why fill this out?
I am in the process of collating a book to be called "Torn in the New SA". I am hoping that you will be able to pass on this questionnaire to as many people (expats or residents) as possible. Independent Newspapers in SA has already agreed to do an article and an interview with me (based on their publishing my response to Pres. Mbeki in 2004) and I need to collect as many responses as possible by end April.
The book is related to my article on www.escapeartist.com (The Dangers of South Africa : Fear of Crime). http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/55/South_Africa_Commentary.html
The article was written and published in January 2004 on that website. Since then it has generated enormous controversy and correspondence. I wrote it because the website was promoting SA as a paradise to live, work and invest in. While I agree that can be true, I felt that they should also highlight the downside of life. I had trusted their articles and had used them to research countries to live in (when we had decided to leave). I wrote to the editor and complained that I couldn't trust their website any longer because, as far as I could see, they were presenting biased views (based on what I read on the site and what I knew of life in SA). The editor wrote back to me and asked me to write the article, which I did. As I did not give it a title, they titled it for me.
Besides President Mbeki taking it upon himself to call me a racist in October 2004. I have had two university students contact me - one asked permission to use my article as a source for his political studies paper and the other to interview me and quote my article in her journalism submission for her university newspaper. A gentleman in the UK used the article in a court case to file a motion against his ex-wife taking their young daughter to live in South Africa (while the ex- was working there for 6 months). I replied to Pres. Mbeki and my response was published in 5 national newspapers in October 2004 (and was translated into Afrikaans by Die Burger).
I receive an ongoing stream of letters from all over the world. Many of them describe the intensity of the feelings at leaving (and describe intense experiences that led to their decision). I feel that I should honor this avalanche of correspondence by collating it into a book, to be called "Torn in the New SA (South Africa)". 90% of the people who write to me describe feelings that are torn at having to leave and they describe families (grandparents / grandchildren) torn apart by the leaving. There are also those who stay (but want to leave) who describe how torn apart they are at having to make this decision and give up everything they have lived and worked for in their country. They don't want to leave but they've had one too many bad experiences and fear something will happen to them or their families next.
To say that this tidal wave of emotions and reactions was unexpected would be an enormous understatement.
I have compiled a questionnaire that I am sending out to all of those who have corresponded with me. This will help me to understand and collate the information. In the questionnaire, I have included separate sections for "Ex-pats" and "Temporary Residents of SA" and "Residents (still in SA)"
I could not attach the questionnaire to this form so, if you or anyone else is interested, please ask them to email me directly and I will forward the questionnaire to them.
All of the information you send to me will be kept completely confidential and will not be shared or disclosed to any other person or third party at any time now or in future.
Please could you do me a favor and send this email to anyone (who lives / has lived or has left SA) that you feel may also be interested in responding / answering the questions. Friends, family, ex-pats etc.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely
Bronwyn McIntosh
DEMOGRAPHICS:
Name: Male / Female
Age:
Home Language:
Occupation:
City / Town / Country of current residence:
Email:
Spouse: Y / N
Spouse Occupation:
Is your spouse South African or did he/she live in South Africa?
Children (how many - sex / ages)
If I have a question, what is best way to contact you?
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Are you still a South African citizen? Y / N
Were you ever a South African citizen? Y / N
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Unless I have your personal information and contact details, I cannot use the answers you provide.
SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENS (Non-residents) - Complete this section
I’ve done a brief synopsis of the information I’m looking for. Can you write me a paragraph giving me some answers to these questions? Also, could you please recount any personal experiences that relate to your answers. Feel free to share anything you like, the questions are merely a guideline. Rest assured that all of these answers will remain confidential and, if I use any of the information in the book, I will always use a pseudonym and not your real name.
Please tell me the names of the cities/towns (and years) that you lived in, in South Africa. What were your reasons for leaving that area?
Which year did you leave South Africa to settle overseas? How many family members relocated?
What was your main reason for leaving (any event/person that influenced this decision)? Any other reasons for leaving (ie job offer)?
After deciding to leave, how long did it take to complete your affairs and leave SA?
Did you officially emigrate or, like many South Africans, myself included, did you just pack up and leave?
What / Who was the most difficult thing / person to leave behind? Why?
What advice do you wish you had known before you left South Africa?
Most surprising thing about relocating (ie unexpected event / feeling)?
What do you miss the most about life in South Africa?
If offered a job / business opportunity, would you go back to live there now? If not, why not?
Has it been difficult to re-establish yourself in a new country? Financially / emotionally? Have your children and spouse settled? If not, why not? Are there any problems that you encountered at work / your kids at school? Schools & education comparable to South Africa?
Are the facilities / services comparable to those in South Africa? Why / why not? Has it been easy to adapt to a new culture? How have the cultural differences impacted on friendships / work / school experiences? What are the differences in lifestyle?
Do you have family left in South Africa? Are you in regular contact?
What did they feel about your leaving the country? Do they plan to leave SA?
Do you go back to visit SA regularly?
What are your feelings about the crime, the government, the situation and economic stability of SA?
OTHERS - temporarily lived in SA (students / workers / tourists) but not citizens
What was your reason for visiting / living in South Africa? How long did you stay?
Which year/s did you visit? What cities did you visit?
What was your overall impression of the country, the people, the culture, the amenities?
Would you go back to South Africa for a longer period of time? If not, why not?
Any particular personal experiences in the country, good or bad, that impressed themselves on you?
What are your feelings about the crime, the government, the situation and economic stability of SA?
South African citizens still resident
Would you ever consider leaving South Africa? What factor/event would induce you to leave?
Have you investigated emigration to other countries? What has stopped you leaving thus far?
What fears do you have about leaving South Africa and settling in a new country? Would these stop you leaving? Do you have any family members/friends that have left SA? Why did they leave?
What are your feelings about the crime, the government, the situation and economic stability of SA?
All information given on this form will be held completely confidential and will not be shared, disclosed or sold to any other person or third party at any time now or in the future. Anonymity is assured and your personal details will not be disclosed in the book, Torn in the New S.A (c)
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