Introduce yourself before posting
Mar 20th 2008, 6:25 pm
#61
Nuts and Bolts
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Palm Tree in the Snow
Posts: 2,116
Re: Introduce yourself before posting
Cheers, and see you somewhere on WWW. I am not long after you. Just have to send some messages and then I too will sign off. After today, I will stop posting here. Probably better for all. Pam.
Apr 23rd 2008, 11:35 am
#62
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: London
Posts: 2
Re: Introduce yourself before posting
Hi everyone,
I am from Northern Ireland and met my SA boyfriend in America 2 1/2 yrs ago. After living in London for a year and going through a nightmare with the Home Office trying to get an unmarried partner visa for him to be able to continue to stay here with me, we have decided to move to SA.
So the tables have been turned and now its me trying to get my visa sorted out! I am working for a really good company who offered me a position in their SA office, but I jsut found out today that they have "changed their mind" so it looks like its up to me to sort it out.
I have been in touch with a few immigration agencies which seem expensive but perhaps worth it as I have seen the application form you have to fill out! Although the fee is very cheap for the application conmpared to the agency.
So I hope some of you come and chat to me about your experiences movign over and I look forward to our chats!
I am from Northern Ireland and met my SA boyfriend in America 2 1/2 yrs ago. After living in London for a year and going through a nightmare with the Home Office trying to get an unmarried partner visa for him to be able to continue to stay here with me, we have decided to move to SA.
So the tables have been turned and now its me trying to get my visa sorted out! I am working for a really good company who offered me a position in their SA office, but I jsut found out today that they have "changed their mind" so it looks like its up to me to sort it out.
I have been in touch with a few immigration agencies which seem expensive but perhaps worth it as I have seen the application form you have to fill out! Although the fee is very cheap for the application conmpared to the agency.
So I hope some of you come and chat to me about your experiences movign over and I look forward to our chats!
Apr 23rd 2008, 11:36 am
#63
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: London
Posts: 2
Re: Introduce yourself before posting
I am from Northern Ireland and met my SA boyfriend in America 2 1/2 yrs ago. After living in London for a year and going through a nightmare with the Home Office trying to get an unmarried partner visa for him to be able to continue to stay here with me, we have decided to move to SA.
So the tables have been turned and now its me trying to get my visa sorted out! I am working for a really good company who offered me a position in their SA office, but I jsut found out today that they have "changed their mind" so it looks like its up to me to sort it out.
I have been in touch with a few immigration agencies which seem expensive but perhaps worth it as I have seen the application form you have to fill out! Although the fee is very cheap for the application conmpared to the agency.
So I hope some of you come and chat to me about your experiences movign over and I look forward to our chats!
May 3rd 2008, 10:13 am
#64
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,424
Re: Introduce yourself before posting
I Thought this was the most apt place to post this:
Homeland
by Michelle Frost
Within my soul, within my mind,
There lies a place I cannot find.
Home of my heart. Land of my birth.
Smoke-coloured stone and flame-coloured earth.
Electric skies. Shivering heat.
Blood-red clay beneath my feet.
At night when finally alone,
I close my eyes - and I am home.
I kneel and touch the blood-warm sand
And feel the pulse beneath my hand
Of an ancient life too old to name,
In an ancient land too wild to tame.
How can I show you what I feel?
How can I make this essence real?
I search for words in dumb frustration
To try and form some explanation,
But how can heart and soul be caught
In one-dimensional written thought?
If love and longing are a "fire"
And man "consumed" by his desire,
Then this love is no simple flame
That mortal thought can hold or tame.
As deep within the earth's own core
The love of home burns evermore.
But what is home? I hear them say,
This never was yours anyway.
You have no birthright to this place,
Descendant from another race.
An immigrant? A pioneer?
You are no longer welcome here.
Whoever said that love made sense?
"I love" is an "imperfect" tense.
To love in vain has been man's fate
From history to present date.
I have no grounds for dispensation,
I know I have no home or nation.
For just one moment in the night
I am complete, my soul takes flight.
For just one moment.... then it's gone
and I am once again undone.
Never complete. Never whole.
White Skin and an African soul.
Homeland
by Michelle Frost
Within my soul, within my mind,
There lies a place I cannot find.
Home of my heart. Land of my birth.
Smoke-coloured stone and flame-coloured earth.
Electric skies. Shivering heat.
Blood-red clay beneath my feet.
At night when finally alone,
I close my eyes - and I am home.
I kneel and touch the blood-warm sand
And feel the pulse beneath my hand
Of an ancient life too old to name,
In an ancient land too wild to tame.
How can I show you what I feel?
How can I make this essence real?
I search for words in dumb frustration
To try and form some explanation,
But how can heart and soul be caught
In one-dimensional written thought?
If love and longing are a "fire"
And man "consumed" by his desire,
Then this love is no simple flame
That mortal thought can hold or tame.
As deep within the earth's own core
The love of home burns evermore.
But what is home? I hear them say,
This never was yours anyway.
You have no birthright to this place,
Descendant from another race.
An immigrant? A pioneer?
You are no longer welcome here.
Whoever said that love made sense?
"I love" is an "imperfect" tense.
To love in vain has been man's fate
From history to present date.
I have no grounds for dispensation,
I know I have no home or nation.
For just one moment in the night
I am complete, my soul takes flight.
For just one moment.... then it's gone
and I am once again undone.
Never complete. Never whole.
White Skin and an African soul.
Re: Introduce yourself before posting
May 15th 2008, 4:40 pm
#66
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2008
Location: London
Posts: 99
Re: Introduce yourself before posting
Hi All
I've found this site because I'm contemplating sending my boys to RSA boarding school (Hilton College or Bishops) from the UK and am seeking more info. I live in London and am stuying Zoology - not much else to say really!
I've found this site because I'm contemplating sending my boys to RSA boarding school (Hilton College or Bishops) from the UK and am seeking more info. I live in London and am stuying Zoology - not much else to say really!
May 16th 2008, 6:10 pm
#67
Just Joined
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9
Re: Introduce yourself before posting
Hi, there!
We lived in Zim (my husband and two children) for just three years then moved next door to Botswana, where became proper expate. It's also where I learned to drink like a fish!!
Fabulous time we had, the kids loved it, but unfortunately it was time to leave, so in 1990, afer 10 years in Africa we came home. The current hubby has never really forgiven me!!
Hope to share my memories and thoughts on todays current climate in those two countries, and also to get to know everyone.
Cheers!
We lived in Zim (my husband and two children) for just three years then moved next door to Botswana, where became proper expate. It's also where I learned to drink like a fish!!
Fabulous time we had, the kids loved it, but unfortunately it was time to leave, so in 1990, afer 10 years in Africa we came home. The current hubby has never really forgiven me!!
Hope to share my memories and thoughts on todays current climate in those two countries, and also to get to know everyone.
Cheers!
May 17th 2008, 10:32 am
#72
Just Joined
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9
Re: Introduce yourself before posting
Well, as you all probaly know, not many people went out to pubs and bars to socialise if they had kids in tow. Not having Mum or sister or a friendly neighbour on hand to babysit it was dificult to get out without them, so we found that we either entertained at home or visited friends with kids. They would go off and play and we would, well, drink!
Bear in mind that when we left the ookay, we only bought drink into the house at Christmas - a bottle of Rum for Father in Law, Sherry for Mother in Law, (nothing for my parents because they rarely visited), and a bottle of Vodka for me. It was usually all gone by Easter, except the Sherry. That hung around for months because no one really liked it.
So to go to Africa and get offered a brandy and ginger at 3pam ANY day of the week was a shock. But I soon got quite used to it!!
Even now if I fancy a drink after work it's a 'Sundowner', or because 'the sun's going down over the yardarm', or, as a last resort 'the pubs are open somewhere in the world'.
But please don't think that drink is the only memory I have!!!
Anyone know The Duck Inn at Maun?
Bear in mind that when we left the ookay, we only bought drink into the house at Christmas - a bottle of Rum for Father in Law, Sherry for Mother in Law, (nothing for my parents because they rarely visited), and a bottle of Vodka for me. It was usually all gone by Easter, except the Sherry. That hung around for months because no one really liked it.
So to go to Africa and get offered a brandy and ginger at 3pam ANY day of the week was a shock. But I soon got quite used to it!!
Even now if I fancy a drink after work it's a 'Sundowner', or because 'the sun's going down over the yardarm', or, as a last resort 'the pubs are open somewhere in the world'.
But please don't think that drink is the only memory I have!!!
Anyone know The Duck Inn at Maun?
May 17th 2008, 4:23 pm
#73
Senior Moment
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: On the edge
Posts: 20,460
Re: Introduce yourself before posting
Well, as you all probaly know, not many people went out to pubs and bars to socialise if they had kids in tow. Not having Mum or sister or a friendly neighbour on hand to babysit it was dificult to get out without them, so we found that we either entertained at home or visited friends with kids. They would go off and play and we would, well, drink!
Bear in mind that when we left the ookay, we only bought drink into the house at Christmas - a bottle of Rum for Father in Law, Sherry for Mother in Law, (nothing for my parents because they rarely visited), and a bottle of Vodka for me. It was usually all gone by Easter, except the Sherry. That hung around for months because no one really liked it.
So to go to Africa and get offered a brandy and ginger at 3pam ANY day of the week was a shock. But I soon got quite used to it!!
Even now if I fancy a drink after work it's a 'Sundowner', or because 'the sun's going down over the yardarm', or, as a last resort 'the pubs are open somewhere in the world'.
But please don't think that drink is the only memory I have!!!
Anyone know The Duck Inn at Maun?
Bear in mind that when we left the ookay, we only bought drink into the house at Christmas - a bottle of Rum for Father in Law, Sherry for Mother in Law, (nothing for my parents because they rarely visited), and a bottle of Vodka for me. It was usually all gone by Easter, except the Sherry. That hung around for months because no one really liked it.
So to go to Africa and get offered a brandy and ginger at 3pam ANY day of the week was a shock. But I soon got quite used to it!!
Even now if I fancy a drink after work it's a 'Sundowner', or because 'the sun's going down over the yardarm', or, as a last resort 'the pubs are open somewhere in the world'.
But please don't think that drink is the only memory I have!!!
Anyone know The Duck Inn at Maun?
May 28th 2008, 4:01 pm
#75
Just Joined
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2
Re: Introduce yourself before posting
Hi,
Just thought I'd try to be polite and introduce myself before making a mess on the forum...
I'm 36, a Commerical / Business Manager for Foster Wheeler (global engineering contractor in to oil refineries, petrochemicals etc).
Married with wife and young son.
Just been offered a possible assignment for a year or two to South Africa and weighing up whether I should take it or not... more on that on the forums as I'm desperate for some reasoned and impartial advice & info.
Just thought I'd try to be polite and introduce myself before making a mess on the forum...
I'm 36, a Commerical / Business Manager for Foster Wheeler (global engineering contractor in to oil refineries, petrochemicals etc).
Married with wife and young son.
Just been offered a possible assignment for a year or two to South Africa and weighing up whether I should take it or not... more on that on the forums as I'm desperate for some reasoned and impartial advice & info.