South Africa

I came to South Africa this week to visit our business in Johannesburg. This is my first time in sub-Saharan Africa. My first impressions: Johannesburg is a beautiful city. The run-down images we see on television are nothing like what I've seen. I've been told that there are some run down, dodgy bits closer to the center of town. But in the area where we're working, it is beautiful. The city is in a hilly area. Temperatures are in the low 30s C (90F). The trees, greenery, flowers and landscaping are beautiful.

Yesterday, we took a drive through some neighborhoods on our way to dinner. I could catch a small glimpse of the yards and gardens for some of the houses. All homes here have a walled garden (similar to London or Dubai). The gate and garage doors are often iron grillwork that you can see through. It was explained to me that up until about 10-15 years ago, most of the houses didn't have walled gardens. But there has been an increase in crime levels that have led everyone to wall in their yards. In some parts of South Africa, the houses are still this way, but in Johannesburg (a city of nearly 8 million) people have gone for the walled gardens.

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Things that surprised me:

1. They drive on the left.

2. English is the only language I've heard. Evidently, Afrikaans is limited to only a few areas.

3. Their electricity plugs are shaped differently than any other country I've visited (I've finally found an adaptor).

4. They have 11 official languages.

5. Their pronunciation, words and vocabulary are almost exclusively British (very little Americanisation here)

6. Woolworths is an "up market" shop and cafe (Russell, they have the ultimate Woolies cafeteria here)

7. Prices are extremely cheap (steak dinner for 4 with wine was less than US$75)

8. It took us over 8 hours to fly here from Dubai.

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Edited to add: I was told this afternoon that until the 1960's South Africa was a British colony. You many have known this, but I guess I wasn't paying attention during the 30 minutes my high school dedicated to the history of Imperialist Britain. Anyway, that explains items 1, 2, 3, and 5. Especially, item 3. They give the Brit's a run for their money it the monsterously huge electrical plug competition.