Indian Newslink 15th June 2016 Digital Edition

JUNE 15, 2016
COMMUNITYLINK 25
Grass on the home side is greener after all!
If you think New Zealand is the best, think again
Myan Subrayan
So, you have had enough
of South Africa?
The Rand taking a dive,
crime and corruption on
the increase, and load shedding
has caused you to head to that
emigration seminar in search of
Utopia of greener pastures they
are promising overseas.
Before you make the important
decision to emigrate, take a
few moments to read on.
month-old daughter in 2000.
We relocated to South Africa
in 2012 with our four children.
We did enjoy staying in New
Zealand, even receiving its
citizenship.
Relocating to homeland
However, as our children
got older, we realised that we
wanted to also give them the
opportunity to grow up in the
land of our birth, with our
extended family and to share
in the values and culture with
which we were raised.
I admit that we have
problems in South Africa, but
is there a country that does
not have problems? Even
fully-developed countries have
their fair share.
The first time my house got
broken into was in New Zealand
in 2004 and during the same
year, I had my wallet and cell
phone stolen from my office.
My teenage female cousins
were viciously assaulted and
mugged at a mall parking lot in
Auckland.
Almost every year, there are
tragic incidences of violent
crime as well. Recently, some
Dutch tourists were raped as
they travelled the New Zealand
country side.
Violent crime is on the
increase so don’t believe that
crime is restricted to only South
Africa, as its present all over
the world and especially in the
countries that we South Africans
tend to emigrate, including
Australia, Britain, New Zealand
and USA.
Silent Media
The media in these countries
do not report much on these as
it has an adverse effect on their
tourism and immigration, required
to keep their economies
ticking over.
I write this on the backdrop to
so many fellow South Africans
being duped by governments
of these countries, emigration
agencies that paint a rosy life
in these countries, but are not
totally honest.
From my experience, I would
like to present the other side
to emigrating that you will not
hear from agents (who are
expensive), to enable you to
make an informed choice.
If you do not have a job offer
before you decide to emigrate,
then my advice is to wait.
Do not believe the agent who
says, “It is easy.”
Migrants generally have huge
problems finding work in their
specific fields.
Since your South African
Auckland and Johannesburg: What is the difference
qualification is often not recognised,
you will be required to
undertake further studies to get
your accreditation to be eligible
for a work visa.
Persistent Xenophobia
This also means incurring
more costs. And don’t think that
there is no xenophobia, racism,
bigotry and discrimination. I,
my family and friends have experienced
this first hand. Even
being told by certain employers
that if we did not ‘toe the line,’
we would be fired, resulting in
our work visa being terminated
and subsequently being sent
back to South Africa.
Certain migrant groups are
bullied by the locals and often
are seen as ‘soft targets’ and
become victims of crime.
Mental disorder
These countries have a high
depression and mental disorder
rate as a result of a number of
factors. Limited finance and
working long hours being a major
reason as the cost of living
is quite high, in some cases the
cost of rent and accommodation
is around 70-80% of your salary.
The ability to save is also diminished
as your disposal income
is very minimum, which is why
many work two to three jobs
just to make ends meet resulting
in less leisure time.
And then ask yourself, “Why
do most young adult New Zealanders
emigrate in search of
better paying jobs to Australia?
Why do Australians emigrate to
Europe?”
In New Zealand, the
media does not report much on
suicides and statistically they
have one of the highest rates of
suicide in the world. Why would
this be so if their ‘grass was so
green’?
Isolating factor
Then add to this the isolation,
of being in a foreign country
and missing your family, friends
and old lifestyles. Psychologists
say this is a major factor in
psychological stress, as you lose
your support networks which
need to be built all over again
when you emigrate.
The biggest cost I had to pay
was that my mother passed
away in South Africa and I was
not able to be with her during
her last years. This is something
that needs consideration especially
if you come from a closely
knit family.
Before you decide to emigrate,
do your homework and
research the country by going
on holiday and also doing the
online checks on their news,
weather, job prospects and
requirements for you to get
accredited.
Going backwards
Do not be driven by fear,
but be clear why you want to
emigrate. You and your family
need to be in agreement. If you
are undecided do not do it.
Be prepared to embrace
change. Many have succeeded
in emigrating but it takes
patience.
Be prepared to go ‘backwards’
before you go forward in
regards to your income, work,
and standard of living.
If you do decide to emigrate,
please do me a favour. Do not
bad mouth South Africa.
Many expats thrive on doing
this to justify why they left in
the first place.
This is not cool!
Myan Subrayan is a writer,
speaker and life coach to
elite teams and businesses.
He is seen here with former
All Black Inga Tuigamala. His
Website: www.myansubrayan.
co.za You also can follow him
on Facebook and Twitter.
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Unique web link
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Supplied Content
AIA New Zealand
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the Best Financial
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