Ilse's letters from 13.2. and 16.2.2004: Hi Rosie You're NOT going to believe this, but I was surfing and on tiring I decided to do a search on my own name - not expecting anything, of course. And suddenly I see your note saying you need a photo and more information!!! At present we're living in The Hague in Holland: I've been here for 2 years, but my husband for approx. 6, so we had a "marriage by email" for quite some time with one of commuting backwards and forwards while the kids were finishing their schooling in Stellenbosch. Both the kids are now also in Europe - despite their resolve to complete their studies in Stellenbosch - and I'm on a creative roll, because I've produced more books in these past 2 years than in previous years. But I actually make money by editing the English (sort of) texts produced by mostly Germans and Finns. And yes, I still regard myself as an Afrikaans and especially as a Stellenbosch writer. Regards Ilse Evertse (nee Steyn) Hi Rosie Well, after my studies I mostly taught English as second language. If I remember correctly I taught for 5 years and then went off to study French at the Sorbonne, but somehow became side-tracked in Holland where I met up with an old Stellenbosch University friend who became my husband very, very soon. We lived in The Hague for 2 years where I wrote a monthly newsletter for the SABC. Thereafter we returned to Stellenbosch. I taught another 2 years, then we bought an old house in Herold Street that we had to restore and Jan went off to work for the University's IT department. Money ran out, I had no job and am a VERY bad housekeeper. So, before boredom sent me through the roof, I started writing. And produced the twins at the stage when other people's kids were off to high school - sigh! Kept quite busy doing a thousand and one things like teaching computer skills to university staff, doing text layouts, translations etc. etc. At last went back to the University and worked for the Sport Science department (they truly needed someone with language skills) with great joy for 3 years, but also started started editing the English texts of foreign students who could - needless to say - not pay me. Luckily Germans have incredibly troublesome consciences and this somehow meant that at one point I was working on a book project for Siemens in München (I still sometimes do) and one German student lead to many German students who, I may add, are at this stage all the "Herrn Professor" but who still need my input (the English varies from almost non-existent to hilariously funny). Then came the Finns (great vocab, but no definite or indefinite articles!) and a few Dutch (great vocab, great grammar, but it's a direct translation from the Dutch!). When my work is REALLY going well, I have people emailing me texts from America, Japan, Switzerland etc., which means that I often end up working really crazy times of the day and night. But I love this! And all of this because once I made two young Germans cook for me because they could not afford to pay for the editing of their theses.... At although at the moment I am once again living in an old, half-renovated house, as a born and bred Stellenbossers I am truly Mrs Edelvrot herself. Stellenbosch is "home" and will always be no matter where in the world I may find myself. In the meanwhile I'm the best thing that has ever happened to Stellenbosch and Afrikaans. Apart from a great consumption of Stellenbosch wines in Den Haag, I managed to inspire 5 young Germans to visit Stellenbosch with me last March and all of them are dying to do so again (thanks to my Stellenbosch friends' unstinting hospitality to visitors who cannot afford expensive lodging). At the moment I have enough ex-pat South African, Dutch and foreign friends who are Afrikaans bedonnerd (yes!) to organise my own Haagse Afrikaanse Fees (die HAF?) if I were to feel the urge. The kids miss Stellenbosch very much and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they land up there again some time after their studies. But they have truly grown as people since they've been forced to learn another language and have to live among "foreigners". The global village has been very kind to the Evertses, but it does mean that no matter where you are, you always seem to miss something or someone very badly! Regards Ilse ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rosie Breuer" To: "Evertse" Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 11:37 PM Subject: Re: From Ilse Evertse > Hello Ilse, > thank you for the information! I am in Bettys Bay tomorrow and will make > your page on Wednesday. > Please tell me a bit more what you did after your studies and when you > lived in Stellenbosch. > Time for bed. > Best regards > Rosie