Making a living in a new country

Establishing yourself in a country outside your own has become somewhat of an controversial topic in South Africa where many are 'fleeing' the country because of the crime or job opportunity statistics. I recently wrote a poem, titled Expat, that I shared on Facebook. A number of readers immediately, and incorrectly, assumed that I had to be one of the many expats who had left South Africa and I was subjected to both criticism for my cowardice, as well as praise for my courage. Go figure! Today's blog is about a friend who also, inadvertently, became an expat, but simply because she was given an opportunity she could not pass up.

Pitsane, Botswana

My friend Louise's husband passed away after a three month struggle with cancer. She was left having to pick up her life again and find a new beginning somewhere else. In previous blogs, I have written about our trip through the Northern and Western Capes of South Africa, and the therapeutic impact the trip seemed to have on her. It was on this trip that a friend suggested she meet with another friend of his in Botswana. This Botswana man was a dairy farmer and he was looking for someone to invest in his farm as a partner.

A promising crop

To the average woman out there, this may seem like a ludicrous idea, especially considering that Louise had virtually no experience of farming and certainly none of dairy farming. However, Louise is not the average woman. She is a tenacious go-getter with a healthy sense of curiosity who had been speaking of venturing into the cattle industry for a while. She decided to go check things out for herself.

The attraction of dirt roads and farm roads

Louise could hardly have hoped for a better partner than the man she met with in Botswana. His knowledge of farming in general was extensive while his knowledge of the dairy industry was in-depth and thorough. His bookkeeping and record keeping was meticulous and could back up his claims. He was intimately familiar with the country, the government and the people of Botswana, to the point of being fluent in Tswana. Add to that the ease with which he deals with people and difficult situations, and you have the ideal person to partner up with in any business venture. Louise, being no fool when it came to these matters, immediately recognized the strengths of the venture and the two of them went about drawing up the necessary contracts and legal documents to get the ball rolling.

Waving grasslands on the farm

I am not going to bore you with the details of what all of this entailed. I will probably not hit all the right notes anyway. Suffice it to say that this meant obtaining visas and permits, customs clearances, registering a business with contracts to ensure personal safeguards, insurance, medical cover, etc. And that was before they even started looking for cattle! They finally found a herd that met their requirements, but the herd was in South Africa. This necessarily meant veterinary clearances, quarantine, inoculations, etc. Finally the cattle were in the country and they were ready to start production.

Enticing sunsets

All that was left to do at this stage, was to procure the necessary contract with Clover, who has sole mandate to buy milk in Botswana. The contract was easy enough to procure, as the Botswana government has basically contractually ensured that Clover would buy ALL milk produced in the country. Do not imagine that this means the relationship between the dairy farmers and Clover is always one of smooth sailing. It has its ups and downs, just like it has in South Africa. The only difference is that the government plays a very active roll as watch dog in this relationship and all parties are subject to admonishment should they transgress.

The silhouette of Africa

I remain hugely impressed with the Botswana government. They simply seem to be doing things right. On a trip to Gaberone the government buildings were pointed out to me. Each 'division' has its own building which is located in a small horse-shoe shaped radius around the main building. This means that each section can operate individually, but they are close enough in proximity to each other to ensure effortless cooperation. Also, once a month, a date and hour is published in the local newspapers when the various ministers may be contacted directly by members of the public to discuss burning issues. Open communication channels are maintained at other levels as well.

More African sunsets to admire

During my visit I have seen the government vet pay a visit to the farm to ensure the health of the herd, instead of for inspection purposes only. I also noticed how evident it was that a good relationship existed between himself and the farmers. On another occasion, a pick-up-truck arrived to hand-deliver a notice of a meeting that might be of interest to the farmers to attend. There was constant communication between the farmers and the different levels of government, be it telephonically, by email, or in person.

The variety and diversity of field flowers are enough to take your breath away

During my visit in the beginning of the year, early in the season, the government had also launched an initiative where farmers could apply for an agricultural grant aimed specifically at crop production and sewing. The dairy farm in question had put in their application and was given the grant. This entailed the government paying back the cost of fuel for sewing the land. They also provided seeds and fertilizer to be sewn, as specified by the farmers. After sewing, the costs were calculated and the moneys had been paid back before my first visit even came to a conclusion. Botswana has a reputation for government moving slowly, but what little I saw of it impressed me to the contrary. However, one would need much more experience of the processes before venturing an expert opinion.

Venturing into an unfamiliar industry

What is the point of today's blog? I wish to leave you with a couple of thoughts. Firstly, the end of one good thing, does not necessarily mean that all good things have come to an end. Taking a risk on something new, and completely outside of your field of experience, may be the best thing you've ever done, even if society has a hard time coming to terms with your decisions. And sometimes, expatriating to a new country, is not about push factors, but more about pull factors. So take the risks and venture out. Who knows what the future may hold for you?

The herd has settled in

I will leave you with two poems I wrote. The first is in English, titled The Risk, and the second is in Afrikaans, titled Expat.

The risk

Would you like to take another shot

at that which you still haven’t got

or do you think it’s too much trouble,

that it would compromise the bubble

which you’ve created as a hide-away

in which you can safely and securely stay?

Yet, a risk is still something worth taking

for the effort you’ll need to be making.

Simply focus your attention on the goal

to find how it could satisfy your soul

if you could but only once grab its hold.

Do take the risk! Be brave! Be bold!

An original poem by Miekie (Marietjie Uys)

Growing your own feed

Expat

Neem my weg op hierdie vlug

maar bring my voete weer terug

plant hul dan weer in die sand

van my geliefde vadersland.

Hierdie vlug is onvermydelik

maar maak dit asseblief net tydelik

Gee dat ek nie vir altyd deur

my rug op my volk en land sal keer.

Ek vlug van geweld en misverstand

ek vlug van 'n nasie wat met haat brand

ek vlug van onmin, onreg en kwaad,

sake wat my die land laat verlaat.

Tog bly daar 'n hunkering in my siel

na die Karoo-sonbesie se dansende riel

na die platgekamde kruin van Tafelberg,

na die Vrystaatgrond wat reën van God verg.

Ek verlang na die lug wat bo my uitstrek

sonder maat, sonder grens, geheel onbeperk

Ek verlang na mielies, skaapstert en vetkoek

na dinge wat ek verniet in 'n ander land soek.

Gee my my 'n land sonder grense of perk,

gee my 'n land waarin ek kan werk,

gee terug my menswees, sorgeloos vry,

gee my 'n land waar ek veilig kan bly.

Berigte van moord, verkragting en haat

veroorsaak dat ek hierdie land nou verlaat,

maar ek bly hoop om eendag terug te kan kom

na 'n veranderde, vreedsame mensdom.

'n Oorspronklike gedig deur Miekie (Marietjie Uys)

A dairy farm in full production

Marietjie Uys (Miekie) is a published author. You can buy my books here:

You can purchase Designs By Miekie 1 here.

Jy kan Kom Ons Teken en Verf Tuinstories hier koop.

Jy kan Kom Ons Kleur Tuinstories In hier koop.

Jy kan Tuinstories hier koop.

You can follow Miekie's daily Bible Study blog, Bybel Legkaart, here in English & Afrikaans.

You may prefer to follow the traveling blog, A Pretty Tourist.

For more crafty ideas and great products, visit A Pretty Talent on Facebook.

Remember to keep nurturing your TALENT for making PRETTY things.

You can subscribe to any of these blogs to receive regular updates by email, by simply registering your email address at the top of the applicable blog.