この問題で

En so bevind ons ons op die vooraand van Kersfees en op die vooraand van ‘n volgende jaar. In Perth sit swerms galahs (lid van die kaketoe-familie) bedags in die bome en vir aandete sak hulle neer op lowergroen grasperke sodat die pienk en grys spikkels ‘n groot mat vorm.

Oral in die stad spuit fonteine baldadig die lug in en jong meisies met lang bene stap in die kortste sjoebroekies rond en spog met naeltjieringe en tatoeëermerke op denkbare en ondenkbare plekke. Daar word ure lank gekuier oor ‘n flat white of ‘n long black by ‘n tafeltjie of twee met stoele wat staangemaak is op al wat sypaadjie is.

Vergete is die angstige gejaag van die afgelope jaar wat soos elke vorige jaar ‘n hoogtepunt bereik in die laaste geskarrel voordat families en vriende uiteindelik rustig om ‘n Kersboom bymekaarkom om ‘n salige samesyn te deel.

As ek een belangrike ding kan uitsonder wat ek die afgelope jaar geleer het, is dit dat ons nooit goeie gesondheid as vanselfsprekend mag aanvaar nie. In ons volgepakte, gejaagde lewens gebeur dit so dikwels dat ons nie genoeg tyd afstaan om weer aan te sterk as ons siek was nie. Ons gaan ‘n kundige eers sien wanneer ons nie langer kán voortgaan nie en is daarna woerts-warts weer terug in die tuig. Maar eendag, sommer uit die bloute, haal die werklikheid ons in en is die herstelproses nie meer so vanselfsprekend of so maklik nie. Dis dán wanneer jy gedwing word om te dink aan ‘n lewenstylverandering. Nie dat alle gesondheidsprobleme toegeskryf kan word aan ‘n ongesonde leefstyl nie, maar met ‘n gesonde leefstyl het ons die beste moontlike kans op vinnige herstel.

En dis juis dáárom dat ek jou en jou gesin ‘n geseënde Kersgety en ‘n voorspoedige en veral gesonde Nuwejaar toewens.
Goed gaan tot ‘n volgende keer!

Merise Afrikaans Magazine Description:

Merise is a digital family magazine and was started in 2011 to inform, encourage and assist each other as we together face the challenges of settling and integrating into our new community. We talk openly about the different aspects of our lives that take strain through the migration process – from helping our kids to adjust to their new schools to leaving parents behind in another country and changes in the dynamics of our personal relationships.
We provide valuable information about financial and visa matters, inviting specialists to write articles about topics which would be beneficial to our readers. Merise writes about the beauty of our new country by featuring different geographical areas in Australia and New Zealand, thereby giving would-be migrants or readers who are planning holidays or moving interstate a better understanding about what to expect in their new place of residence.
Merise is a new friend to you and your whole family.
The ascending aircraft is symbolic of her desire to reach for the stars. Even her name is symbolic. By dividing the word in two, you get “me rise”, accentuating her desire to make improvements to herself and her life.
It is important for Merise to support her friends, not just newcomers, but all expats in Australia and New Zealand who left their homeland to find new means of livelihood “Down Under”.
Merise lends a hand in almost every way. She’s been through the immigration process and experienced it all first hand. She is thoroughly aware of difficulties that may arise for both newcomers and experienced expats and knows how to overcome, or should we say “survive”, these difficulties.
Merise is vivacious and enthusiastic and lives her life in her new country to the full. She loves exploring and is always on the lookout for new challenges and new experiences. At the same time she enjoys sharing her experiences with her friends, always encouraging and inspiring them.
Merise is fully bilingual and she has English- as well as Afrikaans-speaking friends. She divides her time equally between the two groups of friends and shares the same information with both groups.
You will have to go quite far to find a friend as special as Merise . . .