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| Contents |
Issue No. 349 -- 14 November 2005 |
Editor's Message
Quote/s of the Week
Ad Hoc Article/s of the Week
Bits and Bobs
The Legal Beagle
Help Desk
Where are they now?
Club and Other News
Humour
Recipes
Sports News
Credits and Contact Info
Subscribing and Unsubscribing
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I have been writing and publishing SAWmail for many years. The first issue was at the beginning of June, 1998! Times have changed, SAWmailers have changed... and the time has now come for the editor to change!
I have been giving SAWmail a great deal of thought recently. I have other sites to manage and over the past few months I have come to the realisation that I just do not have the time and energy to continue with SAWmail any longer. What I have decided is that SAWmail will cease at the end of November. The SAW site will continue as is but will not be updated.
If anyone has the time and inclination to take over SAWmail, or to buy or sponsor the SAW site then I would like to hear from you.
All things must change... and SAWmail is no exception. So... to past and present subscribers of SAWmail, thanks for all your support and participation over the years. Without you all there would have been no SAWmail.
Please stay in touch.
Maureen
These from me...
If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. - Mary Engelbreit
When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. - Victor Frankl
The man who looks for security, even in the mind, is like a man who would chop off his limbs in order to have artificial ones which will give him no pain or trouble. - Henry Miller
If you're in a bad situation, don't worry it'll change. If you're in a good situation, don't worry it'll change. - John A. Simone, Sr
When you are through changing, you are through. - Bruce Barton
Change always comes bearing gifts. - Price Pritchett
Time, which changes people, does not alter the image we have retained of them. - Marcel Proust
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before beginning to improve the world. – Anne Frank
Things do not change; we change. - Henry David Thoreau
Be the change you want to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi
Hard work, sacrifice and focus will never show up in tests. - Lance Armstrong
Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. - Leo Tolstoy
It is never too late to become what you might have been. - George Eliot
These from Daniel Jan le Roux...
If one does not cast a big net, one cannot catch a big fish. - Chinese Proverb
It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question. - Decouvertes
Send in any quotes you love... that have some special meaning for you... and I will use at least one every week. Usual address! editor@saw.co.za
| Ad Hoc Article/s of the Week |
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Coming Home
Each week we will feature a question and answer sent in to the Company for Immigration. We hope these will help answer any questions you might have regarding any part of the coming home process. If you would like to send in your own question, please feel very free to do so.
We will also be featuring a great amount of information on the SAW Website (www.saw.co.za) under the Coming Home section. You can also find out info by visiting our newly relaunched site, South Africa Online (www.southafrica.co.za) and checking out the Coming to SA section.
Here is a bit more info...
Whenever and wherever South Africans meet, the surest way to start a lively discussion, is to ask someone for an opinion about emigration from or remigration back to South Africa. In 2002 we (i.e. the non-profit immigration service, Company for Immigration, and the trade-union, Solidarity) realized that the return of South African expats had become a fact and that their inputs are essential for the growth and development of the country. We are neither interested in a debate about the reasons why people leave or come back, nor about the merit of their decisions. We prefer to provide a practical service instead:
offering advice and assistance to prospective remigrants;
addressing the problems which cause people to emigrate; and informing people about the pros and cons of emigration, to help them make an informed decision before leaving.
Interested? Want to receive our monthly newsletter by email? Have questions or suggestions? If so, please visit our mirror sites www.comehome.co.za or www.komhuistoe.co.za and leave your details on the visitor's page, or contact us at admin@cfi.org.za. We are looking forward to hearing from you!
This week’s Q&A:
Per, formerly of Scandinavia: Which rights do spouses of South Africans have and who are spouses?
Dear Per
Legislation regarding the immigration of spouses has changed quite dramatically in recent years. In the first place all permanent, mutually exclusive, cohabitation relationships are treated equally - in other words people who are married legally or only according to church law, as well as heterosexual and homosexual couples who live together are all treated similarly as spouses of South African citizens by the Immigration Act. They may all apply free of charge for temporary residence status in order to accompany their South African spouses. Should they be able to prove that they have been together for more than five years, the foreign spouses will also be allowed to apply for permanent residence status (which includes access to a South African ID-number). More information can be obtained from the advice bureau of the Come Home Campaign - leave a message at www.comehome.co.za.
Kind regards
Alana
COME HOME CAMPAIGN
Migrasie / Migration
Solidariteit Alliansie / Solidarity Alliance
P O Box 8766, Centurion, 0046, RSA
Tel: 0027-(0)12-6438532
Fax: 0027-(0)12-6438587
admin@cfi.org.za
SA Cop top UK arresting officer
This from Theo Truter truter@mweb.co.za
SA cop in UK breaks arrest record
London, United Kingdom 03 November 2005 12:16
A former South African police officer who moved to Britain for a career change has won the dubious distinction of becoming Britain's "most arresting" police officer, The Times reported on Thursday.
Police Constable Diederik Coetzee (48) has been acclaimed for making 309 arrests so far this year in the northern British county of Nottinghamshire, compared with an average 9,5 arrests per year by the police forces in England and Wales.
Coetzee has already surpassed the previous British record of 305 arrests for a single year with one month to go.
"It's a joy getting up each morning for work. For me it really is a way of life. In South Africa, I wore a bulletproof vest and carried a shotgun and sidearm. I was shot at by car thieves and burglars on an almost daily basis," Coetzee told The Times.
"At least that doesn't happen here. All I carry is a CS gas canister and a baton. So, from a policing point of view, it's something like paradise." -- Sapa-DPA
Mind Massage
Ah, navel-gazing.
Let's examine the lint together, shall we?
Warmly,
Maya ;-)
Maya Talisman Frost
Real-World Mindfulness Training
Mindfulness and Contemplation:
New Ways to Navel Gaze
There's been a lot of talk about navels in our house lately. You see, my youngest daughter is asking to get hers pierced, and we are saying no--for now. So, naturally, I have been noticing navels more than usual.
The term 'navel-gazing' means indulgent contemplation, and that's an interesting concept. Is it possible to be indulgent when it comes to contemplation? Can we get TOO caught up in it?
I'm not too worried about over-contemplation. As long as we are mindful, we aren't likely to overdo anything. What we CAN overdo is our insistence upon a certain contemplative practice as our only hope for greater mindfulness, our tenacious grasping of a particular style, or our adamant belief that mindfulness can or should be limited in any way.
Frankly, I think we could do with a whole lot more contemplation, and if a navel (pierced or otherwise) inspires mindfulness, we should celebrate that.
The traditional contemplative practices include a variety of activities, such as meditation, mindful walking, mindful eating, yoga, creating art, and writing a journal. But contemplation comes in all shapes and sizes, and if surfing or raking leaves or shooting baskets or giving yourself a pedicure helps you tap into that Wow of Wonder, then focus on THAT.
The good news is that there is no need to add a new activity to your to-do list. You are already doing many activities that, with intention, can become perfect twigs on that Tree of Contemplative Practices.
Nothing woo-woo is required here. Think about everyday opportunities for greater awareness. What are your own little moments of fascination or centering? Seemingly mundane tasks--scrubbing the tub, washing the car, setting the table--are full of possibilities for contemplation.
Be creative with this use-what-you-have approach to mindfulness! Don't feel pressure to adopt a traditional contemplative practice if cleaning your horse's stall or pulling weeds helps you tap into that inner wisdom.
In fact, I'd say that those who use everyday activities as opportunities for greater mindfulness are far more likely to find moments of quiet awareness on a daily basis than those who view contemplative practices as a unique category of experiences.
It's not the activity, it's the intention. Choose to pay attention, and you've got yourself some mobile mindfulness that you can take with you wherever you go.
Sort of like your navel.
Your Secret Assignment: Pick One
The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society has a great website with a downloadable image of the Tree of Contemplative Practices.
http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree.html It shows several different branches of ways we can get centered and connected. It's a good start.
Take a look at the tree, and then come up with your OWN branches and twigs. There's no need to start a new activity in order to increase your awareness--you are doing many activities RIGHT NOW that can be used as wonderful additions to your mindfulness practice.
Your assignment? Pick one. That's all. Choose something you are already doing on an almost daily basis, and picture it on this tree. It's just as viable as any other twig or leaf! Use it as your own personal path for greater mindfulness, and start TODAY.
What will YOU pick? Tell me at:
Maya@MassageYourMind.com
Helpful Resources
Have you visited my Resources page yet? It's full of
all kinds of info to help you branch out in your
mindfulness practice.
Scroll down and you'll find a very long list of recommended books--you're sure to find the perfect tool to help you
do a little navel-gazing in a whole new way!
Visit the Resources page here:
http://www.Real-WorldMindfulness.com/resources.htm
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Maya Talisman Frost has taught thousands of people how to pay attention. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she offers playful and powerful eyes-wide-open ways to get calm, clear and creative. To receive her free special report, 'The Dirty Little Secret About Meditation,' visit her website at MassageYourMind.com
(C) Copyright 2005, Maya Talisman Frost
**********************************
Beliefnet – String Bean Spirituality
A visit to the grocery store changes the way I look at produce--and people.
Patience is a virtue. One of the many I lack. Never more evident than when I am grocery shopping.
Some days the only time I get out of the house is when I force myself to head to the market to buy what I need for dinner. Oftentimes I go there with absolutely nothing in mind and find myself inspired by the aromas of fresh-baked bread or slow-roasted chicken. I enjoy the experience, except for the crowded vegetable section of the store. This is where most people slow down so they can inspect, fondle, smell, and squeeze until they have discovered that one grapefruit, that special cantaloupe that everyone else missed.
I can be seen, plastic bag in hand, waiting, moaning, and huffing as I finally slump over my cart in frustration. In just a few seconds I'm in and out, green pepper in hand and on my way to the scale to slap that sticker on it. No big deal for me.
Except for yesterday.
I decided to pick up some string beans. Of all the sections in the vegetable market, the string bean people move the slowest. One bean at a time. "Oh, Lord give me patience!" I said to myself as I approached the counter.
There, blocking access with his cart, was an elderly man. His messy white hair, flipped up in the back, made him look like a 80-year-old hippie. He was average height and looked much like a string bean himself. Thin and frail-looking, he moved slowly and his hands seemed to tremble as he searched through the pile of beans.
Without turning his head toward me, he said, "It takes time to find the right ones. There's an art to this, you know."
"I didn't realize that," I said. "Although that explains why everyone spends so much time here. They're artists."
"I see them as people," he replied.
"The beans?" I asked.
"Yes." he said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"See this one? This short, stubby one would tend to get passed over. Its appearance doesn't fit the perfect image of a long, thin, crisp bean. Most likely, after too much handling, the clerk will toss it out thinking no one wants it. So I take it. People don't know what they are missing, passing up this one," he continued.
"Now I know this curved one won't be used either. Some people see food as more than nourishment. It's all in the presentation. The image of a few select beans, all of the same length, lying on a plate nestled perfectly next to the entrée, supposedly adds to the enjoyment of the meal. I for one see my food as representing life itself. The world is full of texture, odd shapes and sizes. My world is not perfect. Nor is my dinner plate," he said.
Suddenly I realized that we were the only ones in this aisle. Very unusual for this time of day. I was calm and very attentive to everything this man was saying. Also unusual.
"Yes, this pile of beans reminds me that people come into my life in all sizes. Some are broken like this one. Others are still attached to the vine where they were nourished and protected and oftentimes were ripped away from their roots, carrying with them resentment and fear. Like this bean, the vine needs to be removed so that it can be seen in its full beauty and not one clinging to things of the past," he said as he tossed them in his bag.
A few minutes had passed as I stood in silence just watching the old man as he dug deep into the pile, turning and tossing them from the bottom as one would stir a salad.
"Well, I must go now," the man said. "I'll leave you with these 'human beans.' Be kind to them. Don't judge them just by looks. Inside everyone of them is the same life-giving elements. But like people, many will never be given the chance." he said
"So they end up on the bottom, tossed aside?" I asked.
"The difference is," he replied, "as people we have a choice not to settle for the garbage heap."
He tied the top of the plastic bag and turned away, missing the cart completely as he tried to place it inside.
"Sir, let me get that for you," I said.
"Every once in a while I misjudge the distance. I've been blind all of my life. You'd think I'd have this worked out by now."
Blind? I couldn't believe it. Suddenly a young lady appeared from around the corner.
"Poppa! I'm over here, straight ahead of you. Would you like me to pick out some nice tomatoes?"
"No, honey. I know just what I need," he said.
Turning back toward where I was standing, he whispered, "She's always in such a hurry. She'll miss the best ones. Have a great day!"
What insight. What vision this old man had. A blind man helped me to see what joy I had been missing in the simple act of shopping for vegetables. I wonder what else I have been blind to in the hurry of my day.
By the way, tonight we're having brussel sprouts. I can't wait to get back to the market.
Legal Beagle USA
Editor's note: To pre-empt anyone saying that you don't have to pay for this, plese read what Paul has to say below. Paul helped me get all my papers sorted out for my permanant residence in the US as well as my citizenship application. I highly recommend him.
------------------
PAUL T. SHANE
Attorney-at-law
Suite 350,One Gateway Center,
Washington Street,
Newton, Massachusetts 02458-2802
TELEPHONE: (617) 965-9900
TELECOPIER: (617) 965-9697
E-MAIL: paultshane@aol.com
November 14, 2005
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am pleased to advise you that the US State Department is currently running the 2007 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2007) (the Green Card Lottery). The application submission period ends on December 4, 2005. The program makes available 50,000 US permanent resident visas annually, drawn from random selection among all entries to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
The annual DV program makes permanent residence visas available to persons meeting the simple, but strict, eligibility requirements. Applicants for Diversity Visas are chosen by a computer-generated random lottery drawing. The visas, however, are distributed among six geographic regions with a greater number of visas going to regions with lower rates of immigration, and with no visas going to citizens of countries sending more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the past five years. Within each region, no one country may receive more than seven percent of the available Diversity Visas in any one year.
For DV-2007, natives of the following countries are not eligible to apply because they sent a total of more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the previous five years:
CANADA, CHINA (mainland-born), COLOMBIA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, EL SALVADOR, HAITI, INDIA, JAMAICA, MEXICO, PAKISTAN, PHILIPPINES, POLAND, RUSSIA, SOUTH KOREA, UNITED KINGDOM (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and VIETNAM. Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.
Entrance to the lottery is free. However, each year the stringent requirements of the lottery program result in vast numbers of applications being disqualified for failure to follow the rules of the lottery. The rules now provide for electronic filing of the application, which makes the process more complicated and likely to lead to greater numbers of disqualifications, particularly the requirement for a digital photograph of each family member required to be listed. My attorney's fee to submit an application professionally is $100.00 per application, and can be paid by credit card. Spouses may submit separate applications, increasing the chances of selection.
In addition to the lottery, I am offering a full range of immigration services to foreign nationals wishing to live either temporarily or permanently in the US. Such services include student visas, investment visas, temporary work visas, intra-company transfers and permanent residence visas (green cards) through family or work sponsorship.
I look forward to being of assistance to you or your family and friends.
Yours very truly,
Paul Shane
These requests are from subscribers to SAWmail and or members of the SAW Web site. I print them in good faith.
Hello! We are South Africans studying in Fort Worth, Texas, USA and will be returning to South Africa in May 2006. I wonder if you have some information on people that could help us get some of our stuff home. We will not be moving any furniture mainly books, clothing and a few kitchen utensils and linen so we don’t have enough for a container and the costs here are very high!
Do you know of any South Africans returning to SA that may be willing to allow us to put a few boxes in their container?
I look forward to your reply!
Lesley Esterhuizen
Send in any replies direct to Alana (Alana@solidariteit.co.za)
If you are looking for a lost friend... if you would like old friends to contact you... If you want to find old school friends... if you just want people who used to know you to find you again for a chat...
Send in your info, the info of anyone you are looking for and let’s see if we can find them for you!
No news received this week.
Graad 5 Afrikaans Eksamen
This from Daniel Jan LeRoux
Waarvoor word beesvelle gebruik?
om die bees binne te hou
Wat is outobiografie?
dis die ontstaan en geskiedenis van die motorkar
Noem 5 dinge wat melk bevat?
kaas, botter en 3 koeie
Wat is die verlede tyd van eet?
Honger
Wat is die verkleinwoord van Oupa?
Kleinseun
Wat is die teenoorgestelde van kleinneef?
kleinteef
Wat is die doel van die kies- en oogtande?
die kiestande kou die kos en die oogtande kyk dat hulle die kouwerk goed doen.
Voltooi die volgende idioom: Hoe meer haas...
hoe groter haaspastei
Wat is die meervoud van kabeljou?
kabeljulle
'n Sin met "ter aarde bestel..."
"Wie op ter aarde bestel so 'n groot koek?"
Formule vir 'n sirkel se omtrek:
"paai straal kordaat"
Wat is teenoorstaande hoeke?
Hoeke wat vir mekaar kyk
Waarom is die seun in die verhaal gestraf?
Omdat hy sy eie virgin van die volkslied gesing het.
Wat is 'n terminale siekte?
As jy op die lughawe siek word!
Vertaal in Afrikaans: "I beg your pardon?"
HuH?
Wat noem ons iemand wat velle looi?
Onderwyser
Wat kry jy as jy jou melktande wissel?
Pepermenttande
Captain Ken and I are having a Thanksgiving braai at the end of the month and I am going to make these rolls to take:
Maple Wheat Rolls
* 1 ½ cups warm water
* 3 tablespoons vegan maple syrup
* 1 pkg. dry yeast
* ¼ cup canola oil
* 1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour
* 2 ½ cups unbleached white flour
* 1 teaspoon salt
* Oil for brushing
1. In a large bowl, combine water and maple syrup. Add yeast and stir to dissolve. Cover and let sit until bubbly, about 5 minutes.
2. To yeast mixture, add canola oil, whole-wheat flour, 1 ½ cups unbleached white flour, and salt. Stir until well mixed.
3. Generously flour a work surface with some the remaining flour and place dough on it. Knead dough, gradually incorporating remaining flour. The kneading will take 10 to 12 minutes. By the end of this time the dough should have a slight "stick to it" but not stick to your hands. Cover dough with an inverted bowl and let rise until doubled, 30 to 60 minutes.
4. Lightly oil an 8 by 8-inch baking pan. Divide dough into 16 equal pieces, shape into round balls, brush lightly with oil, and place in prepared pan. Cover and let rise until doubled, 30 to 60 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake rolls until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
Goosen to play in Perth
Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen was on Tuesday confirmed to play in the Johnnie Walker Classic at The Vines Resort in Perth from February 9-12, organisers said.
Rugby: Japan, New Zealand and South Africa in close World Cup race
New Zealand will emphasize passion and tradition, Japan will offer global growth and a marketplace and South Africa will stress a proven record when rivals to host the 2011 World Cup make final pitches Thursday to the International Rugby Board in Ireland.
White keeps Bok stars on their toes
They may be media darlings, but the centre pairing of Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie is under threat in the Springbok set-up. National coach Jake White revealed that his two backline stars need to start doing justice to their reputations.
SA closing in on ODI record
South Africa go into their five-match one-day international series against India, which starts in Hyderabad on Wednesday just three matches away from a new world record.
| Credits and Contact Info |
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South Africans Worldwide - SAWmail Copyright © 1998 - 2005 Maesti
Editor: Maureen Cram
Copy Manager: Maureen Cram
Contributors: Everyone!
Web Development: Wizard
Post Master: Albert E. Stein
Hosting: Afrihost
Bandwidth: All You Can Eat
SAWmail - An Internet service brought to you by Maesti.
Web: http://www.saw.co.za
E-mail: editor@saw.co.za
Tel: +27 11 708-2632
Fax: +27 11 708-2632
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