South Africa question

[Savonarola]

It looks like I may have an assignment in East London, South Africa.  Has anyone ever been to (or better still worked in) South Africa?  Is there anything you can tell me about local customs, culture, language, faux-pas to avoid or the like?

This should be a brief assignment, but (unlike Colombia) South Africa isn't considered a dangerous country by Alstom, so we'll be more on our own.

[Hamilcar]

Never been personally, but know lots of people who have been. Your experience will be ultra-local, and can range from wealthy, peaceful suburbia to third world warzone. Strong sense of personal safety is a must. I don't know anything specific about East London.

[Savonarola]

Never been personally, but know lots of people who have been. Your experience will be ultra-local, and can range from wealthy, peaceful suburbia to third world warzone. Strong sense of personal safety is a must. I don't know anything specific about East London.

Thanks, we'll be in a locomotive shop, so probably not wealthy suburbia.

[Hamilcar]

Never been personally, but know lots of people who have been. Your experience will be ultra-local, and can range from wealthy, peaceful suburbia to third world warzone. Strong sense of personal safety is a must. I don't know anything specific about East London.

Thanks, we'll be in a locomotive shop, so probably not wealthy suburbia.

Make sure you either have your own car, or company transportation. Kidnappings and robberies are very common, and so are carjackings.

Never resist, South African criminals are more likely to straight up kill you than Brazilian gangs. Colleague had his drink spiked and was left unconscious and naked in a ditch.

[viper37]

It looks like I may have an assignment in East London, South Africa.  Has anyone ever been to (or better still worked in) South Africa?  Is there anything you can tell me about local customs, culture, language, faux-pas to avoid or the like?

Stay away from the beaches and you'll be ok.

[Admiral Yi]

Why'd you change the picture?

Man that's a nice pooper.

[viper37]

Why'd you change the picture?

Man that's a nice pooper.

The new one conveys a better sense of threat.  The other one might have been incitement to go to the beach

[grumbler]

Wrong continent.  The Shallows takes place in Mexico.

[Archy]

The Boers are also proud about their braai (bbq).
Afrikaans sound funny when you speak Dutch.
Most Afrikaans speakers are mixed race and not white.
If you're wife comes with you don't shoot at night through the badroom door unless you're an Olympic athlete.
They have eleven official languages.
They consider English soldiers and South Africans of British descent to be rednecks

[Zanza]

I've been in East London once for work. The city center looks very poor and I never stopped. The suburbs on the Eastern side of the city are really nice though. Some good dining to be had. The one I remember was the flamed water buffalo steak in Le Petit. I was also in an excellent steak place East of the city. Can't remember the name. Was owned by some sporting great.
The area has some nice spots if you have time. Tsintsa (?) beach about 30-40 minutes from town.
If you have a whole weekend, going to Coffee Bay and seeing the beautiful Wild Coast might be an option.

[Zanza]

And more general I've been to South Africa a few times for work and one time for tourism. It's a beautiful but very conflicted country. You have really fancy first world villas and shopping malls, but also abject poverty in slums. Just have your security in mind but also do not let it spoil your experience.

[viper37]

Wrong continent.  The Shallows takes place in Mexico.

damn   I thought I read South Africa when it came out.  Oh well, same shark anyway.

[Savonarola]

If you're wife comes with you don't shoot at night through the badroom door unless you're an Olympic athlete.

All these rules, and they're confusing for a native of Detroit.   



Thanks, Archy

[Savonarola]

I've been in East London once for work. The city center looks very poor and I never stopped. The suburbs on the Eastern side of the city are really nice though. Some good dining to be had. The one I remember was the flamed water buffalo steak in Le Petit. I was also in an excellent steak place East of the city. Can't remember the name. Was owned by some sporting great.
The area has some nice spots if you have time. Tsintsa (?) beach about 30-40 minutes from town.
If you have a whole weekend, going to Coffee Bay and seeing the beautiful Wild Coast might be an option.

Thanks.  We probably won't have the time to see the sites.  The team I'm going with is the same one I was with in Colombia; and they're die hard workaholics. 

[Savonarola]

And more general I've been to South Africa a few times for work and one time for tourism. It's a beautiful but very conflicted country. You have really fancy first world villas and shopping malls, but also abject poverty in slums. Just have your security in mind but also do not let it spoil your experience.

I'm surprised Alstom don't classify it as a dangerous country, based on what you and Hamilcar have said.  Colombia was classified as a dangerous country, and outside of the no-man's land in El Paso, it didn't seem that rough.