Losethem (imported) wrote: Sat Oct 25, 2014 9:05 pm South Africa is certainly an interesting place and I enjoyed my time there greatly. I remember driving around and getting confused because one road sign would be in English, then another further down the road would be in Afrikaans. I saw this both around Cape Town and Johannesburg. That, combined with driving on the left side of the road, made me miss a lot of the countryside as a I was driving around.

If you do move to the US, If you would like a similar climate to where you live now I would suggest moving to Northern California (areas around San Francisco) as it is almost exactly like South Africa, climate-wise. Most other areas in the US are nothing like South Africa. San Francisco itself is like being out on the Cape of Good Hope, and the climate changes similar to how it changes traveling inland from the Cape Town area to areas away from the ocean. Keep in mind that San Francisco is the most expensive place in the US to live, it's recently gotten more expensive than New York.

Feel free to PM me if you're serious about a move, I'd be happy to give you and idea what various places in the US are like. I've lived in 4 different regions of the US, which is a geographically large country.

--LT

Emigrating to the US is extremely difficult as the immigration laws are really tight and it is virtually impossible to meet all the requirements. YodaNell grew up in a town about 50 miles from the one I grew up in and they are both not too far from Cape Town, which I assume you will agree is the jewel in the crown of the country.

My wife is from AR and she had more difficulty in getting used to driving on the left hand side of the road than I had adapting to driving on the right hand side during visits to the US. I think the Pacific North West is probably one of the most beautiful parts of the US.

YodaNell's best chance of getting out of SA is either Australia, New Zealand or Canada as they have a more relaxed immigration requirements than the US. I am familiar with Australian and NZ immigration law and will happily advise him should he want to get out of South Africa. I left with a heavy heart but I saw the current level of corruption and governmental miss management coming back in 1997.

micdavi24 (imported) wrote: Sun Oct 26, 2014 9:17 pm YodaNell's best chance of getting out of SA is either Australia, New Zealand or Canada as they have a more relaxed immigration requirements than the US. I am familiar with Australian and NZ immigration law and will happily advise him should he want to get out of South Africa. I left with a heavy heart but I saw the current level of corruption and governmental miss management coming back in 1997.

Oh, my friends, I really want to get away from South Africa. I have nothing left here that's holding me back. Allow me to explain.

I work only for six months a year in the Defence Force in the reserves. I have applied many times to go permanent but I am pigmentologically challenged. I cannot get all the perks such as medical, housing, pension etc. The other six months I have to find ways to make money and white boys gets NO mercy applying for jobs.

Also, just now the last 7 days, I discovered that my life partner got himself a lover. He actually ask me if I would mind brining his lover home to his room so they can watch TV etc! I am crushed! We are two Christian brothers who lived celibate all these years. We united under the Civil Partnership Contract (in communion of property) so the we share everything like pension, medical insurance, assets etc. Now, I am straight and he is gay. We were not lovers and he understood this when we signed the contract. Still we loved each other. We are like soul mates. Even our thoughts are fused. No all seems to be over. It will be unfair of me to prevent him from experiencing love, so I will have to let him go, even if it hurts like hell.

So, in a nutshell, my whole life just came tumbling down all around me and being totally alone here in SA, I really need to get away. Start over and fresh before I become too old to do anything.

YodaNell (imported) wrote: Mon Oct 27, 2014 2:13 pm Oh, my friends, I really want to get away from South Africa. I have nothing left here that's holding me back. Allow me to explain.

So, in a nutshell, my whole life just came tumbling down all around me and being totally alone here in SA, I really need to get away. Start over and fresh before I become too old to do anything.

Ok, a couple of questions, how old are you now and do you have any formal qualifications. I ask this as these are the factors that will count either for or against you in applying for residence in any of the 3 countries I mentioned. I would definitely advise against trying for the US unless you enter and win the diversity lottery as their immigration requirements are really very strict.

Like I said before, Stuur vir my 'n privaat boodskap en ek sal help waar ek kan.

My partner and I are back together..for three weeks now. His new "love" ditched him or so I understand. He says he doesn't understand why he felt he needed a new partner as he want to live celibate.

Anyway, it's going ok with us now. I still check him out with a hawk's eye.

P.S. I still want to immigrate to New Zealand. I'm trying to convince my partner to do the same. South Africa is going down again. I don't want to be here when it turns into another Syria.

OK, regarding my gastric bypass surgery. Before the surgery can be performed, I have to visit quite a few doctors who perform their particular tests on me to ascertain if I not only qualify for such a surgery, but also if my body is capable to undergo a Laparoscopic Procedure.

I already visited:

a) The Dietitian (She will instruct me on my diet 2 weeks pre-op until 2 months post-op.)

b) The Psychiatrist (He ascertains whether I am mentally strong enough for the surgery)

c) Sonar scans of my organs (Everything is normal except for a fatty liver and some small gall stones)

d) Blood test (about 10 types of tests)

e) The Anaesthesiologist (Uh...you know. He makes sure I will be ok to put to sleep)

I must still visit:

a) The Endocrinologist (I still don't understand why I must see him)

b) Endoscope (Camera into my stomach)

These doctors cost me a fortune so far. The whole Gastric Bypass experience will cost me around $10 900. My medical insurance will cover 80% of the cost. I must pay the rest out of my pocket.

I hope to get this procedure done before Christmas. I should then be cured of diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea...AND of course...loose 40Kg (88 pounds) in weight.

Can't wait!

Good luck.

What bothers me about this surgery, is that I've know 5 unrelated people in this town who had it - and all of them died of colon cancer within 3 years of it.

Paolo wrote: Fri Nov 28, 2014 11:04 am Good luck.

What bothers me about this surgery, is that I've know 5 unrelated people in this town who had it - and all of them died of colon cancer within 3 years of it.

Oh now I can relax. Thanks a lot Paolo!:)

Isn't Paolo just a ray of sunshine? --FLO--

A friend had this surgery and several co-workers. You still need to watch your diet as the pouch can stretch and you can still gain weight. Cindy is plagued with having to have the opening of her stomach dilated periodically when she begins to vomit while eating. Carnie Wilson a singer did return to her original size after the weight loss. Many struggle with large amounts of sagging skin after drastic weight loss and require cosmetic surgery. Think about quality of life vs. quantity of size.

Gentlemen...how 'bout some positive input...damn! Keep this up and I'm going to cancel the op.