The final decision

It is with great disappointment that I inform all of you that I have lost the battle with the Italian immigration system. As you may know this process started in May of 2010 when I began my hunt to obtain necessary documents for my husband to join me here while I attended school. In November I was informed that due to discriminatory practices on part of the staff at the Cape Town embassy that Gcinisizwe's tourist visa was declined on the basis that he is poor. Sadly being poor is not something he can help being that he grew up under the oppressive and damaging regime of Apartheid in which the black majority had their rights stripped away and were forced to live a life without dignity.

In November I launched an appeal and in January I was granted an immigration lawyer, free of charge because the appeals office could see that we had a strong case, but that we were facing discrimination at the hands of the embassy in South Africa. After many many many months and a lot of stress and frustration our case has been delayed yet again with the Immigration office now requesting even further documentation. I can tell you that they already have a huge stack of documentation which more than convinces anyone that Gcinisizwe is of no risk to Italy and quite frankly this is a lot of silliness for something as harmless as a 90 day tourist visa. We were asked to submit the additional documentation at the next available court hearing which is on June 21st. As you also know I leave the country after July 31st so there is no point in proceeding further with this.

I grew up in a world where everyone was equal, my family was blind to color and where a person came from or the color of their skin was as important to my family as what their eye color was. It was only when I married a man from Sub-Saharan Africa that I truly began to understand the vast discrimination facing the people of Africa (and others). I can see with my own eyes the unequal nature of this world and the more I am faced with adversity the more fire I feel inside to fight against it.

I want you to know that although I am greatly disappointed in this decision and that yet again my own parents cannot meet my husband due to travel visas. Please don't worry, I am ok because deep down inside I knew that this would be the outcome. But at least I can say that I did everything in my power to fight the system.

All the best,

Catherine Robar
Founding Director
The Themba Development Project
www.thembaproject.org

The final decision

It is with great disappointment that I inform all of you that I have lost the battle with the Italian immigration system. As you may know this process started in May of 2010 when I began my hunt to obtain necessary documents for my husband to join me here while I attended school. In November I was informed that due to discriminatory practices on part of the staff at the Cape Town embassy that Gcinisizwe's tourist visa was declined on the basis that he is poor. Sadly being poor is not something he can help being that he grew up under the oppressive and damaging regime of Apartheid in which the black majority had their rights stripped away and were forced to live a life without dignity.

In November I launched an appeal and in January I was granted an immigration lawyer, free of charge because the appeals office could see that we had a strong case, but that we were facing discrimination at the hands of the embassy in South Africa. After many many many months and a lot of stress and frustration our case has been delayed yet again with the Immigration office now requesting even further documentation. I can tell you that they already have a huge stack of documentation which more than convinces anyone that Gcinisizwe is of no risk to Italy and quite frankly this is a lot of silliness for something as harmless as a 90 day tourist visa. We were asked to submit the additional documentation at the next available court hearing which is on June 21st. As you also know I leave the country after July 31st so there is no point in proceeding further with this.

I grew up in a world where everyone was equal, my family was blind to color and where a person came from or the color of their skin was as important to my family as what their eye color was. It was only when I married a man from Sub-Saharan Africa that I truly began to understand the vast discrimination facing the people of Africa (and others). I can see with my own eyes the unequal nature of this world and the more I am faced with adversity the more fire I feel inside to fight against it.

I want you to know that although I am greatly disappointed in this decision and that yet again my own parents cannot meet my husband due to travel visas. Please don't worry, I am ok because deep down inside I knew that this would be the outcome. But at least I can say that I did everything in my power to fight the system.

All the best,

Catherine Robar
Founding Director
The Themba Development Project
www.thembaproject.org

The epicentre of amazing

Well I thought I knew what good gelato was until Jill and I went for a walk in the centre of Rome this evening and stopped at THE best gelateria in all of Rome. The place was crazy, and I mean like ridiculously packed to the point that you swear there must have been 3 buses parked outside in the tiny street where all these people would maybe return after placing their order.

But really though, it is like this all the time in this gelateria because it is the best gelato in Rome! There were two very long counters with every possible flavor that you could ever want and a mosh pit style line to get to the front to place your order.

One third of the gelato counter, there were easily 150
people waiting, despite that the "line" moves quickly!

Italians take gelato very seriously and as a result the staff at this place were dressed to the nine's in their flawless white uniforms, taking orders like they could do it in their sleep. Jill made her way to the front while I held our bags in the back, waiting to provide support when the sweet tasty prize was won. I ordered a cone with three flavors, mint, dark chocolate and nut. As we walked down the tiny ancient alleys eating our icecream I actually at one point stopped walking and leaned against a building so that I could have a special moment with my new tasty friend. I contemplated for a moment going to the court to get a divorce so that I could return and marry my gelato, but when I thought about it further I thought that perhaps it might be difficult to explain in Italian why I was divorcing my lovely Gcinisizwe for the sake of gelato. I am sure the magistrate of course would understand if they ever tried these flavors.

Then of course, in typical magic Roman style we are walking down the alley when all of a sudden this epic pipe organ music begins playing. Inside of an exquisite roman catholic church is a private concert to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the composers death. Don't worry so much about the picture, just close your eyes and enjoy the music.

The epicentre of amazing

Well I thought I knew what good gelato was until Jill and I went for a walk in the centre of Rome this evening and stopped at THE best gelateria in all of Rome. The place was crazy, and I mean like ridiculously packed to the point that you swear there must have been 3 buses parked outside in the tiny street where all these people would maybe return after placing their order.

But really though, it is like this all the time in this gelateria because it is the best gelato in Rome! There were two very long counters with every possible flavor that you could ever want and a mosh pit style line to get to the front to place your order.

One third of the gelato counter, there were easily 150
people waiting, despite that the "line" moves quickly!

Italians take gelato very seriously and as a result the staff at this place were dressed to the nine's in their flawless white uniforms, taking orders like they could do it in their sleep. Jill made her way to the front while I held our bags in the back, waiting to provide support when the sweet tasty prize was won. I ordered a cone with three flavors, mint, dark chocolate and nut. As we walked down the tony ancient alleys eating our icecream I actually at one point stopped walking and leaned against a building so that I could have a special moment with my new tasty friend. I contemplated for a moment going to the court to get a divorce so that I could return and marry my gelato, but when I thought about it further I thought that perhaps it might be difficult to explain in Italian why I was divorcing my lovely Gcinisizwe for the sake of gelato. I am sure the magistrate of course would understand if they ever tried these flavors.

Then of course, in typical magic Roman style we are walking down the alley when all of a sudden this epic pipe organ music begins playing. Inside of an exquisite roman catholic church is a private concert to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the composers death. Don't worry so much about the picture, just close your eyes and enjoy the music.

Happiness comes in blue bags

Reason 462 why I enjoy being in Italy. After a delightful morning buying groceries at the local farmers market with my room mate Roberta, I return home with ONE KILO of spinach for.....one Euro, that's right people, ONE Euro!! I have actually never purchased a kilo of fresh spinach before so I was expecting a handful or something, I am not sure why. I was needless to say, surprised when for only one Euro I left with an entire grocery bag FULL of fresh locally grown spinach.

Oh, and just to add further salt to the wounds of my friends and family in Canada (sorry guys), I am actually on my terrace in March with a tank top and skirt on. In fact I did this in February too but I really didn't want to make anyone feel bad so I kept it to myself. If it makes you feel better, it is 28 degrees in Thembalethu right now, oh how I wish I was at the beach!!

xoxox

Buona Domenica!

I am sitting here in my bedroom studying Human Development and all of a sudden I hear music coming from outside! Only in Rome would I look outdoors and see a two man brass band walking up my street performing for the neighbours! I have to say, Italian people are very creative in their attempts to earn a few dollars and being that I come from the musical hub of Halifax it fills my soul with happiness to hear live music again!

From my fifth floor balcony I wave to the musicians to say thank you for such a lovely performance and am very pleased to see that my attempt to donate a few euro to their cause is successful as my bag of coins arrives safely to the ground without hitting a car!

I won't lie to you, living in Rome is actually not always easy, but it is moments like this that make me smile and feel so happy to have the opportunity to be here and see what life inside Italy is really like. 

Buona Dominica tutti!

(Happy Sunday everyone!)

Wine plus the Metro equals.....

What do copious amounts of wine and a moving metro look like?

I present to you exhibit A

 ha ha ha