In this issue

It is not every day that we get the opportunity to treat the wonderful people in our lives. Our readers, our supporters, our clients.

We planned this event with the sole purpose of showing how much we appreciate your kind support and constant encouragement. We wanted you to know that you are more precious than rubies (Prov 3.15). This day is all about you.

Being a woman in today’s society can be very challenging. When you look around you, you will see a woman fighting a dreaded disease, a single mother, a FIFO wife, a mother concerned about the health or safety of her children, an abused spouse, someone who has recently arrived in this country as a migrant, a woman petrified of her financial future… the list goes on.

Today we offer our heartfelt support to every person reading this and we give you a BIG Merise-hug to tell you that you are loved and appreciated!

In this whirlwind life of today we try to do it all. We want to care for our family, help those in need AND be the best person we can be. But, every so often, we need to take a break from the very high standards we set for ourselves. We need to get together with loving friends who care and be ourselves! Tomorrow we will be strong and capable again, always thankful for the opportunities afforded to us.

We are extremely grateful for the kind support of our sponsors. They are all small business owners who did not think twice about helping us making your day special. In this issue many of them share valuable information about their industry or give tips on how you can improve your life. The one thing they have in common is that they offer quality products and services and it would be wonderful if you could support them in any way, even if you just take them up on their special offer or refer them to your friends and family.

May this year be your best year yet and my you be blessed abundantly!

Happy reading!

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.