As of: February 14, 2024, 8:55 a.m
By: Franziska Konrad
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Also feels at home in Geretsried: South African Anri Groenewald has built a new life in Germany with her husband and two children.
© Sabine Hermsdorf-hiss
Anri Groenewald (46) once lived with her husband in South Africa and has found her second home in Geretsried.
Geretsried – It was the opportunity for a great adventure that brought Anri Groenewald and her husband to Germany in 2003.
Her husband received a job offer from BMW in Munich.
The newly married couple from South Africa didn't hesitate for long.
Together the two started a new chapter of their lives.
“It was very adventurous for us,” says the now 46-year-old.
“We definitely wanted to take advantage of this opportunity.”
“The best of both worlds”: This is how Anri Groenewald (46) came to Geretsried from South Africa
The Groenewalds lived in Unterschleissheim for the following 2.5 years, then returned to South Africa, to the city of Pretoria.
There her family expanded: Groenewald gave birth to two boys.
In 2015 the South Africans were drawn to Upper Bavaria again.
The trigger: another job offer to her husband.
“This time we deliberately chose the south of Munich.
The proximity to the mountains and lakes is simply wonderful,” enthuses the South African.
At first the four lived in Schäftlarn.
At the time, “we had every intention of returning to Pretoria at some point.”
But then everything turned out differently.
Norway
: Trond Bjørnstadjordet comes from a small town in the mountains of Norway, located between Oslo and Trysil.
In 2018, the Norwegian took a trip to Upper Bavaria - and this vacation in Munich was to change his life.
The new beginning was initially difficult.
Groenewald had already learned German during her first time in Bavaria.
“But that was almost ten years ago,” says the South African.
“I almost had to start all over again.” Many little things presented her with challenges: such as shopping at the pharmacy or visiting the pediatrician.
“Before that, I always researched on the Internet how to say everything correctly.
That was really tiring.”
You can read the latest news from Geretsried here.
At the end of the day, the mother of two often thought to herself: “What am I actually doing here?” Little by little, the Groenewalds settled in well.
“The security situation here is better than in South Africa, as are the future opportunities for our children,” says the emigrant.
The two boys moved from an international school to the middle school in Geretsried.
As a child, Groenewald grew up in Pretoria.
“I could ride my bike everywhere.
“It was very safe there back then,” she looks back.
Their ancestors once came to South Africa as missionaries from the Netherlands.
There are no real seasons there.
“It’s either warm or not so warm,” says the 46-year-old and laughs.
She always spent her summer holidays in December with her parents in a holiday home by the sea.
“In South Africa the sky is always bright blue.
I sometimes miss that in Germany.”
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Little things in everyday life become a challenge
Afrikaans was always spoken at home with her family.
Groenewald also continues this tradition in Upper Bavaria.
She also brings her homeland to life in culinary terms: for example with biscuits and special coffee biscuits.
“I order dried meat and South African sausage” from a local butcher who is from South Africa.
She still regularly goes back to her homeland: then she spends four weeks visiting her relatives who live in South Africa.
Mauritius:
Dawood Boolakee, who now lives in Geretsried, swapped the sandy beach for the Alps.
She particularly enjoys the food, the landscape and the openness of the people.
“The fruit and vegetables alone are so fresh, sweet and juicy,” she enthuses.
South Africa will forever hold a special place in her heart.
“At the same time, I never thought I would feel so comfortable in Bavaria,” she admits.
Groenewald proudly reveals that she and her husband have applied for German citizenship.
“We see ourselves as South Africans, but at the same time as Germans.” Today, the mother of two knows that if they had stayed in Germany the first time, it would have been easier for them as a family.
But immediately afterwards she adds: “But now we have the best of both worlds.”
By the way: Everything from the region is also available in our regular Wolfratshausen-Geretsried newsletter.
About this series:
The UN counts 195 countries in the world.
106 nationalities are registered in Geretsried (as of June 8, 2022).
Our newspaper introduces people from all parts of the world.