Life isn't so bad

Scrib · February 07, 2009, 07:31:41 AM

For those of you that know my history, this will come as no big surprise...

We had another break-in at home. That's the second time in just a few months. Like last time, they didn't take much but they got Mrs Scrib's laptop (with all her work data) AGAIN. Last time, insurance wouldn't pay out because we didn't have burglar bars over the little window above the front door, their route in. We spent thousands on a new security gate to sort out that problem, so the thieves forced a window this time and simply BENT the metal burglar bars back.

Somebody please tell me that our US Visa appilcation will come through one of these years...

EDIT: Changed the topic to something not so negative.

Sendiwen · February 07, 2009, 09:07:57 AM

Bah! Sorry to hear about that! Unfortunately there is quite a bit of crime here a well. Better in certain areas though.

Scrib · February 07, 2009, 10:23:48 AM

Thanks, Bahl.

Yeah, can't escape it completely, and I'm sure there are much safer areas in South Africa than where I live (Durban is a huge city), but I can probably give you a list of about 20 crimes that either myself or my immediate family have personally experienced including muggings, multiple car thefts etc. It's extremely disheartening.

Anaris · February 07, 2009, 10:42:41 AM

Oh jeez Scrib!

Yikes, I know I've said this before, but glad that nothing happened to you, your wife, or the little one. I hope you get the visa soon, hopefully it'll be a lot easier under the new Obama administration. Here's sending you good wishes so you and yours can come to the US sooner!

Namae Nai · February 07, 2009, 04:20:28 PM

Ok, it should not take this long for a Visa to get approved.

Who do I have to (get Menemas or Eni to) grease to get the wheels of 'moving Dragnil and family to safety' turning?

I worry about you. $:-\$ All I can say is while I know theft does happen here in certain areas (it's the LA area after all), I've never had anything robbed out of my house, been mugged, and I've never had my car stolen. I even forget to lock the doors some times. I hope you're approved soon, and get to move away from there, because constantly worrying about defending what's yours absolutely sucks.

Scrib · February 07, 2009, 09:53:30 PM

Thanks Namae.

I miss chatting with you, by the way.

PinkRose · February 08, 2009, 09:14:13 AM

Yo Dragnil. I feel for you. I had my car broken into and a laptop stolen last year.
It's no where near having someone in my house. I can't imagine how that is.

You and the family are safe, so that's a blessing.

Hope to have you in the states as soon as possible.

Peace and safety,
Nina

Corsair · February 08, 2009, 10:47:31 AM

Ugh, what a nightmare.....please be safe until you can get out of there eh?

I have thankfully never had worse than the typical car break in and stereo/stuff theft. I have never lived in a place I felt truly as risk for personal or property crime on any day, any time. I did get my pocket picked once traveling when I was younger. I can only imagine how stressful that has to be....

Lyrima · February 09, 2009, 07:38:20 PM

*hugs*

I'm thinking of you

DeeCaudill · February 19, 2009, 05:23:01 PM

You know, I was watching Tsotsi a couple of weeks ago and wondering if that sort of crime was the sort of thing you were dealing with.

Anyway, best wishes!

Scrib · February 22, 2009, 09:21:35 AM

Thanks all. All we can really do is wait, and try to be safe in the meantime. We've added new, stronger burglar bars ourselves, drilled into the wall and welded together. The windows don't look unlike a prison now. We'll probably get an alarm system installed with an armed response security company as well.

I haven't seen Tsotsi, only just read the wikipedia post about it now, so it's hard for me to compare. I'd say that our experiences have mostly involved small-time criminals, probably using street-kids to do their dirty work. These two break-ins seem to be the work of locals, perhaps even someone in our building, who are fully aware of our movements. It seemed quite clear that the second entry was done by the same people, as they went for the laptop without doing as thorough a search as last time. I'm convinced that they've been watching us, and knew that we had replaced the first one. Laptops and cellphones are their chief targets.

Right now I'm hoping that we can get our visas in the next couple of years, before our daughter has to start school proper.

Gwenae · February 23, 2009, 02:04:20 PM

That's awful! I hope they aren't watching you. That has to be horrible. Can you get a camera system and maybe get some evidence that way? There has to be a way to nab them? I don't know what your laws are like over there. I also hope that you can get over here sooner rather than later. I'm pulling for you.

Lyrima · February 24, 2009, 07:10:24 AM

Ok, I've never asked; only gleaned information from your posts.

Where exactly do you live?

In what country is your citizenship?

How about your wife?

Why is it taking so long for you to get into the US?

Anaris · February 24, 2009, 09:49:31 AM

Scrib lives in South Africa. Not sure what city though.

Scrib · March 06, 2009, 06:40:50 AM

We live in Durban, South Africa, on the east coast.

We're both South African but my wife has family that emigrated to the US many years ago. They are now US citizens and her mom sponsored our family category visa application in late 2002. Our wait is actually normal for this category visa, unfortunately. All we can do is wait. According to the current Visa Bulletin, applications from Aug 2000 are being processed.

Gwenae, we have considered CCTV. I should probably look into it further. Right now we're planning to get quotes for an armed response service coupled with an alarm system.

It's not all doom and gloom though. My 3 year old daughter has just put on a new bright pink ballerina-style fairy outfit that my wife couldn't resist buying.

Anaris · March 06, 2009, 09:32:29 AM

...and I know you've got pictures of her in that fairy costume! I want to see! You know where to send them.

Besides the last pictures I have of her are two years old so she's grown quite a bit since then. /nod

Lyrima · March 08, 2009, 05:15:05 AM

ooo! Yes, would LOVE to see pictures.

The answer is probably nothing, but I can't help wondering...is there anything any of us could do to help you become a US citizen..?

Scrib · March 31, 2009, 10:25:15 AM

Haven't got the fairy picture yet, but added a different one to the gallery.

Corsair · March 31, 2009, 09:30:12 PM

What a little cutie you have there!

Anaris · April 01, 2009, 01:18:12 AM

Oh. My. God. Time truly flies.... I remember when she was just the most precious little thing....Now she's a precious little woman! Scrib, Tara's so beautiful! I can't get over how grown up she is now!!! Simply beautiful. And she looks a lot like Charmaine.

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Life isn't so bad