Comments on: First impressions of South Africa http://www.ghidinelli.com/go/2009/10/16/first-impressions-south-africa And scooters, donkeys, boats & more! Go! Sun, 25 Apr 2010 18:36:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Brian http://www.ghidinelli.com/go/2009/10/16/first-impressions-south-africa/comment-page-1#comment-15914 Brian Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:48:08 +0000 http://www.ghidinelli.com/go/?p=194#comment-15914 @Melony - thanks for taking the time to leave such a well-considered comment; I'm glad you found your way here. I agree with you on most of your points. My wife and I have traveled extensively and in general we try to get off the beaten path and away from the crowds whenever possible. This was a special trip for us as it was our honeymoon and we had limited time away from work. We didn't avoid JNB per se, we just had only so much time on this particular trip. I don't think anyone should believe the bad rap that big cities get - they can all be dangerous if you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. And, of course, even in the right place at the right time things can go wrong. That's life and all you can do is keep a positive attitude. We heard South African expats several times during our trip tell other South Africans how impressed they were with the changes and improvements in the country since the end of apartheid. I think for having only 16 years under their belts, the country is doing quite well. It does boil down to education though, and I hope that the country will invest the necessary amounts to get everyone proper schooling. It's the only way to truly move everyone to a more level playing field so fingers are crossed (that is, if the new energy prices don't bankrupt everyone!) I have a movie about Joburg on my laptop that I downloaded from somewhere; I never had the chance to watch it while I was there but I will go back to watch it now. I'm not sure if it's Bunny Chow or another but it is a documentary. Thanks again for the comment and good luck during your time here and if in the future you return back to SA! @Melony – thanks for taking the time to leave such a well-considered comment; I’m glad you found your way here. I agree with you on most of your points. My wife and I have traveled extensively and in general we try to get off the beaten path and away from the crowds whenever possible. This was a special trip for us as it was our honeymoon and we had limited time away from work. We didn’t avoid JNB per se, we just had only so much time on this particular trip.

I don’t think anyone should believe the bad rap that big cities get – they can all be dangerous if you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. And, of course, even in the right place at the right time things can go wrong. That’s life and all you can do is keep a positive attitude.

We heard South African expats several times during our trip tell other South Africans how impressed they were with the changes and improvements in the country since the end of apartheid. I think for having only 16 years under their belts, the country is doing quite well. It does boil down to education though, and I hope that the country will invest the necessary amounts to get everyone proper schooling. It’s the only way to truly move everyone to a more level playing field so fingers are crossed (that is, if the new energy prices don’t bankrupt everyone!)

I have a movie about Joburg on my laptop that I downloaded from somewhere; I never had the chance to watch it while I was there but I will go back to watch it now. I’m not sure if it’s Bunny Chow or another but it is a documentary.

Thanks again for the comment and good luck during your time here and if in the future you return back to SA!

]]> By: Melony http://www.ghidinelli.com/go/2009/10/16/first-impressions-south-africa/comment-page-1#comment-15906 Melony Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:41:34 +0000 http://www.ghidinelli.com/go/?p=194#comment-15906 Hello, I am so excited that you explored my city (Cape Town) and country (to a certain extent:-)! I am a person of color (so-called Colored as some of us in SA prefer to be referred to as) residing in the US at the moment. Yes, the effects of apartheid is still very much visible when it comes to economical inequality as well as "mental" inequality. You are right, we still have some way to go for a very young (16 years) democracy. But, we have done quite well I think considering where we came from. It is a pity that you did not go to Johannesburg, the country as well as continent's economic Mecca. There you will see a different reality...a significant (drastically visibly so) amount black people driving the Mercs and BMW's and in high profile CEO positions as well as a big wave of young, black South Africans making it happen for themselves. I lived there for about 6 years and not a lot of Capetonians dare to even visit, let alone live. Unfortunately foreigners prefer not to visit due to the unfortunate bad rep the city has due to its highly publicized crime incidents. However, JHB is no different to big cities where there is money such as NYC, London or Tokyo. You were a tourist seeking a vacation experience, not social study, so you went to the most popular tourist areas and you had to, because that is how you ease into SA so that you can hopefully go back and dig a bit deeper. Like here in the US people are spread out all over SA based on various cultures and colors as well as attitudes and based on what their comfort zones are. The majority of South Africans are Black (79% out of a total population of 49 mil people; white are at about 9.6%) who had a huge disadvantage due to our past, with very poor education opportunities and exposure to the rest of the country let alone the rest of the world (which is what places like Cape Town feels like) so that is why you will see mostly black people working low income jobs and living in informal housing in areas where you see mostly white people. In addition, home for most black people are not the cities. They come from the "homelands" which are rural areas in the Eastern Cape or Kwazulu Natal and only move to the cities for work which is why the township is so "informal" because for most people this is a second home. I am not saying it is right and not defending rich white people in SA and saying it is acceptable, but we have some way to go to see a substantial amount of black people in places like Cape Town in key professional positions or living in suburbs such as Camps Bay and the Winelands because these cities have been traditionally a haven for white people with money (black people need to go via Johannesburg first). I am really proud of how much we have covered in such a short time. As people of color (mainly black and colored - we also have Indian/Asian in this category) have access to improved education, more exposure to the rest of the world and learn from our Westernized friends, I think the economic outlook for many South Africans of color will improve. However, sometimes the love for money alters ones values for the worse and you can be worse off than what you were before coming from very little. However, South Africans have an amazing sense of community and firm moral standings due to strong family ties. Going back to the socio/economic progression, affirmative action is strongly practiced, however in certain industries it needs to improve, but this is due to people of color not necessarily being interested in those industries. Our country's progress, especially socially is so inspiring to us all as well as to visitors. Thanks to a man who was the right person for the right time...hope you have seen Invinctus. You should also see movies such as White Wedding (SA comedy) and Red Dust (Truth and Reconciliation based story) to get an idea of where we were and where we are now as a society. For a look into young urban adults of color, watch movies such as Bunny Chow, that is if you can find any of these films here. I have been accused of being very positive about our country and have friends who will only focus on the negative and that is all they see, but we are all allowed our own way of looking at things with the same facts at hand, however our experiences have been different, but we still respect each other’s points of views. Hello, I am so excited that you explored my city (Cape Town) and country (to a certain extent:-)! I am a person of color (so-called Colored as some of us in SA prefer to be referred to as) residing in the US at the moment. Yes, the effects of apartheid is still very much visible when it comes to economical inequality as well as “mental” inequality. You are right, we still have some way to go for a very young (16 years) democracy. But, we have done quite well I think considering where we came from. It is a pity that you did not go to Johannesburg, the country as well as continent’s economic Mecca. There you will see a different reality…a significant (drastically visibly so) amount black people driving the Mercs and BMW’s and in high profile CEO positions as well as a big wave of young, black South Africans making it happen for themselves. I lived there for about 6 years and not a lot of Capetonians dare to even visit, let alone live. Unfortunately foreigners prefer not to visit due to the unfortunate bad rep the city has due to its highly publicized crime incidents. However, JHB is no different to big cities where there is money such as NYC, London or Tokyo. You were a tourist seeking a vacation experience, not social study, so you went to the most popular tourist areas and you had to, because that is how you ease into SA so that you can hopefully go back and dig a bit deeper. Like here in the US people are spread out all over SA based on various cultures and colors as well as attitudes and based on what their comfort zones are. The majority of South Africans are Black (79% out of a total population of 49 mil people; white are at about 9.6%) who had a huge disadvantage due to our past, with very poor education opportunities and exposure to the rest of the country let alone the rest of the world (which is what places like Cape Town feels like) so that is why you will see mostly black people working low income jobs and living in informal housing in areas where you see mostly white people. In addition, home for most black people are not the cities. They come from the “homelands” which are rural areas in the Eastern Cape or Kwazulu Natal and only move to the cities for work which is why the township is so “informal” because for most people this is a second home. I am not saying it is right and not defending rich white people in SA and saying it is acceptable, but we have some way to go to see a substantial amount of black people in places like Cape Town in key professional positions or living in suburbs such as Camps Bay and the Winelands because these cities have been traditionally a haven for white people with money (black people need to go via Johannesburg first). I am really proud of how much we have covered in such a short time. As people of color (mainly black and colored – we also have Indian/Asian in this category) have access to improved education, more exposure to the rest of the world and learn from our Westernized friends, I think the economic outlook for many South Africans of color will improve. However, sometimes the love for money alters ones values for the worse and you can be worse off than what you were before coming from very little. However, South Africans have an amazing sense of community and firm moral standings due to strong family ties. Going back to the socio/economic progression, affirmative action is strongly practiced, however in certain industries it needs to improve, but this is due to people of color not necessarily being interested in those industries. Our country’s progress, especially socially is so inspiring to us all as well as to visitors. Thanks to a man who was the right person for the right time…hope you have seen Invinctus. You should also see movies such as White Wedding (SA comedy) and Red Dust (Truth and Reconciliation based story) to get an idea of where we were and where we are now as a society. For a look into young urban adults of color, watch movies such as Bunny Chow, that is if you can find any of these films here. I have been accused of being very positive about our country and have friends who will only focus on the negative and that is all they see, but we are all allowed our own way of looking at things with the same facts at hand, however our experiences have been different, but we still respect each other’s points of views.

]]> By: Steven http://www.ghidinelli.com/go/2009/10/16/first-impressions-south-africa/comment-page-1#comment-15863 Steven Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:20:03 +0000 http://www.ghidinelli.com/go/?p=194#comment-15863 Goats Do Roam! That's the winery Michelle and I were telling you about (Fairview). Did you get to go? Can't wait to hear all the stories when you get back. We'll have to drive down and visit! Goats Do Roam! That’s the winery Michelle and I were telling you about (Fairview). Did you get to go? Can’t wait to hear all the stories when you get back. We’ll have to drive down and visit!

]]>