Tattoo update

I've had my tattoo now for almost 5 months, I forget sometimes that I have it, but, its still pretty... Time to plan the next one ;)

Sent from my BlackBerry®

Just to keep smiling

I heard this song now, and I had to share it!!!

Yoav - Yellowbrite Smile lyrics

Heyah listen to the rumbling sound of a brain moving in reverse

A belly fat with emptiness that cannot ever seem to get enough

I wandered into the temple hall sat with the pretty pigeons all in a row

We've come to hear the oil slick salesman crow go

"Heyah everything's cool my friends why don't you carry on like nothing is happening? Why don't you heyah carry on sleepwalking now now now? Heyah carry on on sleeptalking..."

Happy is a yellowbrite smile

But nobody's home

I can't get it off of my face

And it's starting to ache

Starting to ache

And I'm never alone

So I Climbed to the top of the tall tall tower

To see a man about a shadow seed

He said he'd make me king of everything

As we watched ten thousand flashing screens

And then the poet turned in to advertise him

Under the sweet little Georgia jones

I knocked three times on the side of the glass

And they go: "Heyah everything's cool my friends why don't you carry on like nothing is happening? Why don't you heyah carry on sleepwalking now now now? Heyah carry on on sleeptalking..."

Happy is a yellowbrite smile

But nobody's home

I can't get it off of my face

And it's starting to ache

Starting to ache

And I'm never alone

Happy is a yellowbrite smile

But nobody's home

I can't get it off of my face

And it's starting to ache

Starting to ache

And I'm never alone

Perfect 'n round

Can't get it off of my face

Never alone

Can't get it off of my face

Perfect 'n round

Can't get it off of my face

Never alone

Happy is a yellowbrite smile

But nobody's home

I can't get it off of my face

And it's starting to ache

Starting to ache

And I'm never alone

Never alone

Happy is a yellowbrite smile

But nobody's home

I can't get it off of my face

And it's starting to ache

Starting to ache

And I'm never alone

Never alone

Never alone

Never alone

Never alone

The funniest thing since Mr Bean

We all remember and love Mr Bean, but something new has hit our TV screens. It isn't recent, its been on the air for quite a few years now. Mr Zuma. Jacob Zuma.

It started off with his Lifebuoy advertisement. He slept with a woman who had HIV/AIDS, and his response was that he took a shower after sex. She later sewed him for rape, but he was found not guilty.

Now the most recent news is the famous art work that has the ANC's panties in a knot. The art work is done by Brett Murray, and we owe him a lot for this laugh...

The circus continues in South Africa!

My Personality Type

You Are An ISTP

The Mechanic

You are calm and collected, even in the most difficult of situations.
A person of action and self-direction, you love being independent.
You seem impulsive, surprising, and unpredictable to outsiders.
You are good at understanding how all things work, except for people.

In love, you tend to be very easy going and flexible.
The only thing you can't stand for is someone trying to change you or your life.

At work, you can stay completely calm under pressure. You handle stress well.
You would make an excellent pilot, forensic pathologist, or athlete.

How you see yourself: Logical, flexible, and unconventional.

When other people don't get you, they see you as: Indecisive, flippant, and disrespectful.

Possible Career Paths for the ISTP:

Police and Detective Work
Forensic Pathologists
Computer Programmers, System Analysts
Engineers
Carpenters
Mechanics
Pilots, Drivers, Motorcyclists
Athletes
Entrepreneurs

Crepes

I made crepes. Pannekoek in afrikaans. Here's my mom's trusted recipe.

You will need:

4 Eggs
1.25 Liter Water / 42.3 oz Water
250 ml Sunflower Oil / 8.5 oz Sunflower Oil
50 ml Vinegar / 1.7 oz Vinegar
5 ml Bicarbonate of Soda / 1 Teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda
5 ml Salt / 1 Teaspoon Salt
525 g Cake Flour / 18.5 oz Cake Flour
20 ml Baking Powder / 4 Teaspoons Baking Powder

How to make it:

Whisk the eggs thoroughly.
Add 250 ml (8.8 oz) water, the oil, and the vinegar to the eggs.
Add the bicarbonate of soda, salt, and cake flour while adding the rest of the water.
The baking powder goes in last.

Your first crepe will always be a flop, so, don't worry about it... Use a little bit of oil to cover your pan. Set the stove's heat on 7/8. Pour the excess oil out of the pan. Pour about half a cup of dough onto the pan, moving the pan to cover the surface of the pan with the dough. Each crepe takes about 2-3 minutes.

If you do it right, this mixture makes 30 crepes. I did it wrong, I didn't get that many, mine were too thick.

Still delicious!

Sent from my BlackBerry®

To The Man I Call Dad

This is a healthy way of expressing my frustrations without causing a fight that will end up in self loathing and tears. I'll probably never tell my dad any of this, but I need to get it out.

First off, I'm not a bad person, if you don't like who I am, you should have raised me different. I'm not as useless, lazy, or fat as you say I am. I don't have a degree, but at least I finished high school.

I'm not stupid. I have ambitions. I have dreams. Stop crushing them.

Don't make promises you can't keep. Don't tell me you'll pay for my education and then turn around and say that I can't expect you to pay my education.

Don't push me into doing something that I don't want to do.

Stop moaning. I am very talkative and love talking, and for some reason it always turns into a fight with you.

I have a crappy job, but I love what I do. I have responsibility, and people that look up to me. Its rewarding.

I am not a charity case.

You are not a god.

You are not God's gift to mankind.

You keep telling me that by my age you were married and bought your first house. Well, the bitch left you because she didn't love you, and she's still stalking you, and her one night stand love child thinks you're his dad.

We were both brought up in a poor house. Our parents are dysfunctional. We're both selfish. And we don't like each other very much.

Thank you for all that you've done for me.

You beat me black and blue when I was 16. You hit me against a gate when I was six, making me wet myself, because I couldn't get the key into the hole. I got South African colors in Tae-Kwondo, you never saw me spar in 3 years. The only time you saw me play field hokey was when you we're early to pick me up.

I couldn't become a Police Officer because there were too many black people. I couldn't become a lawyer because I wasn't good enough and I wouldn't get a job. I couldn't become an interior designer because you wouldn't pay for that crap. Now you chose that I would either become a teacher or a nurse. My IQ is probably higher than yours, and just to prove it, I will study for 6 years, move out of the house if you don't like my decision, and pay of the loans with your estate.

Oh, the contradictions in your remarks are beyond obvious. I can't be a Police Officer, but I can be a teacher at a black school, because according to you, that's the only place I can work. Telling me to follow my dreams, crushing them, and then giving me two choices... Are you bipolar?

I actually hope you stumble upon my blog (not that you know how the Internet works), just so you can see what you're doing to me. You are the reason I am this self-destructive, you never built me up enough for me to have a good self image.

I went to psychologists every time you had a problem with me. I had to change myself into a little "Yes Dad, Yes Dad" person or you to like me.

I never grew enough to know myself, so, I had to do it without your modifications. I went to the USA, and I grew. And I swear to God, I will leave without saying good-bye. I am so sick of your pretentious bull crap, that I really don't give a flying fuck anymore.

I'll run away, at 25, because I am still your child, and I'm not allowed to make my own choices, and leave and never come back.

Then you can clear your own dishes from the table, make your own coffee, shout at someone else to bring your cell phone, and not worry about me.

Apparently that's all you do, is worry about me.

You should.

I'm mental. You're mental.

I might just become awesome at doing something horrible.

But at the end of the day, your happiness is all that matters to me. I mean, my life is about you, right? I'm supposed to do everything for you, because you are my number one. You are what I live for, breathe for, oh wait... Scratch that...

No.

My life is about me. I will do whatever the hell I want. If I make mistakes, it's my fault, not yours, and not your imaginary friend in heaven either.

Let me go now, and stop treating your wife, my mother, like shit. Have some decency and respect for once. You're not just destroying me. Love isn't the only thing that keeps relationships going.

Creative Beggar

I saw this today and decided to share it with the world.

My wife is kidnapped my Ninjas, need R10 for karate lesson

He must have internet access or something...

Sent from my BlackBerry®

Labour Day Weekend 2008

My second week in USA it was Labor Day, which means that there's a long holiday. My host family, their friends, and I went to Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina. It was extremely hot, and not that fun. Alisha (my host mom) and I had a discussion about what was required of me on our weekend holiday. I had to help out, but I wasn't working, so it was just out of thanks that I had to help out and keep clean, which I agreed to. I was so excited, I took loads of photos and videos on the drive.

I drove with their friends, the neighbors, Sarit and Mike, and their son Cooper. We got to the house and my host dad, Eric, kept on going on about how creepy the house is... He was right, its a creepy house, but it fascinated me a lot! Take a look:

Ad that was just the outside, you should have seen the inside...

We arrived and then went to the beach. Like I said, it was extremely hot. And there was no shade. The kids were lying under their beach towels for shade. I enjoyed it, I went into the ocean, as deep as I could, and I swam. Then I took the kids in, along with the dad. Eventually everyone joined in. Instead of just playing with sand...

That night we had crab legs, for the first time I didn't like crab. I don't like the hard shell or sucking the nice stuff out. Anyway, after dinner, the men wanted to buy ice-cream. They offered and I said I would like some. Then I was interrupted by the mom.

"I hope you don't expect us to pay for it".

Yes, actually I did. I hadn't been paid yet, had to buy all my toiletries, a phone, clothes, and calling cards to phone my family. I was broke. So, yes, I expected it. Then I declined on the ice-cream, went to bed, and called my friend, Marushca, who was staying in Virginia. Oh, and earlier, before dinner, I was playing with Ethan, he hopped, and got my lip...

The next day we went on a boat with Jolene and Jeff... That was fun, there was no talking, the boat was fast, I loved it!

That afternoon Alisha took me for a talk on the beach, this must have been the tenth talk in a week and a half... I wasn't doing enough... How can I expect people to pay for my food? I don't offer to help... Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I was the one doing dishes, hanging up soggy wet beach clothes and towels, sweeping where the kids ate, and entertaining the kids while they were cooking... This made all that bullshit worth it, its beautiful:

Then, I stole three of Sarit and Mike's cigarettes, took the barbecue lighter, went down to the beach to "take photos", and I did, but I stopped smoking for a week and a half and just got fed up.

I should have left then...

Duke Gardens North Carolina

My first week in USA was spent without my host dad, he was at a conference somewhere. The weekend I got there my host family, our neighbors, and I went to Duke Gardens. It was beautiful. We had delicious chicken wraps for lunch and walked around for hours. I actually like going to botanical gardens, probably because of this experience.

I realized in this first week that Gavin was a special needs child and that Ethan was very bright. Gavin was screaming all the time, it drove me nuts, so, going to Duke Gardens was brilliant, he was so busy I think he only squealed twice.

The first week was the best week I had with this family. Alisha (my host mom) told me that I didn't have to worry about dishes, or laundry, or cleaning, or this or that.

The honey moon period only lasted a few days...

Leaving home for Durham North Carolina

I flew on 19 August 2008 with SAA. Saying good-bye to my family was one of the hardest things I've done in my life. We had lunch at the airport, and I had my last cigarette with my mom, I was going to be an Au Pair and was not allowed to smoke according to rules and regulations of APT Au Pair Work and Travel. Well, I thought I was going to quit anyway...

I cried my eyes out walking all over the airport, realizing that I didn't even have enough money for coffee on the airport. Its a horrible feeling, being broke that is, never mind not being able to contact your family because you have no phone, no money, and there's no one to accompany you.

I remember getting onto the flight, I had the window seat, and an older man sat next to me. He went for a safari somewhere and was returning. Actually, I think he went hunting, he mentioned that he did it once a year.

If you know me, you know that I talk excessively. After about 5 minutes in my seat the man turned to me and said "I hope you're not one of those talkers". I felt ashamed of who I was for some reason and kept to myself the rest of the flight. I even kept in my urge to go to the restroom, afraid that he might say something.

The food was disgusting, a choice between lamb and fish. I don't eat either of those. But I ate out of starvation. Eventually I also got up to go pee, and then, something even more terrifying happened. I did not know how the taps work on airplanes. I couldn't wash my hands. And then I got lady problems as well. Awesome, hey?

We landed on Dakar for an hour, waiting for people to get off and new ones to get on. Real African people too, carrying large plastic bags, about 4 times the size of regular hand luggage. The place was cramped. And people aren't allowed to stand up in that time, you have to wait until the plane takes off and the "fasten seat belt" sign is switched off.

The plane then took us to Washington DC in Virginia, where, if I remember correctly, I had a 3 hour lay over, just to fly 20 minutes to Raleigh North Carolina.

I then experienced the second worst pain in my life. My feet were swollen up about 4 times they're normal size, my toes weren't touching the ground as I walked, and I got excruciating stinging pains in my feet and legs. That's what happens if you don't walk enough during a flight.

Thanks asshole! If you didn't tell me not to talk, I would have moved more.

Lesson learnt, don't sit at the window.

I eventually got to Raleigh, walking with my overloaded bags. My hand luggage had story books in for the kids, and it felt like the bag, along with my shoulder was on breaking point. I had two large bags with wheels, luckily, but my feet hurt so bad, I still couldn't walk properly.

Alisha, my host mom greeted me at the exit. She was friendly, taking most of my luggage of my hands, asking me how the flight was, and worrying about my swollen feet. She is a doctor, and she thought that I might have gotten blood clots, so, she gave me aspirin to thin my blood. We got home, she showed me the house, I got myself a glass of water as the agency told me, the sooner you do things for yourself, the better, you feel at home more easily.

I still remember the smell of they're house. I can never forget that smell.

Alisha gave me an option to take a nap, and I took it.

And that was the beginning...

My 16 month life in USA

I have decided that it is time to write about my adventures in America, slowly but surely getting all of it out of my system, and having the memories where they should be, somewhere else...

I went to Durham, North Carolina on 20 August 2008. I lived there for 8 months, and then moved to Boise, Idaho, also for 8 months, and then came back to South Africa 25 December 2009.

That's me, Mommy and my sister.

The rest will still come, I did a lot in 16 months, I traveled a lot, and did a lot of stupid things.

The Philosophy of Ambiguity

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE PHILOSOPHY OF AMBIGUITY, AS WELL AS THE IDIOSYNCRASIES OF ENGLISH:

1. DON'T SWEAT THE PETTY THINGS AND DON'T PET THE SWEATY THINGS.

2. ONE TEQUILA, TWO TEQUILA, THREE TEQUILA, FLOOR.

3. ATHEISM IS A NON-PROPHET ORGANIZATION.

4. IF MAN EVOLVED FROM MONKEYS AND APES, WHY DO WE STILL HAVE MONKEYS AND APES?

5. THE MAIN REASON THAT SANTA IS SO JOLLY IS BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHERE ALL THE BAD GIRLS LIVE.

6. I WENT TO A BOOKSTORE AND ASKED THE SALESWOMAN, "WHERE'S THE SELF- HELP SECTION?" SHE SAID IF SHE TOLD ME, IT WOULD DEFEAT THE PURPOSE.

7. WHAT IF THERE WERE NO HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS?

8. IF A DEAF CHILD SIGNS SWEAR WORDS, DOES HIS MOTHER WASH HIS HANDS WITH SOAP?

9. IF SOMEONE WITH MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES THREATENS TO KILL HIMSELF, IS IT CONSIDERED A HOSTAGE SITUATION?

10. IS THERE ANOTHER WORD FOR SYNONYM?

11. WHERE DO FOREST RANGERS GO TO "GET AWAY FROM IT ALL?"

12. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU SEE AN ENDANGERED ANIMAL EATING AN ENDANGERED PLANT?

13. IF A PARSLEY FARMER IS SUED, CAN THEY GARNISH HIS WAGES?

14. WOULD A FLY WITHOUT WINGS BE CALLED A WALK?

15. WHY DO THEY LOCK PETROL STATION BATHROOMS? ARE THEY AFRAID SOMEONE WILL CLEAN THEM?

16. IF A TURTLE DOESN'T HAVE A SHELL, IS HE HOMELESS OR NAKED?

17. CAN VEGETARIANS EAT ANIMAL CRACKERS?

18. IF THE POLICE ARREST A MIME, DO THEY TELL HIM HE HAS THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT?

19. WHY DO THEY PUT BRAILLE ON THE DRIVE-THROUGH BANK MACHINES?

20. HOW DO THEY GET DEER TO CROSS THE ROAD ONLY AT THOSE YELLOW ROAD SIGNS?

21. WHAT WAS THE BEST THING BEFORE SLICED BREAD?

22. ONE NICE THING ABOUT EGOTISTS : THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE.

23.. DOES THE LITTLE MERMAID WEAR AN ALGEBRA?

24. DO INFANTS ENJOY INFANCY AS MUCH AS ADULTS ENJOY ADULTERY?

25. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A CIVIL WAR?

26. IF ONE SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMER DROWNS, DO THE REST DROWN TOO?

27. IF YOU ATE BOTH PASTA AND ANTIPASTO, WOULD YOU STILL BE HUNGRY?

28. IF YOU TRY TO FAIL, AND SUCCEED, WHICH HAVE YOU DONE?

29. WHOSE CRUEL IDEA WAS IT FOR THE WORD 'LISP' TO HAVE 'S' IN IT?

30. WHY ARE HAEMORRHOIDS CALLED "HAEMORRHOIDS" INSTEAD OF "ASTEROIDS"?

31. WHY IS IT CALLED TOURIST SEASON IF WE CAN'T SHOOT AT THEM?

32. WHY IS THERE AN EXPIRATION DATE ON SOUR CREAM?

33. IF YOU SPIN AN ORIENTAL PERSON IN A CIRCLE THREE TIMES, DO THEY BECOME DISORIENTED?

34. CAN AN ATHEIST GET INSURANCE AGAINST ACTS OF GOD?

Christmas gone wrong

Because I'm excited for Christmas in July this year:

As a joke, my brother used to hang a pair of pantie hose over his fireplace before Christmas. He said all he wanted was for Santa to fill them. What they say about Santa checking the list twice must be true because every Christmas morning, although Jay's kids' stockings were overflowed, his poor pantyhose hung sadly empty.

One year I decided to make his dream come true. I put on sunglasses and went in search of an inflatable love doll. They don't sell those things at Wall-Mart. I had to go to an adult bookstore downtown. If you've never been in an X-rated store, don't go. You'll only confuse yourself. I was there an hour saying things like, "What does this do?" "You're kidding me!" "Who would buy that?" Finally, I made it to the inflatable doll section. I wanted to buy a standard, uncomplicated doll that could also substitute as a passenger in my truck so I could use the car pool lane during rush hour. Finding what I wanted was difficult. Love dolls come in many different models. The top of the line, according to the side of the box, could do things I'd only seen in a book on animal husbandry. I settled for 'Lovable Louise." She was at the bottom of the price scale. To call Louise a "doll" took a huge leap of imagination.

On Christmas Eve, with the help of an old bicycle pump, Louise came to life. My sister-in-law was in on the plan and let me in during the wee morning hours, long after Santa had come and gone, I filled the dangling pantyhose with Louise's pliant legs and bottom. I also ate some cookies and drank what remained of a glass of milk on a nearby tray. I went home, and giggled for a couple of hours. The next morning my brother called to say that Santa had been to his house and left a present that had made him VERY happy but had left the dog confused. She would bark, start to walk away, then come back and bark some more.

We all agreed that Louise should remain in her pantie hose so the rest of the family could admire her when they came over for the traditional Christmas dinner. My grandmother noticed Louise the moment she walked in the door. "What the h#ll is that?" she asked. My brother quickly explained, "It's a doll." "Who would play with something like that?" Granny snapped. I had several candidates in mind, but kept my mouth shut. "Where are her clothes?" Granny continued. "Boy, that turkey sure smells nice, Gran," Jay said, trying to steer her into the dining room. But Granny was relentless. "Why doesn't she have any teeth?" Again, I could have answered, but why would I? It was Christmas and no one wanted to ride in the back of the ambulance saying,"Hang on Granny! Hang on!" My grandfather, a delightful old man with poor eyesight, sidled up to me and said, " Hey, who's the naked gal by the fireplace?" I told him she was Jay's friend.

A few minutes later I noticed Grandpa by the mantel, talking to Louise. Not just talking, but actually flirting. It was then that we realized this might be Grandpa's last Christmas at home.

The dinner went well. We made the usual small talk about who had died, who was dying, and who should be killed, when suddenly Louise made a noise that sounded a lot like my father in the bathroom in the morning. Then she lurched from the pantie hose, flew around the room twice, and fell in a heap in front of the sofa. The cat screamed. I passed cranberry sauce through my nose, and Grandpa ran across the room, fell to his knees, and began administering mouth to mouth resuscitation. My brother fell back over his chair and wet his pants and Granny threw down her napkin, stomped out of the room, and sat in the car.

It was indeed a Christmas to treasure and remember.

Later in my brother's garage, we conducted a thorough examination and found the cause of Louise's collapse. We discovered that Louise had suffered from a hot amber to the back of her right thigh. Fortunately, thanks to a wonder drug called duct tape, we restored her to perfect health. Louise went on to star in several bachelor party movies. I think Grandpa still calls her whenever he can get out of the house.

Au Pair Work and Travel (Go Au Pair)

I'm still cleaning out my e-mails, and I stumbled on a sore subject, something I will never forget. I have learnt my lessons in life. This is about my crappy Au Pair family I had in Durham North Carolina... This is mommy dearest, DR. Alisha Benner. I swear she was put on earth to make other people's life hell:

This is the e-mails I sent to my agency just before I left Durham North Carolina to go to Boise Idaho.

Hi!

Yes I understand, I spoke to the Department of State, they said that Visa's can't be "cancelled". Thank you for your concern.

Bye for now,
Anette Snyman


From: Meghan Ramirez
To: Anette Snyman
Cc: Au Pair Travel
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 5:08:14 PM
Subject: RE: Transition Process

Hi Anette,

Thanks for letting me know. I want to make sure that you understand that if you go leave the Benner family to go anywhere but back to South Africa or to another Host Family with goAUPAIR, your Au Pair visa will be cancelled, you will lose your security deposit and the amount you paid for your airfare back to South Africa.

Take care,

Meghan Ramirez
Placement Coordinator
goAUPAIR

Congratulations to Daniel from South Africa!
2009 IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award Finalist! - Read his story
In celebration of his achievement...
Families matching with an Au Pair from South Africa receive $500 off!

mramirez@goaupair.com | 800.937.6264. | 801.255.7782 Fax
151 East 6100 South, Suite 200 | Murray, UT | 84107
=================================

To provide feedback on our customer service, please email feedback@goaupair.com


From: Anette Snyman [mailto:anettesnyman@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 1:55 PM
To: Meghan Ramirez
Subject: Re: Transition Process

Hi Meghan

No, the family is not with goaupair.... We are going to get me a student visa, and I will be studying full time. I started advertising myself on the internet in January, when I wanted to give notice, so the family and I have been talking for 3 months now.

Thank you very much.

Bye for now,
Anette Snyman


From: Meghan Ramirez
To: Anette Snyman
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 2:00:26 PM
Subject: RE: Transition Process

Hi Anette,

Thank you for being so detailed. I will keep the details of your email confidential.

We are still working to find you a new family, you said that you have found a family on another website? Are they going to sign up with goAUPAIR? Let me know if they would like someone from our office to contact them to discuss matching with you.

I will let you know if I have any further questions.

Hang in there,

Meghan Ramirez
Placement Coordinator
goAUPAIR

Congratulations to Daniel from South Africa!
2009 IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award Finalist! - Read his story
In celebration of his achievement...
Families matching with an Au Pair from South Africa receive $500 off!

mramirez@goaupair.com | 800.937.6264. | 801.255.7782 Fax
151 East 6100 South, Suite 200 | Murray, UT | 84107
=================================

To provide feedback on our customer service, please email feedback@goaupair.com


From: Anette Snyman [mailto:anettesnyman@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 9:56 AM
To: Meghan Ramirez
Subject: Re: Transition Process

Hi Meghan

I apologize, but this is going to be a very long e-mail, I feel the need to explain a little more about the situation I'm in. Please let this e-mail stay between you and me.

I'm good, at the moment, not great, but I'll survive... Things in the house are very tense. On Tuesday, the only words that were spoken to me from Alisha was "Bye Anette", on Wednesday the only words were "Good morning", and then Wednesday afternoon, Alisha came in and ignored me, I said "hi", and then I said that Gavin didn't urinate for 7 hours, and he needed to sit on the potty until he went, she put on a fake smile and walked passed me... We were in the same room for an hour and a half, she didn't talk to me, there was no eye-contact, and she avoided me, so, I went to a friend's house.. This morning, she said good-bye, and just this afternoon she asked me when the last time was that Gavin sat on the potty, and she informed me that I am working Friday and Saturday night.

I have been contacted by a few families, but they are all on websites that I advertised. I think I might have found a family...

With regards to:

"
Alisha told me that Eric caught you smoking on their back porch a couple of weeks ago, is that correct? She also told me that Eric talked to you about it then. Did you agree not to smoke again when he confronted you?
"

Yes, it's true. Well, we didn't really talk about it... He came back from work, and saw me, then he asked me "were you smoking?" and I said "yes", then he said that he's known for a while that I smoke, and then he said he was going to sleep, he turned around and went to their bedroom. He didn't say that I had to stop smoking, and I also didn't say that I was going to stop smoking, that wasn't discussed.....

"
Are you cooking dinner for anyone other than yourself and the children? Do the host parents tell you to make dinner for them when they are running late?
"

Yes, in my duty list (which I will type for you down the line), I am supposed to cook dinner for the family twice a week. They never asked me to cook when they are running late, I just did that by myself. If I don't, the children go to bed to late, and they are hungry by dinner time. So, I do it to make it easier for the family, kids and parents.

"
You said that Alisha is telling you you can not leave until the house is clean. Has the host family asked you to clean all the other rooms or are you just doing it because you feel like you need to? What exactly do you do when you are cleaning the dining room, kitchen, living room, etc?
"

I am supposed to keep the "common areas" clean, also in my duty list... I will answer this in full, down the line...

"
When you gave notice on Monday, was it a mutual agreement between you and Alisha, or did you tell her that you were giving notice? Did you talk with her about any of the things that you have told me, or about why you have decided to give notice?
"

It was a mutual agreement, she asked me why I didn't go out of the house on her off days, and I turned around and gave a little laugh, she asked me what that was about, and I told her "I can't do this anymore", and she said "FINE, WE'LL FIND SOMEONE ELSE", and I said "good, I'll let the agency know that I gave notice". No, I haven't spoken to her, as I explained at the beginning, I am being ignored, and not spoken to, and I just feel that if she doesn't want to talk to me, I'm not going to make an effort. She's in her 30's, she is supposed to be much more mature than me, I don't know if it's because she's pregnant or if this is just how she is, but ignoring someone because your angry with them just seems a little childish. I've been ignored for 3 days now, so I try to stay out of the house as much as possible, otherwise I'm just going to sit in my room and feel sorry for myself, there's no reason for me to be home, specially if Alisha is going to act this way towards me.

OK, as promised: the duty list (I don't have it on e-mail, so I'll type everything, afterwards I'll tell you more)

-----------------------------

Anette's Responsibilities and Daily Schedule

Monday - Friday Daily (during the school year)
7:10 Check weather for the day and prepare appropriate clothes given the temperature and chance of rain
7:15 Wake up kids (Ethan up at 6 am on the days I am taking him to school before work)
Kids both on potty
Kids dressed, doing as much or all of it themselves
Kids help making beds
7:30 Downstairs for breakfast - Gavin listens to his music for 20 min
7:55 Kids help clear the table
8:00 Gavin sits on potty again
8:05 Kids upstairs brushing teeth, getting shoes and coats on
8:15 Ethan leaves with me for school
8:25 Gavin leaves with you for school
Return home and clean up breakfast dishes and wipe off table, plan art project(s) for the day/week/weekend, clean your room/make your bed, make lunches for the next day
FREE TIME UNTIL 2:00
2:00 Gavin home, sits on potty as often as appropriate
2:15 Gavin's work time, listens to music
4:00 Ethan home, art project time

Once or Twice Weekly (more often as appropriate)
Kids' laundry, bedding and towels in both their and our bathrooms - please make sure to inspect and stain treat all of the stained clothes. Do not dry them in the dryer until the stains are completely removed
***Please make sure you clean out the dryer lint after each load in the dryer, it makes the dryer much less efficient and increases our electricity bills if you don't
Clean potty seats with antibacterial spray three times a week
Clean up playroom
Clean up your/boys bathroom and empty trash
Refill diapers
Take out dirty diaper bag
Plan healthy, home-cooked and kid-friendly meals from one of my recipe books or the Internet for the family, please give me the ingredient list by Sunday morning
Run and empty dishwasher

On the weekends that you are working or on the days the kids are at home from school
Plan several days ahead the activities for the day, at least two art projects and two planned games or activities per day. Let's discuss them ahead of time to make sure we have all needed supplies
The kids should not be watching any television or playing on the computer
If it's warm enough, go to park
Please have a positive attitude about the days the children are home with you for the day. If the children are home due to illness, please be extra kind, even when they are hard to handle.

At all times
Make efforts to keep the house tidy in all common areas
Turn off all unnecessary lights and turn the thermostat down during the day to 70 degrees
Be entirely responsible for maintaining the red car (oil changes, alert us immediately to potential car issues, air in all tires)
Be respectful of our need for quiet and private time. When we have a day off, we like to have some time alone in the house.
Help maintain the grocery list
Keep open lines of communication
Discuss problems early and openly
Respect our privacy. Our family life and our children's development should never, under any circumstances, be discussed outside of our family with the exception of the children's teachers and therapists.

-----------------------------

OK, now to elaborate...

The "free-time" on my schedule is not free time. This is the time where I have to clean and do all my duties. According to Alisha, it only takes 30 minutes. I spend an hour, to an hour and 30 minutes, and she can't understand that...

When cleaning the kitchen, I spray and wipe off all the surfaces (I have to, because Alisha came home one day, wiped her finger on a counter - where Eric made his dinner - and she said that I should feel it, it wasn't clean, and her words to me was "make sure you scrub this, until it's clean"), I also arrange all their paperwork (put it in neat piles, because it's all over the place), take out trash and recycling, and I am responsible for all the dishes, not just the kids'. Alisha told me at the beginning that the majority of the dishes are mine and the kids' anyway, so, I am responsible for that. If they make food, they'll wash the pots and stuff, but they leave it in the sink, for me to put it away. Alisha doesn't like dishes in the sink, so that always has to be clean. I clean up after them every morning where they make coffee, they always spill and they leave the sweetener papers on the counter. They will also leave pots and pans from the weekend in the sink, for me to put away. I've also come home on Sunday nights (off weekend) and find that the counters haven't been wiped at all. The parents leave food open, and lying around, that I have to put away, etc. They leave cans of soda on the counters, that I have to clean up. Out of my own, because I couldn't stand the stench anymore, I cleaned out the whole fridge. Threw away old food, then took the "drawers" out, and washed all of it! Alisha was very thankful.

When cleaning the dining room, I just spray and wipe the table and chairs, if the kids spilled or made a mess, I mop and sweep. My problem is, the past few weeks, neither Alisha or Eric wipes the table after dinner (when I'm off - and sometimes this happens on weekends as well), and Alisha has been very nasty to me a few times, because the table was dirty. But I'm not supposed to clean up after them!

When cleaning the living room, I clean up after Eric a lot. I put the pillows and the blanket away, set the train table, put all the toys away, fill up the diaper basket, wash the towels we use to change Gavin's diapers. Arrange the cabinet with the puzzles and games in it. The parents leave the TV remotes, DVD bag, dirty dishes, clothes, half-empty-beer-bottles and cans of soda lying around in the living room. And I AM supposed to clean it up, because I've been told numerous times that it's a common area, and I am responsible for keeping the common areas clean. Out of my own, I've washed the blanket and pillows, because it smelt like urine. They still don't know that I wash it from time to time, it's just disgusting.

When cleaning the stuff in their bathroom, I just fill up the diapers, and wash the kids' towels. The kids' laundry is also in their bathroom, so I wash the kids' laundry. I do ALL the kids' laundry, it's happened a few times that there's a few items of the boys' clothing in the washing machine, because One of them had an accident or something. Alisha would do laundry, and leave the boys' laundry for me, either on the drawer in the bedroom, or in the laundry room. I know it's my job, but if she does something half way, can't she finish it? I counted the last time, it was 2 pairs of pants, 1 shirt, 3 pairs of underwear, and a pair of socks... They just don't help out with house work at all, they leave everything to me, they are abusing the situation. They can sit back and relax, because they know I'll clean up... I am being exploited.

When cleaning the bedrooms, it's not that much. Make the beds, put the books away, organize the drawers and closets. There was just the one time where Alisha took out 3 bags of new clothing for the boys, I had to take all the tags off, and wash all of it, before putting it away with the other clothes. I did 4 loads of laundry that day. And in the bedrooms I also have to clean up after the parents. They will leave kids' clothes on the floor, books and toys lying around, and I have to clean it, because they won't.

With the bathrooms, I basically clean up the kids' books and toys, wash the towels, and wash the potty seats. I've also had to wash the carpets, because Gavin urinated on it, then I also had to mop... And even in these tiny spaces, Alisha and Eric leave everything for me to clean up. I pick up books and stickers every time I go in there, even if I'm off. I understand it's my bathroom and I'm responsible for it, but I've also come home after an off weekend and had to pick up lots of books, left on the floor, and toys left in the sink, urine on the toilet seat, toothpaste everywhere, towels and cloths on the floor...

They don't clean the playroom at all, that's all me. Even if friends with children come over, I clean it.

Out of my own:
I feed the animals when they forget, or ask me to. I've sticky taped the boys' books together. Wash things that are dirty (like the blanket and pillows), toys, and even the sofas in the living room, it's always full of dog hair, and I think someone is spilling drinks or something, it's gross. I am not lazy, I take initiative.

Alisha has critisized my clothes (it's not professional enough), my friends and family back home (they'r not good enough or stupid or something), and the food that I eat. I eat mashed potatoes and ketchup, she threw such a hissy fit the other day, because Ethan saw me eat it, and he also wanted it. She told me that it's not an American thing, and it's a very big no-no, it's going to mess Ethan up socially, etc.

Alisha and Eric knew that I was Christian, and I knew that they were atheists before I got here. But if I had known that they were going to walk around saying "Oh my God", "Oh Jesus", and even "fuck Jesus", I would've never came here. Alisha can go on about them not getting any respect from me, but I've never disrespected them. Alisha is rude, and treats me like an idiot, I get taken for granted, my morals and values get taken for granted, and Alisha bases my happiness on having a car, and having a TV. She's told me in the past "I don't understand why your unhappy, we gave you a car..."

I told het in January, it's not that I'm unhappy, but I'm not happy. I told her that we never sit together for dinner "as a family", they just let me be, we only eat together if I'm in the kitchen during dinner time. She turned around and said that I said she can't maintain a family, and she said that I said their family is shit. My words are being twisted, and I'm always the bad guy. I never ask for anything, just to go out with friends, and sometimes food. But I'm not allowed to be happy, I'm supposed to work like a slave, because it's in my contract...

Speaking about my contract... You probably still have the Benner family's portfolio. I am going to say this again... I never knew that Gavin was a special needs child. The "letter to Au pair" says: "Gavin is quieter, more introspective. While more introspective, you cannot find a more affectionate little boy. He loves to sit with you and snuggle under a blanket. He loves music and working with colors while drawing and painting. He is fascinated by animals and loves to collect them. As a result of premature birth, Gavin is speech-delayed and attends speech and occupational therapy classes through his school. He has been making great progress."

Never did they mention that I would be doing speech and occupational therapy, they never mentioned that he is special needs (it's also not on the paperwork), or that he has sensory issues. The school told me that he is autistic, Alisha denies this. According to her nothings wrong, I think she's in denial. It was never mentioned that Gavin isn't potty-trained. I am also not trained to do speech or occupational therapy.

My working hours also aren't correct, some weeks I don't get my 1 day off. The schedule on the working agreement says that I'll be off every weekend, but in the letter to Au Pair it says that I'll have to work the "occasional" weekend. This is incorrect, I work most weekends. And then there were a few occasions where I made plans, and couldn't go, because Alisha told me I was working, at the last minute. Like my birthday party. We organised everything 3 weeks before hand, and the morning before the party, she told me I was working, and shouldn't make plans. I told her that I have plans, she interrupted me before I could explain, and said that she'll only be back by 11:30. "I thought I made it clear that you were working...", but she never said anything.

With regards to the smoking, I am not going to try and make it seem that it was OK to smoke, I'm just going to explain why I did it. I hadn't smoked for a long time before I came to the US, I started smoking when I was 15, because I got anxiety attacks, and I felt that it was helping me, my parents felt the same way and even bought my sigarettes for me. Not that they were happy with the descision. I stopped smoking 4/5 years later. And haven't had many anxiety attacks for many years, and then I got all of these problems from Alisha, one of my best friends got shot in the chest at home, my grandad died, my uncle (godfather) went in for back surgery and his lungs collapsed (almost died), and my sister's best friend died. I got home sick, depressed, and then started getting anxiety attacks again. So, the cycle started again... It's not right that I smoke, but thats the only way I know to calm myself down. My parents aren't here to talk to me, they're the only ones that know what I go through, they've always been there when I got my attacks, even when I didn't live at home, I got in the car in the middle of the night, woke them up, and slept in their bed. I've been getting 3-6 anxiety attacks these past 5 months, and then with all my stress, I still need to put up with Alisha's rudeness, sarcasm, and her selfishness of "me, me, me, I, I, I..."

All the other things I wanted, I couldn't have (that I asked for, from Alisha). My mom wasn't allowed to visit, I wasn't allowed to got to DC for 1 day to go and vote (very very very important election), and I wasn't allowed to take a college course on Wednesday night, because Alisha wanted to go to the gym on those nights, but she never did. She also said that only Tuesday and Thursday nights are my nights off. And then she got mad one day and tried to take away my off nights.

At the end of this month I am also supposed to get out of the house for 5 days, the grandparents are coming to visit, and they'll be sleeping in my room. I told Natalia that I offered my room, I think I wrote it to you previously, but this is actually not the case... I was told to get out of the house. But don't worry, I have family friends where I can stay. Please don't mention it to Alisha or Eric, my life at the moment is already a nightmare, after I gave notice, I don't want to make it worse, I just want to get it over with.

I found a family, I will be leaving on 31 May, that is the date I gave Alisha.
Please let me know if there's something else you need to know...


Bye for now,
Anette Snyman


From: Meghan Ramirez
To: Anette Snyman
Sent: Thursday, April 9, 2009 9:25:46 AM
Subject: RE: Transition Process

Hi Anette,
How are you? How are things at the Benner house going? Have you been contacted by any new Host Families yet?

Alisha has brought some things up that I need to discuss with you. Would you please answer as soon as possible?

Alisha told me that Eric caught you smoking on their back porch a couple of weeks ago, is that correct? She also told me that Eric talked to you about it then. Did you agree not to smoke again when he confronted you?

Are you cooking dinner for anyone other than yourself and the children? Do the host parents tell you to make dinner for them when they are running late?

You said that Alisha is telling you you can not leave until the house is clean. Has the host family asked you to clean all the other rooms or are you just doing it because you feel like you need to? What exactly do you do when you are cleaning the dining room, kitchen, living room, etc?

When you gave notice on Monday, was it a mutual agreement between you and Alisha, or did you tell her that you were giving notice? Did you talk with her about any of the things that you have told me, or about why you have decided to give notice?

Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks so much,


Meghan Ramirez
Placement Coordinator
goAUPAIR

Congratulations to Daniel from South Africa!
2009 IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award Finalist! - Read his story
In celebration of his achievement...
Families matching with an Au Pair from South Africa receive $500 off!

mramirez@goaupair.com | 800.937.6264. | 801.255.7782 Fax
151 East 6100 South, Suite 200 | Murray, UT | 84107
=================================

To provide feedback on our customer service, please email feedback@goaupair.com


From: Anette Snyman [mailto:anettesnyman@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 9:30 AM
To: Meghan Ramirez
Subject: Re: Transition Process

Hi Meghan

As requested, here are my reasons for giving notice:

There were problems that started before I even got here. Alisha wanted me to find an insurance company, and apply for insurance for the car that I was going to drive, pay for it monthly, and she would pay me the money back. (Can send you all our e-mails on request). They informed me that Gavin was speech delayed before I got here, and that he was not a special needs child, but I got here, and I had to do speech therapy and occupational therapy. I found out from the school that Gavin is actually autistic. I dealed with it, and kept on going.

In my first month, Alisha had several "talks" with me, about me not doing my job. In my first week she told me that I didn't have to worry about dishes, and dont worry about this and that... And then in my second week we had a "talk" because I didn't do the dishes. I only received my duty list in Febraury (I got here in August), and she added things, that we never discussed before hand, like I had to look for 2 recepies per week, give her the ingredients list before Sunday, and then I had to cook 2 meals a week. I spoke to Natalia, and she said that this wasn't my job to look for recepies and that I wasn't allowed to cook that much, but I was allowed to "help" cook. Also on the list was that I needed to do two art projects with the kids, after school, every day, and plan two games, but we previously agreed on ONE art project a day. When I started doing the art projects, she told me that it wasn't advanced enough, but Gavin is autistic, his motor- and speech skills are very behind, compared to Ethan who can read and write, he knows how to colour inside the lines, and he can cut with scissors, etc. So, it's hard to find a project where both the boys can improve their skills and knowledge.

When I got here, I asked Alisha if my mother could come and visit me, and she said it was fine. Later, I started making arrangements, and I asked Alisha if the dates where correct, and she blew a gasket. She said that I was using them and "how can you expect me to be responsible for a stranger's food and board..." She will say that I asked for 3 weeks, yes, I wanted my mom to come for 3 weeks, but Alisha knew that we wanted to travel, and we have family friends that she would've visited for a week, so, my mom would've only been in the house for a few days, not the full 3 weeks!

She's called me stupid, lazy, and she made me agree that I was a "slacker by heart", because I played with the kids, instead of doing art projects. She's told me that I don't do speech therapy and occupational therapy correctly, but I have no previous experience with special needs children, I have no knowledge about speech therapy or occupational therapy, and I was called lazy again. If Gavin didn't excel in speech therapy, it was my fault. She told me in January that it was my fault that Gavin wasn't potty-trained, although they "tried" to potty-train him with Ethan, and just stopped.

When Alisha gets mad at me, she ignores me, and gives me short answeres, doesn't make eye-contact, and then the next day she'll tell me, I did something wrong. Instead of just telling me right away that I should've done it differently...

If I do something (work-related), she'll tell me how she does it, most of the time, making me feel very dumb. For exmple, I made TOAST the one morning, I was also busy getting they boys' vitamins, drinks, and finishing their lunches. The toaster popped, and she said that I had to put butter on the toast while it's hot, otherwise it becomes gross. LIKE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE TOAST! And there are lots of these cases, with laundry, lunches, making beds, etc. There's always something wrong with the way I do things.

The latest problem is that I need to get out of the house for a few hours on Alisha's days off, because she wants the house to herself, so I feel like I'm "invading their privacy". Just 2 weeks ago I went out for breakfast with other Au Pairs, Alisha got home early, and the house wasn't clean yet, I apologized, and she said that I wasn't allowed to leave the house untill it was clean. Then on Thursday (last week), Alisha had an off day, but that morning, both the boys wet their beds, and I needed to wash their bed linnens, so I took the linnens in the laundry room. There was a toilet carpet, and Gavin's clothes that he urinated on, in the washing mashine. So I wanted to wash the dirty clothes and the carpet first, and then afterwards the linnens. Alisha questioned me 4 times, "but why didn't you put the linnens in the mashine?" I told her the first time that there was pee-pee clothes in the mashine, 2nd: there wasn't enough space, 3: there was a carpet in the mashine, 4: I didn't want to put the WHITE linnens in the mashine with the carpet. Then she accepted it, and told me that I needed to hurry, because she also wanted to do laundry. I told her that I had class, but she can put the linnens on the mashine afterwards, and I'll take care of it when I come back. She agreed. I dropped Gavin off at school, went to the College, just to find out that the class was cancelled, so, I went back home to finish the laundry.

On Monday (the day that I gave notice) Alisha asked me why I was at home on her off day... I was so fed up with having to explain myself for everything, I looked at her, turned around, and laughed. She asked me what that was about, and I told her that I can't do this anymore. She got soooooo angry, she stood up, and said "fine, we'll find someone else".

Natalia knows about this... I am responsible for all the kids breakfasts and lunches (except most weekends and my off days), and when the parents are running late, I make dinner, and sometimes start bath time, which is more than they expect of me. I clean the WHOLE kitchen, informal dining room, living room, downstairs bathroom, upstairs bathroom, playroom, play-area, Gavin's room, Ethan's room, my room, laundry room, and the kids' stuff in the parent's bathroom. The parents are responsible for the formal dining room, study, their bedroom, and their bathroom. I do a lot more than "light house work". Yet I'm called lazy...

My final reasons for wanting to rematch is because Alisha is rude, she expects me to lay down my whole life for her, and do everything for her, and if I want something, I've been called SELFISH. She says that she's only said "no" to me once, and that was when I wanted my mom to come and visit. But thats because I never ask for anything, I only ask if it's OK for me to go out, that's it! And me not going out of the house tells her that I think her "quality of life is less" than mine. Where she got that from still blows my mind.

I am being used as cheap labour, to clean the house and to teach Gavin how to talk. The little rude remarks, bad attitute, and the "I'm better than you, smarter than you"- attitude is getting to me.

She goes on about being sick, and she works so hard, and the host dad leaves everything for her to do, and then she tries to make me feel guilty about her not feeling good.

In January we had a fight, and I told Natalia this too, I was forced to take my 2 weeks leave within the first 5 months of my arrival. I had a week in November, and a week in December. We had a huge fight about this, and I had complained about it several times, because I wanted to travel with my mom, later on, and now I had no leave left to travel with her. Alisha said that my mom could come and visit for a WEEKEND, and she would try to give me that weekend off. I also brought up that we don't sit down for dinner as a family (they don't call me, they eat alone, and then I have to make me something later on), and then Alisha said that I said she couldn't run a family, and I said her family was shit. I wanted to give notice then.

You can talk to Natalia, we sat in a restaurant for hours. I was so angry, and so sad, and I wanted to give notice then, and just leave, but I needed to complete my educational requirements, so, I couldn't go anywhere. I cried my heart out for a week, and Alisha didn't give a shit, so, with all this being said, I don't care anymore, I just want to leave.

Hahaha! I just realised how much I wrote, I hope this is what you were looking for.

I want to leave on the 31st of May, haven't discussed it with Alisha yet, I'm being ignored again...
Bye for now,
Anette Snyman


From: Meghan Ramirez
To: "anettesnyman@yahoo.com"
Sent: Monday, April 6, 2009 1:56:57 PM
Subject: Transition Process

Dear Anette,

Because two weeks notice has been given, you will have until 4/20/2009 to match with a new Host Family. If you agree on a later date with your host family, please let me know the date. If you do not match with a new Host Family by the time you must depart the host family's home, you will be required to return to SOUTH AFRICA. You will be responsible for paying the full cost of the flight ticket to SOUTH AFRICA if you return home, and you also will lose your Completion Security Deposit of $500.00.

Your current Host Family is required to pay you your stipend for the next two weeks and also provide you with room and board. You are required to stay with the Host Family and work for the next two weeks if they require you to work. Leaving the family's home at any time before 4/20/2009 must be authorized in advance by the goAUPAIR Corporate Office.

The Host Family is allowed to withhold your last two weeks of your stipend if they think that there may be any unpaid phone bills. The family will then have to send goAUPAIR the bill the stipend was used to pay, and any remaining money, and goAUPAIR will then forward the bill and money to you at your new Host Family.

goAUPAIR is going to begin sending your au pair application out to potential host families to review, and you can expect to start receiving phone calls and emails in the next couple of days. Please make sure to check your email every day and respond promptly to any phone calls or emails that you might get. If a Host Family requests that their profile be sent to you, the Placement Coordinator for that Host Family will send you the profile in an email. Please note that unless your current Host Family approves, you will not be matched with a family in the same area..

If you accept the offer of a new Host Family to become their au pair, and confirm that with goAUPAIR, you are entering into a verbal contract with that new Host Family to go to their home. Please tell any families that might contact you after matching that you have matched with a new family. If you decide that you do not want to go to the family that you have confirmed a match with, you will not be allowed to break the match to go to another family, and you will be required to return to SOUTH AFRICA. Please consider any offers seriously before accepting.

If any of your contact information changes during your two weeks notice period, please inform your Placement Coordinator as soon as possible so that they can update that information in your application.

Please contact your Placement Coordinator if you have any questions.

Kind Regards,

Meghan Ramirez
Placement Coordinator
goAUPAIR

Ways to turn down a man :)

HE : Can I buy you a drink?
SHE : Actually I'd rather have the money.

HE : I'm a photographer. I've been looking for a face like yours.
SHE : I'm a plastic surgeon. I've been looking for a face like yours.

HE : Hi. Didn't we go on a date once? Or was it twice?
SHE : Must've been once. I never make the same mistake twice.

HE : How did you get to be so beautiful?
SHE : I must've been given your share..

HE : Will you go out with me this Saturday?
SHE : Sorry. I'm having a headache this weekend.

HE : Your face must turn a few heads.
SHE : And your face must turn a few stomachs.

HE : Go on ,don't be shy. Ask me out.
SHE : Okay, get out.

HE : I think I could make you very happy.
SHE : Why? Are you leaving?

HE : What would you say if I asked you to marry me?
SHE : Nothing. I can't talk and laugh at the same time.

HE : Can I have your name?
SHE : Why? Don't you already have one?

HE : Shall we go see a movie?
SHE : I've already seen it.

HE : Where have you been all my life?
SHE : Hiding from you.

HE : Haven't I seen you some place before?
SHE : Yes. That's why I don't go there anymore.

HE : Is this seat empty?
SHE : Yes, and this one will be if you sit down..

HE : So, what do you do for a living?
SHE : I'm a female impersonator.

HE : Hey baby, what's your sign?
SHE : Do not enter.

HE : Your body is like a temple.
SHE : Sorry, there are no services today.

HE : If I could see you naked, I'd die happy.
SHE : If I saw you naked, I'd probably die laughing.

I forgot about this... Can't believe I forgot about this...

I wanted to post this. I'm cleaning my out my e-mails, and I really forgot about this. I want to save it. Here it is:

Hi Yvonne, yes I still go there... I can't tell the people I live with that they are wrong...

I'm an Au Pair/ nanny, so, yes, I'm working... Hopefully I'll be back home in the next few months...

I heard that the area you live in has a lot of mormons... met a lady this week that went on her mission in Pietermaritzburg...

It's hard to tell people that everything they believe in is fiction...

Bye for now,
Anette Snyman

From: Mormonism and Biblical Truth
To: Anette Snyman
Sent: Thursday, September 3, 2009 10:59:52 PM
Subject: Re: Why I left...

Hi,

I'm in Howick, which is between Ladysmith and Pietermaritzburg.

Are you still going to the LDS church?

It sounds as though you are good at verbal confrontation.

Are you working?

God bless,
Yvonne.

----- Original Message -----
From: Anette Snyman
To: Mormonism and Biblical Truth
Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 9:20 PM
Subject: Re: Why I left...

Hi

I started the blog... wrote 3 times, and then decided it's going to take to long to go through BOM and question everything... My idea was to take every chapter and discuss it, but that would take more than 200 days. So, I'm not doing that, I'm not really a long term plan person, a few weeks, yes, but not years... That's almost a year.

So, I deleted everything. Now, I'm still thinking about how I'm going to do it... I convinced a Mormon guy this week that his church was false... He served a mission a few years ago, and I told him about JS's false prophecies and hat God has to say about that... and I told him about false prophecies made by other "prophets", like the God is Adam prophecy... Then I told him bout the Archeological problems there are, like food, animals, clothing, warfare, etc... And he was astonished, I told him about how BOM contradicts with PoGP and both of them contradict with D&C... And then I asked him the question, I mentioned it before... "Who is lying JS or Jesus and his desciples?"

He kept quiet and then changed the subject. Hahahaha!

So, I'm in Idaho at the moment, where are you?
Bye for now,
Anette Snyman

From: Mormonism and Biblical Truth
To: Anette Snyman
Sent: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 3:01:18 AM
Subject: Re: Why I left...

Hello Anette,

It was sooo good to hear from you.

I have a lot of relatives in the Transvaal (my dad's family farmed in Krugersdorp originally, and then were in Tzaneen until recently, and I have cousins in Pretoria).

I'm originally from Durban, lived at Kloof, Natal during my marriage (my husband died when I was 49) then I moved back to Durban. I've settled down now in Howick, which is a very Christian town. It's full of churches that are all overflowing, but no LDS church. (They're in Pietermaritzburg.)

I'm a third or fourth generation South African. (Can you believe it, my granny sold Orange Grove in the Transvaal for two shillings and sixpence!)

Both my grandfathers fought in the Boer War, one on each side. My maternal grandfather had a reward on his head, offered by the British (he was in the boer commandoes). So in order to avoid arrest, he had to change his name. And although my paternal grandfather fought for the British, his wife was of Dutch extraction and couldn't speak English. So the British burned down their farm and put her (heavily pregnant) into a concentration camp, where they died like flies, and where my father was born.

It's good to hear your enthusiasm about letting the Mormons know the real truth, just bubbling over. You have what it takes. But it's a difficult ministry, and I've discovered that a great many folk who have been profoundly affected by your testimony and teaching, don't bother to let you know. They just stop going to the LDS.

And then there are those special cases that make it all worth while. One guy who wrote to me a long time ago, was a Christadelphian. He thought Mormonism might be a good idea and wanted me to tell him all about it. But instead I told him all about Jesus. We corresponded just for a couple of months and then he drifted away. Two years later he wrote to thank me, telling me that he was involved in a very deep walk with the Lord, and was a member of a Bible believing church!!!!!

Then another young woman who was brilliant, and was studying law, left the LDS, joined a Baptist church, then a year later gave up the law, and went to Bible College instead, as she'd decided to become a full time missionary. Wow!!!!!

What is really encouraging is the fact that ministries like yours reveal the truth to those who are contemplating joining the LDS, and are just looking around the web for confirmation. Few of those let you know that you have saved them from deception and an eternity of regret. In one instance, however, a young woman at college wrote to me at her Christian mother's insistence, as she was planning to be baptized into Mormonism, and was going to set the date the following day. (She'd been convinced that it was Christianity.) I wrote a hurried response to her, giving her some sketchy details about their doctrine. She sent a strong email back, to say she was going to send those lying missionaries packing, when they came to her door.

I think a blog is a better idea than a website, and I'm sure you're going to be very effective. I don't think I could cope with a blog. How do you go about setting it up?

I've watched some of the videos from the links you gave me and will go through them all.

Regarding your discoveries about the boo boos in the BOM, the LDS has all the excuses needed to counteract those. I don't know if you're aware of their FARMS department, which exists solely to defend their many deceptions and errors. Mormons are indoctrinated so thoroughly that they swallow any load of tripe that is dished out to them, and they suck in everything that FARMS tells them. I've heard some absolutely ridiculous excuses, but what is even more ridiculous is that they actually believe them.

Another problem here is that they gain their testimonies through their own feelings (if you haven't read my article "The Mormon Testimony and Brainwashing," at http://www.bibtruth.com/mtest.html , that explains it very well, and gives as an illustration, a case of one of their missionaries.)

It seems to me that because of their testimony and indoctrination, they subconsciously feel slighted when you try to explain to them that Mormonism is a deception, as deep down inside they feel that they themselves are being attacked, because when push comes to shove it is their feelings that are being questioned. So it's a personal thing. And you know how "self" hates to be dethroned.

Regarding the BOM, Lehi, horses and elephants that didn't exist; Archeologists have pointed out that the many animals that are known to have inhabited the ancient Americas during BOM times, are not mentioned at all in the BOM. Amazing.

The problem is that people generally believe what they want to believe.

Please keep me updated about how your blog is getting on.

God bless, and stay well,
Yvonne.

----- Original Message -----
From: Anette Snyman
To: Mormonism and Biblical Truth
Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 7:43 AM
Subject: Re: Why I left...

Hahahaha!

Yes, I'm from pretoria. Well, thanx for the websites. There's another interesting fact. In BOM they say that Lehi built a temple... According to the Jews, temples are only allowed to be built in Jerusalem... Secondly, BOM states that Lehi's sons worked in the temple and got the authority from Moses. Again, according to the Jews, only direct linear discendants of Aaron were allowed to work in the temple...

Its a great book, very emotional and very descriptive... but, a load of crap...

Fiction.

My dad told me, nothing can seperate us from the love of God, and it's true. We will always find him. As for their apostacy theory, I believe it was Martin Luther that restored the church, and he exposed the Catholic church for what they were.

There's a lot of mistakes in BOM, another being, JS wrote that Lehi saw horses and elephants when they came to the "promised land"... The place were this supposedly took place was the amazon, so, firstly, the first horses got into South America when the Spanish came, second, there are no elephants in North or South America. So, maybe it was then Asia or Africa, but how did the mystical Golden Plates then get to NY? And in BOM they supposedly had huge wars... Thousands of people... Riding with horsecarts, if there were no horses, what did they ride with? Llama's? Then regarding the population, the one war in BOM had over 6 thousand soldiers from the Nephites and over 12 thousand from the Laminites. The BOM says that the people had metal armor, swords, etc. And they also had a coinage system, fine silks and materials, and the people were renouned for their mashineary... No where can skeletons be found of these thousands of soldiers, also not their pyligamist wives, or children... So in account, they were talking about (let's say) 12 000 nephites and 24 000 Laminites. Archeologysts found absolutely no swords or armor or coins anywhere in South America, the people of those times didn't use it... There are also no silkworms or "fine silks" anywhere. Also, how can 10 people (Lehi, his wife, 4 sons, and 4 wives), produce a population of thousands of people within a few decades? Oh, and here's a good one... A prophecy was made in BOM, saying that the Missiah would be born in Jerusalem.

We all know Jesus was born in Bethlehem... Oops!

I asked a mormon, the D&C says that God has a body of flesh and bone, but John the Babtist said God is spirit... Who's not telling the truth? JS or a disciple of Christ himself? all the so called prophets have their own prophecies, none of them are true... The one guy said God was Adam... And then the next one said, that wasn't true... There's the proof... Deutronomy states that if someone comes forward and says he is a prophet from God and makes prophecies, and the DON'T come true, it is a false prophet. Well, there you go! They're all false prophets, following a church that was started by a Free Mason. If you didn't know that part, go google Joseph Smith - Free Mason. They have a lot of stuff (like temple ordinances) that JS put in the church, the same time that the Free Masons started their own ordinances... Dates are the same...

Anyway... Did you watch those videos? that's were I gotmost of my information from...

Talk again.

Oh, where in SA are you from?

Bye for now,
Anette Snyman

From: Mormonism and Biblical Truth
To: Anette Snyman
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 1:21:07 PM
Subject: Re: Why I left...

Hi Anette,

Thanks for your interesting testimony. It just goes to show that once you've been saved, no one can take you out of Christ's hand!

In answer to your question, I'm an old lady now, 73, but have discovered that age doesn't matter when it comes to Christian fellowship, because of the deep bonding in Christ.

I was wondering, because of your name and the fact that you had belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church, if you had come from S.A? (I'm South African.)

Regarding the LDS deception about their so-called priesthood authority, there are two fairly short articles on my website that you might find helpful. They're "The LDS Authority Teaching Has No Basis" and "The LDS Priesthood is Unbiblical." You'll find them by following these links:

http://www.bibtruth.com/autho.html

http://www.bibtruth.com/phood.html

Your drinking coffee gave me a good laugh (I love coffee), and reminded me of an excellent Christian blog called Mormon Coffee, at http://blog.mrm.org/ which is run by Mormon Research Ministry. (Bill McKeever, whose blog it is, is highly respected in Christian circles, and has written quite a few books on Mormonism.)

What is the name of your blog? I'd like to visit.

God bless,
Yvonne.

----- Original Message -----
From: Anette Snyman
To: Mormonism and Biblical Truth
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 10:52 AM
Subject: Re: Why I left...

Yvonne

Thank you for your quick reply.

Well 3 months ago I came to Boise Idaho, 30% of the Christian here are Mormon, not that I think they are Christian... I was introduced to the church and attracted to the friendly faces, and their kind and sincere hearts. On July 19th 2009 I got baptized, not fully believing in the LDS church, God has blessed me with an investigative brain. Well, for one, I didn't believe that God had a body of flesh and bone. I struggled to wrap my mind around the fact that Jesus walked in America, and then there was the lack of evidence around this, except for "pray and ask the Lord if what we said was true". I got baptized, because I am a sinner, and I needed a fresh start, my parents assured me that there is no harm in getting baptized again, as I was brought up in a Dutch Reformed church, basically Luther and Calvin church... I was baptized as a baby. My Bible knowledge is good, not great, but I can distinguish between good and evil, because my parents brought me up with the one and only book of God. And the word was God. John 1.

Anyway, I got on the Internet and I searched for evidence that the LDS church was true, and I cried when I found those videos, and the others that I am yet to send. I thought to myself, "I sold my soul to the Devil, I got baptized in a false church". Now I have the need to get baptized again, by someone who knows wrong from right. There is something else that bothers me tremendously, and that is that LDS preaches about priesthood authority, and that the hands have to be laid upon you, the who gave JS authority? You have to watch those videos and tell me what you think, I'm telling you, God is everywhere, even Youtube.

I've always been a strong believer, when I went to the LDS church, something was itching inside me, the same feeling you get before you tell a lie, or any other sin. Something felt wrong. And then I heard the prophecies of McConkie, and I laughed, and then I heard Hinkley, and I laughed. I felt relieved to know that God did not forsake me, although I was blinded by false prophets.

And I found your website, thank you for being what you are and doing what you do.

And I know that the spirit binds us together, as was promised by Jesus, I can feel the happiness in you knowing that I have been saved from a false church, and I feel the same about you. We both feel sad for those who hold the BOM, D&C, and PoGP closer as we try to help them. Especially because they are good people, they are God's people, being mislead by Satan, who got hold of a teenage boy to do witchcraft, and mislead God's people. For that is all that matters on this earth, who do you believe in? Where's your heart?

See, you might think this is funny, I didn't know about the word of wisdom, when I met the missionaries, I thought I might befriend them, and asked them out for a movie or a cup of coffee. I started drinking coffee again last week, because I wish to oppose all that is LDS. I don't fold my arms when I pray, I don't say Heavenly Father or Eternal Father, I call Him God Almighty, just because Mormons call him that. I know now that Jesus Christ, who died for my sins, never visited America. There was no Nephi or Lehi, or Laminites or Nephites. The videos, I'm going to emphasize, YOU HAVE TO SEE IT, AND IF YOU ARE ALLOWED TO, POST IT ON YOUR WEB PAGE! The videos consist of evidence for the Bible, the people who decided to make the documentary where LDS, I think, some of them anyway. The go into archeology, and they show you how fictional the Book of Mormon is, all LDS people have to see that videos. We need to get missionaries and show it to LDS people, seeing that there are 14 million of them across the globe.

You are allowed to publish all of this on your website, I have nothing to hide, except that I still attend the LDS church, I live with Mormons, they have been good to me these last 3 months, we do it as a "family", and then I sit and grind my teeth in church, I read my Bible to distract me of their lies, to bring me closure. I was not as "brainwashed" as you, but it hurts like hell when you find out you have been misled. I forgive them, like Jesus said... They don't know what they're doing.

So, I also started a blog, which is going to take me forever, just to question everything that is written in all Mormon Doctrine. So much work, I feel like Ruth, I can't keep up, too much work, not enough time, and then we wipe out our eyes, and we're old. I'm only 22, but the work God has instore for me must be a lot, I know too much to sit still and keep quiet.

By the way, how old are you?

Anyway, looks like this is going to be another all-nighter, I have a million things to do, please write back, will write you again.
Bye for now,
Anette Snyman

From: Mormonism and Biblical Truth
To: Anette Snyman
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 11:29:19 PM
Subject: Re: Why I left...

Hello Anette,

Thanks for your kind words, and also for the links. I will follow them up.

Regarding Proverbs 28:26 that you mentioned, I found that scripture particularly useful in my article "The Mormon Testimony and Brainwashing," which you may enjoy reading at this link: http://www.bibtruth.com/mtest.html

I'm looking forward to reading your testimony. It's always good to hear of someone who has risen above Mormonism's very effective indoctrination.

Yvonne Gibbs
MORMONISM AND BIBLICAL TRUTH.

----- Original Message -----
From: Anette Snyman
To: testimony@bibtruth.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 2:20 AM
Subject: Why I left...

I will write you another e-mail, but for now, please go see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYiOc2g0SEE&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w3fVneGCgI&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLkrKw0dAyI&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAma9h018Kc&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlWCmNhkasQ&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T9l6DfBy0g&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzKtLusDZO0&feature=channel

This is a documentary on the History behind the BOM... It really opens ur eyes...

I also want to thank you, your website is extremely helpful.

I also heard something very important, when Jesus hang on the cross, he said "it is finished" - John 19:30

Nowhere has Jesus ever said that he will visit other people, or hoped that the other people might be kind to Him. He is part of the Godhead, and knew what was going to happen, if He was to come to America, he would have prophesiesed it. God doesn't keep secrets, and he also won't leave us in the dark. Also, Mormons believe you should pray and your "feeling" would give you an answer, go read Proverbs 28:26.

The Bible is the only true book from God, with the Torah, as it is the OT.

The video links I gave you takes about an hour and a half to watch through, but it will only confirm that the Mormon church is one of Satan, made to lead God's people away from Him. I have more videos, which confirms what you have written on your website is true:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Derengowski

Go to Derengowski's webpage on youtube, he has all his video's there. I have written to him, and he told me that he is a college teacher of World Religions, he is also Christian.

Have fun with those, it opened my eyes. I will send my story shortly, it's not a big story...

Bye for now,
Anette Snyman