{"id":195660,"date":"2022-08-10T13:19:12","date_gmt":"2022-08-10T11:19:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/out-and-about-an-email-from-edinburgh\/"},"modified":"2024-10-28T14:52:12","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T12:52:12","slug":"out-and-about-an-email-from-edinburgh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/en\/out-and-about-an-email-from-edinburgh\/","title":{"rendered":"Out and about: an email from Edinburgh"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In Out and about <\/em>we talk to people who currently live or have lived and worked abroad. This week, we talk to Irene-Marie Esser, who lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hello, Irene-Marie. From where in South Africa are you, and why did you decide to live abroad?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My husband and I grew up in Johannesburg. We were high school sweethearts and started dating when we were only 16! We both studied at Stellenbosch, then went back to Johannesburg and from there to Pretoria. We moved to Edinburgh in 2013 when our two boys were only nine months and three years old! My husband got a wonderful job opportunity as Laser Device Physics and Engineering professor at the Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. I was already a law professor at UNISA and was then appointed as an extraordinary professor to do contract work at the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow so that I could look after my children myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Edinburgh Castle in the background<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Please tell us about your family.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am married to Daniel and we have two children, Matthew (12) and Christo (10). Matthew will start high school in August (here they go a little earlier) and Christo will then go to Primary 6. The freedom that children have here is remarkable. Matthew takes the bus to school and walks back with his friends; they often stop along the way for a cold drink or sweets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Irene-Marie, Daniel, Matthew and Christo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You have been living in Edinburgh since 2013. Tell us how you experienced the emigration process. Was it difficult to adapt?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’d be lying if I said it was easy. It’s a huge change. People move for many different reasons. You need to know why you are moving and what you want to get out of it. It’s just a time-consuming process. The administration is very exhausting and one has to be very organised and have a lot of perseverance. It is also very expensive to apply for visas and passports. You must know what you’re getting yourself into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If one gets a good opportunity and your quality of life will be the same as or better than in South Africa, why not? You can always go back again; nothing is written in stone. But you have to take the chance! You have to keep an open mind. By the grace of God, we are very happy. We fit in well and we often see our family. My mother visits about four times a year and that helps a lot. We also go to South Africa once or twice a year. I often work at South African Universities and that also helps a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We live south of Edinburgh in Morningside, about 15 minutes outside the city. It has a real community feel, with lots of shops and coffee shops, so you get to know many people. I always say Edinburgh is a city with all the advantages of a town. Where we live, the people are exceptionally friendly and always willing to help. We don’t really have help here, so friends help each other and take turns to help each other with the children, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n