In this issue

Ons nooi jou graag om nuwe dinge saam met Merise te ontdek en om agter die kap van die byl te kom van plaaslike gewoontes in ons nuwe lande. Benjamin Franklin het destyds gesê dat slegs dood en belasting seker is in ons lewe, maar ek verskil van hom. Ek dink verandering is ‘n onvermydelike sekerheid.

Soms smag jy na verandering en maak jy seker dat dit gebeur, terwyl jy ‘n ander keer – of jy nou wil of nie – verplig word om aanpassings in jou lewe te maak.

Gelukkig kan jy self kies watter uitwerking verandering op jou lewe sal hê. Dit kan die beste in jou na vore bring, of dit kan jou vernietig.

Daar gebeur goeie en slegte dinge in elkeen se lewe en wanneer dit plaasvind, bring dit verandering mee. Die wenresep is om met dankbaarheid te fokus op die positiewe wat in byna elke situasie voorkom, selfs wanneer dit moeilik is om raak te sien. As jy op die oomblik besig is om verandering te verwerk, byt vas en hou die blink kant bo! Soek vir die mooi om jou en vertrou dat daar goeie dinge voorlê. Die lewe kan wonderlik wees! Vergun my om uit die Desiderata van Max Ehrmann aan te haal: “Ondanks al die bedrog, voortgeploetery en stukkende drome, is dit steeds ‘n pragtige wêreld. Wees vrolik. Strewe na geluk.”

Koester verandering, want deur verandering kom groei!

Mooi bly tot 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 . . .