Things you miss about South Africa
May 25th 2007, 5:46 am
#31
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 59
Re: Things you miss about South Africa
I miss:
Savannah cider (with lemon in the neck)
"Lite" dry white wine
biltong everywhere (esp spicy snapstix)
tall men
Table Mountain looming over the city
sunsets off Clifton
...most other things I have found substitutes for
Savannah cider (with lemon in the neck)
"Lite" dry white wine
biltong everywhere (esp spicy snapstix)
tall men
Table Mountain looming over the city
sunsets off Clifton
...most other things I have found substitutes for
May 25th 2007, 5:48 am
#32
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 59
Re: Things you miss about South Africa
Oh, and Qantas has been my best carrier so far - friendly staff who will bring you booze all 16 hours long ;-)
May 25th 2007, 6:04 am
#34
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 59
Re: Things you miss about South Africa
. Not that many tall men in Oz mate, I've snagged the only boofy 6-footer in the street I reckon. You can see the pommie heritage quite clearly here (*ducks* that'll stir up the locals). I miss craning my head back to chat to a nice big bloke... and don't get me started on how short the women are outside of SA! I feel like the incredible hulk and in SA I'm just average...
Seem to remember some decent talent in NZ when I visited there a couple of years back tho... might need to pop over again for a reccie.
May 25th 2007, 8:32 am
#35
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 308
Re: Things you miss about South Africa
I know what you mean... I feel like a Girafe here in the UK, but when we are home on holiday I actually feel quite normal. Luckily my hubby is also from SA and is taller than me.
May 25th 2007, 9:58 am
#36
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 56
Re: Things you miss about South Africa
Have SAA changed their racial preferencing employment polices ( commonly known as AA) ? When I did a lot of work for them in 2000 they were not allowed to employ white people.
Has that changed ?? I heard that Metro Police were *trying* to recruit young white people but on the basis that they must understand it will not be a career and because they are white will not be allowed promotion.
Sounds like bodies to fill the flack jackets.
Target practice for the cash heist gangs.
Anybody got anything to offer on the racial preferencing employment dictation accommodating white people ?
Has that changed ?? I heard that Metro Police were *trying* to recruit young white people but on the basis that they must understand it will not be a career and because they are white will not be allowed promotion.
Sounds like bodies to fill the flack jackets.
Target practice for the cash heist gangs.Anybody got anything to offer on the racial preferencing employment dictation accommodating white people ?
In SAA’s case as you probably know the majority of White Senior Staff were offered attractive packages which they took, this was to make space for new ‘wekkers’ and to ease the transition they offered a lot of ex SAA Staff (wifey inc) who had left to get married/have children etc temp employment.
Wifey still there but slowly the Whites are diminishing, morale low, they all moan to each other and in turn that drops them even lower, wifey tells them not to talk to her about how bad things are cos it drags her down..
Wifey tried to get job for our daughter in 2004 both SAA and Comair, she stepped straight into the latter and is still there but say’s benefits not as good as SAA.
I left for UK 2003 with our son (14 then) get him into A Levels etc with view bringing whole family over soon after, that did’nt happen for a few reasons so last 3 and half years we been flying back and forth 4 times a year keeping the pot cooking both ends trying to decide which country we going to consolidate in.
Wifey is South African and I’m Pommie that has been South Africanised bit like EddyEddyEddy, I don’t want to put foot down force her UK cos I know how she would miss SA, friends, weather, etc even I’m battling and tend to seek out as many Saffa’s here to mix with.
My son not doing so well here also he finds UK counterparts loutish, dead enders, small minded.
Trouble is memory of the bad things fad quickly and you only remember the good times especially the lifestyle the kids had growing up there.
Think we all one way or another in similar situation, proper Souties.
May 25th 2007, 10:10 am
#37
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Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Home, I think.
Posts: 9,217
Re: Things you miss about South Africa
And there's one of the rubs. Used to get "chavved" on a daily basis - my disabled mum in the UK still won't go out at night for the gangs of youths drinking diamond white and pretending to be Eminem hanging out on street corners. They egged our house just before I left the UK - so I went round and offered to teach the little sod (15 years old) & his folks some manners - they called the cops who told me to leave him alone and refused to follow up a complaint against them. Standards definitely dropping amongst the kids there. If I'd lobbed an egg at someone's house when I was 15 my dad would have beaten the crap out of me - rightly so.
May 25th 2007, 10:46 am
#38
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 308
Re: Things you miss about South Africa
And there's one of the rubs. Used to get "chavved" on a daily basis - my disabled mum in the UK still won't go out at night for the gangs of youths drinking diamond white and pretending to be Eminem hanging out on street corners. They egged our house just before I left the UK - so I went round and offered to teach the little sod (15 years old) & his folks some manners - they called the cops who told me to leave him alone and refused to follow up a complaint against them. Standards definitely dropping amongst the kids there. If I'd lobbed an egg at someone's house when I was 15 my dad would have beaten the crap out of me - rightly so.
May 25th 2007, 10:49 am
#39
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,881
Re: Things you miss about South Africa
What will dawn on you after a few years, Ededed, if you stay that long, is the awful feeling that you don't have a future there, that everything that you have worked to build for yourself there is built on sand.
SA is fine for holidays (if you accept the risks) and fine for those expensive expats who can helicopter in and out of countries with skills that are in worldwide demand. But for those folks who form the backbone of any civilized country, who slowly build up a life for themselves and their family, there is, I fear, no future. Parents die. Kids leave. The tide of violence and incompetence rises and rises. And in the end you ask yourself whether to go at a time of your own chosing, or risk waiting until you're forced out with nothing.
People who return to the UK after years in SA struggle. The UK is not a forgiving place in that respect. You come to a point in your life where you realise that there is no going back.
Pablo
SA is fine for holidays (if you accept the risks) and fine for those expensive expats who can helicopter in and out of countries with skills that are in worldwide demand. But for those folks who form the backbone of any civilized country, who slowly build up a life for themselves and their family, there is, I fear, no future. Parents die. Kids leave. The tide of violence and incompetence rises and rises. And in the end you ask yourself whether to go at a time of your own chosing, or risk waiting until you're forced out with nothing.
People who return to the UK after years in SA struggle. The UK is not a forgiving place in that respect. You come to a point in your life where you realise that there is no going back.
Pablo
May 25th 2007, 10:49 am
#40
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,881
Re: Things you miss about South Africa
From what I've heard from friends who have moved to OZ, the kids there are just as bad.
I'm tempted to add as a general point that I have seen far too many of the people who leave SA just keep on moving and moving and moving. That sense of uprootedness is the price you pay for being an expat. Trouble is, if you think the solution to that is to go "home" you just find that home no longer exists, and you're just as unsettled there too. There is no return from knowledge to ignorance.
Those who keep moving don't find some place that is perfect. They just realise that they're chasing something that doesn't exist. The real journey, and the real battle that must be fought, is an inner one.
Pablo
Last edited by Pablo; May 25th 2007 at 11:01 am.
May 25th 2007, 11:15 am
#41
Banned
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: North of Auckland
Posts: 1,996
Re: Things you miss about South Africa
From what I've heard from friends who have moved to OZ, the kids there are just as bad.
I'm tempted to add as a general point that I have seen far too many of the people who leave SA just keep on moving and moving and moving. That sense of uprootedness is the price you pay for being an expat. Trouble is, if you think the solution to that is to go "home" you just find that home no longer exists, and you're just as unsettled there too. There is no return from knowledge to ignorance.
Those who keep moving don't find some place that is perfect. They just realise that they're chasing something that doesn't exist. The real journey, and the real battle that must be fought, is an inner one.
Pablo
I'm tempted to add as a general point that I have seen far too many of the people who leave SA just keep on moving and moving and moving. That sense of uprootedness is the price you pay for being an expat. Trouble is, if you think the solution to that is to go "home" you just find that home no longer exists, and you're just as unsettled there too. There is no return from knowledge to ignorance.
Those who keep moving don't find some place that is perfect. They just realise that they're chasing something that doesn't exist. The real journey, and the real battle that must be fought, is an inner one.
Pablo
This is very true. My wife & I were just talking about this tonight. We are adjusting to New Zealand and it is a process. SA is still in our hearts, my wife is African, and our son was born there BUT….
We have a good life here and the most important thing for us is that our son has a future.
New Zealand has a few warts but on the whole if we look down the track in 10 years time it has more to offer us than SA. Sure, we could make more money in SA (maybe not) but we have moved on from that, we have chosen to seek life.
Kiwis by comparison are way more humble and we are adapting to appreciate and enjoy this, it is very family orientated and the kids here are pretty good. You get the odd attitude but as I say it has its warts.
My wife’s best friend (since primary school) is still in SA and has even offered to pay her airfares for her to go & visit and my wife feels there is to much risk and probably too much emotion.
As I keep on saying, when I see the beaming smile of our wee lad, that’s what matters to us… and that is the pill that cuts through any grumbles we may have with our life here. We have made that choice.
May 25th 2007, 11:19 am
#42
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 308
Re: Things you miss about South Africa
From what I've heard from friends who have moved to OZ, the kids there are just as bad.
I'm tempted to add as a general point that I have seen far too many of the people who leave SA just keep on moving and moving and moving. That sense of uprootedness is the price you pay for being an expat. Trouble is, if you think the solution to that is to go "home" you just find that home no longer exists, and you're just as unsettled there too. There is no return from knowledge to ignorance.
Those who keep moving don't find some place that is perfect. They just realise that they're chasing something that doesn't exist. The real journey, and the real battle that must be fought, is an inner one.
Pablo
I'm tempted to add as a general point that I have seen far too many of the people who leave SA just keep on moving and moving and moving. That sense of uprootedness is the price you pay for being an expat. Trouble is, if you think the solution to that is to go "home" you just find that home no longer exists, and you're just as unsettled there too. There is no return from knowledge to ignorance.
Those who keep moving don't find some place that is perfect. They just realise that they're chasing something that doesn't exist. The real journey, and the real battle that must be fought, is an inner one.
Pablo
I suffer from SAD since we have lived in the UK and can't take being depressed any longer, I need the sunshine! We always figured we would move back to SA after a couple of years, but this option has been removed due to the fears for our children's safety. I have had to resign myself to the fact that I left my family behind and will only see them on holidays.
No matter how bad SA gets, I have always felt like it's home, in fact I always refer to it as 'back home'. Africa is in my blood and heart!
May 25th 2007, 11:24 am
#43
Banned
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: North of Auckland
Posts: 1,996
Re: Things you miss about South Africa
Don’t know current AA Policy for SAA but when it was first introduced in the country it was the Gov Dept’s that were initially targeted of course, and now I believe Internal Affairs, Provincial and Local Govt becoming more dysfunctional then ever…
In SAA’s case as you probably know the majority of White Senior Staff were offered attractive packages which they took, this was to make space for new ‘wekkers’ and to ease the transition they offered a lot of ex SAA Staff (wifey inc) who had left to get married/have children etc temp employment.
Wifey still there but slowly the Whites are diminishing, morale low, they all moan to each other and in turn that drops them even lower, wifey tells them not to talk to her about how bad things are cos it drags her down..
Wifey tried to get job for our daughter in 2004 both SAA and Comair, she stepped straight into the latter and is still there but say’s benefits not as good as SAA.
I left for UK 2003 with our son (14 then) get him into A Levels etc with view bringing whole family over soon after, that did’nt happen for a few reasons so last 3 and half years we been flying back and forth 4 times a year keeping the pot cooking both ends trying to decide which country we going to consolidate in.
Wifey is South African and I’m Pommie that has been South Africanised bit like EddyEddyEddy, I don’t want to put foot down force her UK cos I know how she would miss SA, friends, weather, etc even I’m battling and tend to seek out as many Saffa’s here to mix with.
My son not doing so well here also he finds UK counterparts loutish, dead enders, small minded.
Trouble is memory of the bad things fad quickly and you only remember the good times especially the lifestyle the kids had growing up there.
Think we all one way or another in similar situation, proper Souties.
In SAA’s case as you probably know the majority of White Senior Staff were offered attractive packages which they took, this was to make space for new ‘wekkers’ and to ease the transition they offered a lot of ex SAA Staff (wifey inc) who had left to get married/have children etc temp employment.
Wifey still there but slowly the Whites are diminishing, morale low, they all moan to each other and in turn that drops them even lower, wifey tells them not to talk to her about how bad things are cos it drags her down..
Wifey tried to get job for our daughter in 2004 both SAA and Comair, she stepped straight into the latter and is still there but say’s benefits not as good as SAA.
I left for UK 2003 with our son (14 then) get him into A Levels etc with view bringing whole family over soon after, that did’nt happen for a few reasons so last 3 and half years we been flying back and forth 4 times a year keeping the pot cooking both ends trying to decide which country we going to consolidate in.
Wifey is South African and I’m Pommie that has been South Africanised bit like EddyEddyEddy, I don’t want to put foot down force her UK cos I know how she would miss SA, friends, weather, etc even I’m battling and tend to seek out as many Saffa’s here to mix with.
My son not doing so well here also he finds UK counterparts loutish, dead enders, small minded.
Trouble is memory of the bad things fad quickly and you only remember the good times especially the lifestyle the kids had growing up there.
Think we all one way or another in similar situation, proper Souties.
Mate, that sounds really tough,
I know because I went through similar. I wanted to get out of SA for many years and after I was hi-jacked at gunpoint in 96 really changed my whole view of the place.
My wife didn’t want to leave and when our wee lad (a pale male) came along it changed my wife’s outlook towards SA.
We chose NZ as I come from the UK, Scotland and that has its fair share of yobs.
There are loads of SAs here in NZ and the ones we have met are happy. The weather here can be a bit miz but hell, that’s a minor.
It there not a possibility for you to find a destination to move to as a family that is not home for you or your wife?
I hope things work out for you and don’t give up.
All the best
May 25th 2007, 11:52 am
#44
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Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Home, I think.
Posts: 9,217
Re: Things you miss about South Africa
What will dawn on you after a few years, Ededed, if you stay that long, is the awful feeling that you don't have a future there, that everything that you have worked to build for yourself there is built on sand.
SA is fine for holidays (if you accept the risks) and fine for those expensive expats who can helicopter in and out of countries with skills that are in worldwide demand. But for those folks who form the backbone of any civilized country, who slowly build up a life for themselves and their family, there is, I fear, no future. Parents die. Kids leave. The tide of violence and incompetence rises and rises. And in the end you ask yourself whether to go at a time of your own chosing, or risk waiting until you're forced out with nothing.
People who return to the UK after years in SA struggle. The UK is not a forgiving place in that respect. You come to a point in your life where you realise that there is no going back.
Pablo
SA is fine for holidays (if you accept the risks) and fine for those expensive expats who can helicopter in and out of countries with skills that are in worldwide demand. But for those folks who form the backbone of any civilized country, who slowly build up a life for themselves and their family, there is, I fear, no future. Parents die. Kids leave. The tide of violence and incompetence rises and rises. And in the end you ask yourself whether to go at a time of your own chosing, or risk waiting until you're forced out with nothing.
People who return to the UK after years in SA struggle. The UK is not a forgiving place in that respect. You come to a point in your life where you realise that there is no going back.
Pablo
We kept our house in the UK, so have a bolt hole when / if things go Pete Tong but I'm an optimist. I really think it will be ok. When I stop posting, you'll know I got capped at the robots and you can all laugh and point at my childish / blinkered / niaive thinking. Until then, I am loving life and happier than I have been in a long time.
Or maybe it's just Friday.
May 25th 2007, 11:58 am
#45
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 308
Re: Things you miss about South Africa
After 4 years here and 5 years in the UK during the past 9 years I am in a fortunate position to make a balanced judgement call. I looked long and hard at the decision - agonised for months and then plumped for SA. I had a good job and a good life in London, but my long term plan has always been to retire here to a golf estate and spend my last days whacking my balls into a lake (so to speak). The reason we decided to come back was that I could we could afford for my wife not to work (which would never happen with our London life), she would be nearer her family, we stop suffering from SAD and I could effectively semi-retire! At 36! I now spend 1 working day a week on the golf course and the wife is with her friends and family during the days. It would take me another 20 years (at least) in the UK to get what we have now, and I wasn't prepared to wait.
We kept our house in the UK, so have a bolt hole when / if things go Pete Tong but I'm an optimist. I really think it will be ok. When I stop posting, you'll know I got capped at the robots and you can all laugh and point at my childish / blinkered / niaive thinking. Until then, I am loving life and happier than I have been in a long time.
Or maybe it's just Friday.
We kept our house in the UK, so have a bolt hole when / if things go Pete Tong but I'm an optimist. I really think it will be ok. When I stop posting, you'll know I got capped at the robots and you can all laugh and point at my childish / blinkered / niaive thinking. Until then, I am loving life and happier than I have been in a long time.
Or maybe it's just Friday.
You went there with your eyes wide open, so it won't have been a shock to your system. You're enjoying your life and have plans in place should things go to pot.
Yay!! It's Friday!!