Merise - October 2015

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Join us on our journey as we learn about local customs and discover exciting possibilities in our community.

Benjamin Franklin said that death and taxes are the only things certain in life, but I would tend to disagree. I feel that the one inescapable certainty is change. Sometimes we want to implement change and sometimes change chooses us. Good and bad things occur in all our lives and whatever happens, the inevitable results is change.

The affirmative side to change is that we can choose how it affects us. We can control whether change brings out the best in us, or if we allow it to destroy us. To ensure a good outcome we need to gratefully focus on the positive in almost every situation, even if it is sometimes difficult to do.

If you are struggling to adjust to new circumstances, hang in there!
Look for the beauty that surrounds you and listen to the promise of life and of special things to come. Life can be wonderful.

If I may quote the Desiderata of Max Ehrmann – with all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Embrace change, as with change come growth!

Take care until next time.

Merise Magazine Description:

Merise is a digital family magazine initiated in 2011 to encourage and assist others, as well as to offer advice in facing the challenges of settling and integrating into our new community together. We talk openly about the different aspects of our lives that are under strain through the migration process – from helping our kids adjust to their new school environments, to leaving our parents behind and to changes in the dynamics of our personal relationships.

We provide valuable information about financial and visa requirements, encouraging specialists in various fields to submit articles on topics which we feel may be beneficial to our readers. Merise captures the beauty of our new countries by featuring different geographical areas in Australia and New Zealand, thereby giving would-be migrants or readers who are planning holidays or an interstate move, a better understanding of what to expect in their new domain.

Merise will become a friend to you and your family.

The ascending aircraft in the Logo is symbolic of our desire to reach for the stars. Even the name itself has meaning. By dividing the word ‘Merise e’ in two, it becomes ‘Me rise ’, accentuating our aspiration for life improvement. Merise embodies support and friendship and is such an essence in our lives that we feel inclined to personify the magazine. Merise is who we are.

It is important for Merise to support ‘her’ friends, not merely those who have recently arrived, but all expats in Australia and New Zealand who have left their home countries to find new direction ‘Down Under’.

Merise lends a hand in almost every way. Like anyone who has been through the immigration process and experienced it first hand, Merise is thoroughly aware of difficulties that may arise for both newcomers as well as experienced expats and knows how to help overcome, or should we say “survive”, these difficulties.

Merise explores different avenues and is vivacious and enthusiastic, living life to the full and is always on the lookout for new challenges and encounters. Merise's experiences and pleasures are shared with her friends, always encouraging and inspiring them.

Merise is fully bilingual and has English- as well as Afrikaans-speaking readers with whom time and information is equally shared.

It’s not that easy to find a friend as special as Merise . . .

Both versions of the English and Afrikaans editions of Merise are available on www.merisemag.com.