Change is a painful process.

Looking back over the past 30 years, I am amazed at the extent of changes that have taken place. New regulations had to ensure transformation in the workplace.  The aim was to change the racial, gender and economic status of the workplace to reflect the South African population demographics.

Change is a painful process, and every South African has experienced pain in one way or another. I helped to manage transformation in the workplace and listened with compassion to emotional stories about injustice in the past. Career opportunities in South Africa have changed significantly.

Many people had to move abroad to put food on the table. Working and living in another country is an opportunity and an adventure, but it requires many lifestyle changes. You will always be an outsider and miss your people, language, and culture. The weather is very different and the long cold winters in the northern hemisphere challenging.

Our people at home must wrestle with many challenges. The infrastructure is rapidly deteriorating. They must plan around load shedding and try to avoid the potholes in the roads. Corruption is rampant, security is a problem, and public service delivery is often poor and unreliable.

Change takes time.

I’ve been alive long enough to know from experience that change is painful and takes time. We are usually willing to wait patiently for what is precious to us. South Africa has beautiful, diverse landscapes, warm and friendly people, and rich traditions. We love our country and are willing to endure all the pain to make it a place we call home with pride.

I believe in God’s plan for South Africa.

We South Africans understand our dependence on God and His help in the answers and solutions for our country. Faith is a common denominator, and despite differences in religious practice, we are comfortable asking each other to pray for us when the going gets tough. If we have a personal relationship with our Creator, He can work in our hearts to make the necessary changes and sacrifices.

I cry for my beloved country, but I have an unshakable faith that God has a bigger plan for South Africa. However, this plan will require patience, tolerance, and cooperation from every South African living in or outside South Africa. Even if it looks different for every citizen, we will answer South Africa’s call and the sacrifice she requires.

My prayer for South Africa – Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika

With my fellow countrymen, I pray the words of our multilingual national anthem – Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, in which we ask God to protect us and help us stand together.

https://youtu.be/MkyHN1_28q0

Language: isiXhosa and isiZulu
Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika (God Bless Africa)
Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo, (Raise high Her glory)
Yizwa imithandazo yethu, (Hear our Prayers)
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo (God bless us, we her children)

Language: Sesotho
Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso, (God protect our nation)
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho, (End all wars and tribulations)
O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso, (Protect us, protect our nation)
Setjhaba sa South Afrika - South Afrika. (Our nation South Africa - South Africa)

Language: Afrikaans
Uit die blou van onse hemel, (Ringing out from our blue heavens)
Uit die diepte van ons see, (From the depth of our seas)
Oor ons ewige gebergtes, (Over our everlasting mountains)
Waar die kranse antwoord gee, (Where the echoing crags resound)

Language: English
Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.

Kind regards

Emsia

We are almost through our fourth winter in Switzerland, and I must confess that I struggle to get through the last few weeks of winter. Fortunately, the first signs of spring are beginning to make their appearance. Spring in Zurich has milestones in the form of blossoms and flowers that excite me and assure me that the sun, warmth, and colour are on their way.

In today’s letter, I share more about the types of spring flowers in Zurich.

Snowdrops and Crocuses

The very first flowers that make their appearance are Snowdrops. They appear already during February and March and, in many cases, while there is still snow on the ground. They are pure white and look delicate and fragile but are very hardy flowers.

During March, the crocuses colour the lawns. The crocuses belong to the iris family and are native to the Alps. They come in typical Easter egg colours of purple, yellow, cream, and white.

Daffodils

The golden yellow daffodils usually start to make their appearance by mid-March. In German countries, they are Osterglocke (Easter bells) because they bloom during Easter. I realised here how many different types of daffodil varieties exist.

Magnolias

The Magnolia blossoms amaze me every year. They look like butterflies emerging from their pupae. They also start blooming in mid-March. Thanks to their sweet, creamy, and light floral scent, magnolias have been used in perfumery for centuries.

Cherry blossoms

The cherry blossoms between mid-April and early May are a highlight for me. Near Frick and Zug, there are cherry blossom walking trails that make you feel you are in heaven.

Tulips

From mid-April, the Tulips also start to appear in people’s gardens. One year we were lucky enough to attend the tulip festival at Morges, a village next to Lake Geneva. The best place to enjoy tulips is Mainau flower Island, just over the border in Konstanz, Germany, about an hour’s drive from Zurich.

In Switzerland, the public can pick their flowers at selected flower farms. I took the picture in Forch, within walking distance of our house. Charl spoiled me for our wedding anniversary with the gift of picking my favourite tulips.

Canola

During April, the Canola fields begin to colour the world golden yellow and their smell hangs in the air. We like to ride our bikes between these Canola fields. They practice crop rotation, and at the beginning of the season, I am curious to see which areas will turn yellow.

Wisteria and Irises in Belvoir Park

In early May, the Wisteria begins to bloom. I see it in people’s gardens, but the most beautiful example is in Belvoir Park, where there are arches of white and purple Wisteria.

Mid-May, the most beautiful iris varieties and colour combinations start blooming in Belvoir Park.

Rhododendrons

During May, the Rhododendrons bloom. These are large shrubby plants and part of the family of smaller Azalia plants. About 30 minutes outside Zurich is Seleger Moor Park, where many grow. I visited the park last year and was lucky to also see the Peonies in bloom.

During spring there is a joyful atmosphere in the air. I hope you could share in this joy through my lens.

Regards

Emsia

When my eldest son Jacques lived under my roof in Cape Town during his teenage years, I couldn’t keep up with the eggs and meat purchases. However, many things have changed. I live in Zurich, and he follows a plant-based and gluten-free diet. As a result, we had various discoveries to share during his recent visit.

Covid contributed to Jacques` food knowledge and focus

Jacques is a born entrepreneur and obtained a business management degree after school. Covid caused a total turn in his initial career plans. During Covid, he lived as a student in the Kruger household. His contribution was to prepare balanced meals for the family that had to cater for various food allergies. He broadened his food knowledge and quickly realized that a plant-based diet achieves many health and environmental goals.

Jacques started a vegan bakery, The Cinnamon Club, in February 2021. His creations are vegan and cater for food intolerances such as gluten, lactose, or sugar. I was amazed at the creative presentation of his cakes and his business’s marketing and service delivery. The Cinnamon Club is growing, and it is heart-warming to read the feedback and messages of appreciation from existing and new clients.

Plant-based diet

Worldwide, the number of people choosing to follow a plant-based diet is growing. Some people do it for health reasons, and others to protect the environment or animal welfare. This trend has a significant impact on the food industry. There are many new vegan products on the market. Restaurants and the fast-food industry also make more plant-based options available.

Veganuary is an initiative that creates awareness and encourages people to follow a plant-based diet during January. In Zurich, there was a lot of marketing and awareness creation for Veganuary. Jacques was an excellent ambassador and helped me expand my knowledge on the subject.

At first, I thought it was mainly young people who follow vegan diets. After many guests at our house recently, I can conclude that many people of all generations adjust their diets for different reasons.

Gluten-free diet

Many people develop a gluten intolerance over time and consequently must cut gluten out of their diet for health reasons. They, therefore, avoid foods made of flour. Gluten is a family of proteins found in wheat, barley, and rye. It gives the flour a chewy texture when mixed with water and gives bread the ability to rise when baked.

My new food knowledge and discoveries

As a result of Jacques’ visit, I made some valuable discoveries. I share more about the ingredients we used in preparing gluten-free and vegan meals.

Chickpea flour (gram flour) and aquafaba

Every week I bake a seed bread, rich in protein and filling. I adapted the bread recipe by replacing the bread flour with a gluten-free mixture of chickpea flour, almond flour, and oats. In addition, I replaced the yoghurt and milk with soy options. The bread is vegan and gluten-free and still delicious.

We also used gram flour with Maizena to make gluten-free tortillas.

In vegan cooking and baking, the water from canned chickpeas (Aquafaba) substitutes the egg white in recipes. I was amazed when Jacques told me how he makes his meringue for his beautifully decorated cakes from this. Aquafaba is also used to make vegan mayonnaise.

Lentils

Some of my quick and easy dinners contain minced meat. I learned to use lentils instead, which also have a relatively high protein content. I am also using more and more different coloured lentils in vegetable soups to make them more nutritious for the growing teenager in my house who is constantly hungry.

Quinua

Quinua was a versatile discovery and an option I have never used in my dishes before. It is available in black, red, and white or a mixture of the three. Quinoa is rich in protein and a good source of nutrients such as manganese, magnesium, and copper. We made the most delicious Vegan Burrito Bowl with Quinoa and a protein-rich and multicoloured Vegetable Quinoa Salad.

Soy yoghurt, Soy milk and Coconut milk

Many of my recipes call for cream, milk, or yoghurt to make them creamier. I have now discovered soy yoghurt, soy milk, coconut milk and cream, which are plant-based ways to achieve the same goal.

It was great to have my children under my roof again. I am also grateful that Jacques’ visit inspired me to accept the vegan and gluten-free challenge in January, learn more about plant-based food and start to think differently about it.

Regards

Emsia

I was so excited to have all my children under my roof again. January was consequently a joyful 2023 kick-off. They had to adapt from extreme summer temperatures in South Africa to extreme winter temperatures in Switzerland within one day. However, a fairy-tale snow experience made the icy weather worth it.

Jacques

Jacques arrived in early January. His bakery, The Cinnamon Club, has had a wonderful but busy year. He, therefore, looked forward to relaxation time in nature and inspiration for new ideas and creativity. Just like the Swiss, Jacques also believes in the positive effects of cold winter baths on the body, soul, and spirit. He enjoyed the beautiful natural places in the forest where he could take his winter bath.

He follows a vegan and gluten-free diet. The situation encouraged me to expand my dietary knowledge before his visit. His visit coincided nicely with Veganuary, which aims to raise awareness about, the health and environmental benefits of plant-based diets. We had fun cooking together and exchanging food ideas. I shared in a previous letter more about how Jacques inspired my cooking.

All my children together

Christo and his girlfriend, Simone, arrived a week later. The teenage antics of my adult boys came out the moment they were together. Zander enjoyed his silly brothers. I could only smile at the locals’ reaction as they stared with question marks at their bare feet and crocks in below-freezing temperatures.

It was precious to spend family time around our wooden table again. We exposed them to the Swiss winter food specialities, Raclette and Fondue. The different forms of Swiss cheese create a cosy conviviality around the table in the icy winter months.

House of Lindt was first on our Zurich itinerary, and we reached our destination by boat on lake Zurich. Jacques makes his vegan chocolate himself and found the information about the cocoa production process and history of chocolate consumption very interesting. The rest of us focused more on Lindt’s many opportunities to try out the different chocolates. It was also the perfect place for a gift for Simone’s family in South Africa.

The snow started falling a day before Jacques’ departure, and I was grateful to be able to share the magic of the first soft, white snow with them.

Christo en Simone

While the snow was falling lightly, we drove to Flumserberg with Christo and Simone. It is our nearest ski resort, which also provides various opportunities for walking in the snow. When we arrived, it was minus 9 degrees. We went higher up the mountain with a ski lift and walked down in the snow while watching families skiing, snowboarding or sledging down the slopes.

Due to the extreme cold, we chose indoor activities for the rest of the week. We visited Zurich’s art museum and admired original works by Van Gogh, Monet and Picasso. I enjoyed a modern exhibition by Pipilotti Rist. It is a pixel forest that changes colour with the most beautiful, dreamy music in the background. The creativity inspired us to stay home for a day and paint while listening to relaxing music.

On the last day before their departure back to South Africa, we drove to Konstanz, just on the other side of the German border. I wanted to share a European spa experience with them. We went to Konstanz Therme with a view of Lake Constance to relax in the warm water. Simone`s wish to eat a German sausage inspired our lunch in the harbour.

My heart was aching but satisfied when I had to see them off at the airport. Everyone has renewed energy for the year ahead. Jacques has many ideas for his bakery, and Christo must focus on the final year and thesis of his engineering studies and decisions about the future.

I am grateful for precious memories!

Kind regards

Emsia

Family members are supporters and witnesses of our unique life journeys. However, as a supporter and witness it is painful to see and experience the suffering of the people you love. January was a month of hardship for my family in the Kalahari. They stood in the middle of the fire.

January 2023

My only sister and best friend, Ansa, awaited January with mixed emotions. This year is the last year of school for Marga before she leaves the nest. However, for Altus, it is his first year of high school and hostel living in Upington, about two hours away from their farm in the Kalahari. It is, therefore, a year of change for their family.

Ansa stayed in Upington during the week the schools opened to support her children where needed. With temperatures well above 40 degrees, Upington is known for its extreme heat. Without air conditioning due to load shedding in South Africa, Upington is almost unbearable. During the school’s induction program for the grade 8 learners, the learner council ensured the new learners drank water every hour to prevent dehydration.

When the fire burns around you

A distressed phone call informed Ansa that Andre also needed her support on the farm. Wildfires in the area were destroying their farm. Andre had to watch the panic in his cattle and game as they ran in distress between the black clouds of smoke.

Farmers and people in the area stood together throughout the night to try to get the fires under control. More than half of their farm burned down. Ansa initially decided to protect her children from the devastating news, but with social media, it was impossible.

All they could do was pray for rain. Relieved after a hectic first week but also with sadness, they came home for the weekend. Against the backdrop of the fields covered in ash, beautiful clouds formed in the sky with signs of lightning. The next moment they saw smoke again and realized that a bolt of lightning had set the field on fire again. Andre and Altus spent the entire Saturday night trying to get the fire under control. The 13-year-old boy had to face the realities of a man overnight.

Help and support

A farm with cattle without pasture was suddenly a big problem. Fortunately, our Heavenly Father works through other people’s hearts to help and assist us when we can no longer. Out of the blue, Andre received a few calls from people who understood his distress. One farmer offered to buy cattle with calves from him, and another farmer offered free grazing on his farm. There were also feed donations.

My tears just flowed when Ansa shared a video with me showing how institutions such as Droogtehulp and Hendrik van Wyk Vervoer stood together to deliver feed where needed. You are welcome to watch it on Facebook at https://fb.watch/inskAVmOGC/

A family that sticks together

We don’t have control over what happens to us, but we have a choice about how we deal with it. Andre’s positive handling of the situation stunned me. The calm in his voice during his feedback messages also made us feel calmer. He told how whirlwinds sometimes sent smoke to the sky and that it was beautiful to see. The black tufts of burnt grass show signs of life again, and the new green gives him hope.

Ansa and her children did everything possible to help and support him because they are a family that sticks together when the challenges come. They help, encourage, and motivate each other.

Two years ago, I wrote a letter Symbol of hope in nature or people after the Kalahari suffered a prolonged drought. The floodgates of heaven opened, and the Kalahari was lush green. I pray for another miracle.

When we stand in the middle of the fire, we can clearly see, hear, and experience God’s voice and love.

regards

Emsia