Thursday 26 January 2012

365 days on in South Africa...myths exploded

So a year ago today I blogged about Day 6 in South Africa http://www.chickenruby.com/2011/01/day-6.html

Well here's what I've discovered 1 year on.

THEN
'I won’t be driving at night on my own and as long as you are alert and remain alert it is perfectly safe to drive here.'
NOW
I drive alone, into Johannesburg, shopping malls, volunteer placements, the airport to drop off hubby and collect him, to game reserves, school runs and am often found in Pretoria at night on my own meeting up with Internations expat group.
THEN
'I’m driving a rental car at the moment and won’t be buying anything flash, so not to attract attention. All bags are put in the boot and valuables kept out of sight.'
NOW
Couldn't afford anything flashy, I drive a Jeep, same make, model and year as I owned in the UK, but I often drive hubbies shiny Toyota Fortuna and all valuables kept out of sight.
THEN
'This morning Peter and I returned to the bank....Peter has to give permission for me to have a bank account and as I’m here on a visitors passport it seems pointless as I won’t have any money to put in it.'
NOW
I have to 'ask' permission for money each month...I hate not having my own income, having to ask for money and to my despair, I won't be able to have my own money...I can't work here.
THEN
'We drove to the office in Eden vale about 10kms from Jo’burg after dropping Peter off for the day I drove home. Road works and exit changes which hadn’t been updated on the sat nav made for an interesting journey home, thankfully I had paid attention and apart from the township I drove past I felt safe.'
NOW
I drive many familiar routes without the sat nav, journeys of 40-50kms.
THEN
'SA is safer than I thought; I made an assumption that apart from the school runs I would be ‘stuck’ in the house all day and would need to go out with Peter couldn’t be further from the truth. If I want to pop out to the shops for a coffee or a pint of milk then I can.'
NOW
I am on constant alert, at the robots I check my mirrors constantly, keep a large enough gap to drive off quickly, keep doors locked and windows closed when i have to stop.

There are many more things I thought I wouldn't be able to do and many other things I thought I would be able to do with ease but rules and regulations prevent me.

If you want to know more just contact me.

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