In this issue

Om vars te begin, is darem maar 'n opwindende gebeurtenis! Veral wanneer'n droom waar word en jy die dae kan aftel tot die nuwe dag aanbreek. Maar wanneer 'n groot verandering uit die bloute gebeur en jy na jou asem snak en sukkel omjou balans te hou, is dit'n ander storie.

Die eerste Merise het in 2011 haar verskyning gemaak. Merise is uit'n behoefte gebore - 'n reddingsboei om die seer van migrasie te help stil. Waar die Merise-span soms dalk aan ervaring tekortgeskiet het, het hulle verseker met harde werk en passie geseevier.
Soos jy tereg aflei, is die tema van hierdie uitgawe “om oor te begin’’ Ons kan sterk identifiseer met enigeen wat moet oorbegin- of dit nou 'n vars begin is weens migrasie, 'n nuwe werk, 'n nuwe baba of wat ook al. As jy Elbie van Coller se artikel oor die verskillende fases van migrasie lees, sal jy besef dat hierdie fases ook van toepassing is op enige groot verandering wat jou pad in die I ewe kruis en dat vasbyt en aanhou met jou oë altyd op die einddoel gerig, die antwoord is. As jy aanhou om in die rigting van jou einddoel te beweeg, kan jy nie anders nie as om dlt ulteindelik te bereik. Maar ... in die proses moet jy nie huiwer om hulp te vra wanneer jy dit nodig het nie. Daar is altyd mense wat jou kan en graag sal help, selfs al is dit net om 'n alternatiewe roete aan te beveel.

Hierdie uitgawe is volgepak met interessante artikels en pragfoto's van die plekke waar ons woon en kuier. Kundiges verskaf waardevolle inligting om ons te help om uitdagings te bowe te kom en soos altyd, het ons pragtige modebladsye, smullekker resepte en lekkerleesstories vir elkeen. Bale dankie aan almal wat bydraes gestuur het- dis altyd lekker om van julle te hoor!

Lekker lees tot volgende keer,
Suzette van der Heijden

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 . . .