Browsing Category: South Africa

A file for Harley, or “if you ever want to move overseas”

January 12, 2017 Zoe

It has been a mission getting the admin together to move myself, Dean and Harley to the States. It makes me want to pull my hair out it’s so frustrating sometimes. It’s not that the forms are particularly difficult or that we don’t qualify or something – it’s just a pain trying to get all the documentation and proof that they might need. It’s also made me realize the types of things I need to save for Harley as she grows up. I mean, when did I ever think that I would need to prove my citizenship? When did I ever think that I would need to prove my relationship with Dean? When you live your life in one country, none of this really seems to be an issue. But if you plan to move overseas, there’s a lot of extra admin, and I hope to make things a bit easier for Harley if she ever decides to traipse around the world.

It’s not so much the travel bit, or even moving overseas that’s particularly difficult. Usually, it’s simply a matter of showing a birth certificate, maybe getting a police clearance of some description to prove you aren’t a criminal, and most countries will let you in. However, if you hope to get married and make a life with someone who is foreign, the more documentation you have, the better. It’s all about proving who you are, not because YOU are lying, but because so many other people have lied. It has been so great when my mom and I found documentation that helped – like an old transcript that my mom found, or random medical bills that proved I was in the States to get my wisdom teeth removed or whatever else. It’s random and not stuff you would normally keep, and yet it has turned out to be so worthwhile. As such, this is the file that I plan to keep for Harley, just in case, so that one day when she asks for proof of silly details, I have them. Continue Reading

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3 Comments Parenting, South Africa, USA

Registering a citizen born abroad

January 3, 2017 Zoe

There are all sorts of complications that come with an international relationship. Many of them are fun – I love having an “exotic” husband. He uses words and language that I find intriguing, and we are both continually discovering aspects of each other’s lives that are amusing or strange to each other. It’s enjoyable for both of us as we get to explore our different countries, our different perspectives from an outside angle thanks to each other. We are global citizens and it’s something that I’m excited to pass on to Harley as she will come from both backgrounds, a true citizen of the world. However, the admin involved isn’t too pleasant.

I already wrote about the mission we had just to get her birth certificate resolved. But that was just on the South African side. With our plan this year to move to the States, I wanted to get her American documentation sorted out. But it’s not as easy as it might sound – like so many nationalities, passing your citizenship on through the blood isn’t a simple matter for Americans. Well, it was in the end, but it wasn’t easy in the middle. Continue Reading

10 Comments Rambling, South Africa, USA

Citizen of the World Emigrating USA

World Prematurity Day – An open letter to Harley’s NICU nurses

November 17, 2016 Zoe

Dearest sisters,

I came around for a visit to the NICU with Harley yesterday, wanted to show off just how big she’s gotten. I wanted to show you all how far she’s come, how much she’s grown. I brought a cake and snacks and whatever else I could think of that would be nice for the team, a nice treat for all of you. But nothing I could buy, nothing I could give you could ever compare with what you gave to me. It was so wonderful seeing you all, taking pictures of you with an almost-year-old Harley – even if she did cry in all the pictures.

Growing up, I remember seeing donation tins for The March of Dimes. They used to be next to the check out counters in the drug stores in New York, and I would always look at them, but never really noticed what they were about. In fact, even last year I didn’t really pay attention to this day. I was already a mommy blogger, and I saw some of the other moms writing about it, but I don’t think I even read the posts. Oh how times have changed. Continue Reading

6 Comments Parenting, Preeclampsia, South Africa

Motherhood NICU Preemie

Baby swimming lessons – for safety, development and fun

November 16, 2016 Zoe

Harley has been going for swimming lessons for a few months now, and I can’t get over how far she has come. I told you a while back when I reviewed her cool swimming nappy that I would tell you more about the classes themselves, and I feel like I’ve tested them for long enough to give you a detailed and honest assessment. Swimming lessons are quite possibly the best thing I ever could have done for Harley.

As we move into summer, I’m sure many of you will be heading to the pool. It’s a great way to cool down, to have fun as a family, and with the current water restrictions it can even help cut down on bath times. But I’m sure plenty of you are a bit nervous about your little ones in the water – when is it safe to start them swimming and how do you introduce them to the water, let along teach them how to swim? Well, thanks to the swimming lessons at Aqua Marine Aquatics Academy, not only is Harley doing well with all those things, but I also feel confident to hang out with her in the water. Continue Reading

3 Comments Parenting, South Africa, Sponsored

Bonding early childhood development Swimming

Yes, we will still move to America despite Trump’s victory

November 10, 2016 Zoe

Yesterday was a very hard day for me. I was feeling down for most of the day. No, that’s not quite right. I was filled with anxiety for most of the day, feeling sick to my stomach and overwhelmed and wondering about our future. It made me so sad that so many Americans could vote for a man I see as absolutely vile. It made me sad that so many Americans were embracing his racist, sexist and pro-hate narrative – how could I still think about moving to America when so many of my friends were looking to get out? Would my move to the States be an endorsement of who he is and what he stands for?

Then, Dean and I went out. We went for food and drinks and to really talk about it all. And we will still move to America despite Trump becoming president. Day to day life will probably still be the same – good schools will still offer Harley a quality education, good jobs will still pay us salaries that make life affordable, and we can still have access to all the good food and cool gaming and fun activities available in the US of A. But more than that, there’s something I can do in the States that I can’t do here; I can make a difference there. Continue Reading

1 Comment Rambling, South Africa