Living in Zimbabwe
#61
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,474
Re: Living in Zimbabwe
I admit, I'm so jealous, I desperately want to leave my island where my oh has a fabulous job, we have a beautiful house, wonderful lifestyle, fantastic relationship with the locals, leave our windows open night and day, leave the keys in the ignition of my car safe in the knowledge it wont be stolen, share great experiences - like this weekend at the Regatta - with all expats and locals at events where food is plentiful, alcohol flows and we party in the street all day.
you're right - I REALLY want to go to Zim, to live in a prison like fortress of a property, drive my anti-hyjacking equipped car through the streets of desperate poverty stricken nationals hoping that they dont pull a gun out and rob me or else I get stuck in the middle of a demonstration blodthirsty for retribution .... watching children and babies starve from food shortages whilst expats are chowing down on imported roast lamb .... lovely.
you are correct
I am terribly jealous
and not in any way trying to stop a naiive (I say this in a pleasant way - not a condescending one) sounding girl from making the biggest mistake of her life with the advice I can give.
#62
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 42
Re: Living in Zimbabwe
LV you've seen through me ....
you're right - I REALLY want to go to Zim, to live in a prison like fortress of a property, drive my anti-hyjacking equipped car through the streets of desperate poverty stricken nationals hoping that they dont pull a gun out and rob me or else I get stuck in the middle of a demonstration blodthirsty for retribution .... watching children and babies starve from food shortages whilst expats are chowing down on imported roast lamb .... lovely.
you're right - I REALLY want to go to Zim, to live in a prison like fortress of a property, drive my anti-hyjacking equipped car through the streets of desperate poverty stricken nationals hoping that they dont pull a gun out and rob me or else I get stuck in the middle of a demonstration blodthirsty for retribution .... watching children and babies starve from food shortages whilst expats are chowing down on imported roast lamb .... lovely.
#63
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 733
Re: Living in Zimbabwe
sounds more like south africa, but whats your point?
Which of the following don't you agree with?:
you're right - I REALLY want to go to Zim, to live in a prison like fortress of a property, drive my anti-hyjacking equipped car through the streets of desperate poverty stricken nationals hoping that they dont pull a gun out and rob me or else I get stuck in the middle of a demonstration blodthirsty for retribution .... watching children and babies starve from food shortages whilst expats are chowing down on imported roast lamb .... lovely.
Add:
Watch my life savings evaporate, medical care, insurances skyrocket, see the value of any cash in the bank disappear overnight each and every day, watch hospital care disintegrate, racism against whites, listen to nonsense that whites born there do not belong there....which of the above was worse during colonial rule?
Which of the following don't you agree with?:
you're right - I REALLY want to go to Zim, to live in a prison like fortress of a property, drive my anti-hyjacking equipped car through the streets of desperate poverty stricken nationals hoping that they dont pull a gun out and rob me or else I get stuck in the middle of a demonstration blodthirsty for retribution .... watching children and babies starve from food shortages whilst expats are chowing down on imported roast lamb .... lovely.
Add:
Watch my life savings evaporate, medical care, insurances skyrocket, see the value of any cash in the bank disappear overnight each and every day, watch hospital care disintegrate, racism against whites, listen to nonsense that whites born there do not belong there....which of the above was worse during colonial rule?
Last edited by shiftdelete; May 10th 2008 at 4:46 pm. Reason: add:
#64
Re: Living in Zimbabwe
Watch my life savings evaporate, medical care, insurances skyrocket, see the value of any cash in the bank disappear overnight each and every day, watch hospital care disintegrate, racism against whites, listen to nonsense that whites born there do not belong there....which of the above was worse during colonial rule?
#65
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2007
Location: Gold Coast
Posts: 392
Re: Living in Zimbabwe
i am only getting defensive because people are questioning my integrity. i am not for one moment belittling the situation in Zim, and no i have no idea what it is like to live as you have, which of course is why i am asking! i am just as happy to receive the negative advice as well as the positive advice so long as its constructive and not demening.
Its just all very truthfully help and advise,
Its not just about living there, Its also about changing who you are to be able to live there.To drive down the rd and not stop at traffic lights with out being on your guard, To watch children selling them selves for as little as a meal, To understand there difference in tribal ways, You are white and british, something at the moment, That the goverment are blaming for there current situation, Volatile is not even the correct word here, Knife edge more like (machete knife that is ). Also be aware if the country went up, your partner as much as he cared and loved you, he would not be able to protect you, He would be over run by others that would not be to his western way of thinking. ( the rest we all know)
As you have said take a holiday there, I am sure you will love it, but keep your eyes wide open, Experience the armed guards at every shop ,garage, place of entertainment. Then ask your self is that what you really won't.
To the person who said jealousy
Good luck with your decision.
#67
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2007
Location: Gold Coast
Posts: 392
Re: Living in Zimbabwe
Sat and worked it out, From the people i know that have stayed living and working around south africa, Zim, angola, etc.
and i do know a quite a few, they are normally MEN, who are having a whale of a time with the house maid doing everything , local expats bars,
Then you do get the odd family that again the Man of the house has the final say, Or that can not give up the life style, being very selfish to wards there childrens future, in a lot of cases. Its very odd to find white children playing out, going to the local mall on the bus, walking home from school, looking ahead to a career in there country. coming of age going to night clubs, with out the fear of being raped or shot. All so the parents can have a big house great pool, maids, gardeners. Then as the dark comes in, down come the shutters, on goes the alarms, out comes the armed guards, thank god for armed response.
Africa is no doubt the most beautiful country in the world, But to live there as a family with young children in to days times,
#68
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,474
Re: Living in Zimbabwe
no offence taken and no I havent. I havent lived in Columbia either but I've seen enough about it to know exactly what problems the country faces.
I do have a vested interest in Zim - half my family is from SA and my cousins are still there up close and personal to the effects of Zim.
I wouldnt go live in SA either, much as I adore the place, and its 10 times, 100 times better than Zim.
c'mon LV - dont try and minimize what it is, thats just foolish and blinkered. Be truthful about the status of Zim and its citizens.
A once beautiful land .... brutally ruined by its own people in power.
I do have a vested interest in Zim - half my family is from SA and my cousins are still there up close and personal to the effects of Zim.
I wouldnt go live in SA either, much as I adore the place, and its 10 times, 100 times better than Zim.
c'mon LV - dont try and minimize what it is, thats just foolish and blinkered. Be truthful about the status of Zim and its citizens.
A once beautiful land .... brutally ruined by its own people in power.
#71
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 508
Re: Living in Zimbabwe
This is quite pointless. I live in SA and don't really want to leave, despite all the problems, but I certainly wouldn't advise anyone to move to Zim right now. The situation is precarious at best, and could deteriorate very quickly. OTOH, the OP has been given plenty of advice, and if she decides to ignore it and go ahead, well, hamba kahle. I've made enough mistakes in my own life to stop criticising other people's choices.
FWIW, I don't have a big house, pool or a maid, I'm not fond of alcohol and I don't go to bars - let alone expat ones!
FWIW, I don't have a big house, pool or a maid, I'm not fond of alcohol and I don't go to bars - let alone expat ones!
#72
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2007
Location: Gold Coast
Posts: 392
Re: Living in Zimbabwe
This is quite pointless. I live in SA and don't really want to leave, despite all the problems, but I certainly wouldn't advise anyone to move to Zim right now. The situation is precarious at best, and could deteriorate very quickly. OTOH, the OP has been given plenty of advice, and if she decides to ignore it and go ahead, well, hamba kahle. I've made enough mistakes in my own life to stop criticising other people's choices.
FWIW, I don't have a big house, pool or a maid, I'm not fond of alcohol and I don't go to bars - let alone expat ones!
FWIW, I don't have a big house, pool or a maid, I'm not fond of alcohol and I don't go to bars - let alone expat ones!
Good luck and keep safe.
#73
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 25
Re: Living in Zimbabwe
well hey i can quickly put all discussions to an end, i found the bastard cheating on me this weekend, so that kind of makes the decision easy for me! thanks for your help anyway.
#74
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,424
Re: Living in Zimbabwe
Coffee..Snort...Nose...Keyboard!
I've heard of show stoppers on Forums but thats a first!!
I've heard of show stoppers on Forums but thats a first!!
#75
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 112
Re: Living in Zimbabwe
Another part of African culture you have just discovered; the need to prove their virility. This has also led to them being the World leaders in HIV/AIDS infections.