Blogs from Gauteng, South Africa, Africa - page 79

Frenchies, continuez plus bas.... Hi everyone, Well, my first safari has ended yesterday and after an amazing 3,500 kilometers, 2 weeks, lot of dirt, sand, dust, amazing sights and awesome travel companions, I am in Johannesburg for the next 4 days to recuperate and sleep. Then it's back to the bush for a river/safari adventure in Botswana and Zambia for 2 weeks. Time is flying, I cannot believe I have been on the road for 4 weeks now. Africa is getting under my skin - in a good way - and the more I see, the more I want to see and understand. This trip so far has been like a blast of oxygen to the soul. I feel like on a different planet. I am not sure how else to describe it... It was really ... read more

Bob is feeling better. This morning we ate at the Mugg and Bean, which is a chain that offers coffee, bakery goods and meals, and is found all over South Africa. It is one of the few places that serves what we regard as coffee. South African coffee is usually a mixture of chicory and coffee. We enjoy the place, and I usually order their On The Go Breakfast, which is good and cheap. Interestingly, their American Breakfast includes eggs, bacon (similar to Canadian bacon or thinly sliced ham), a grilled tomato and mushroom, and Boston baked beans. That’s right, Boston baked beans. Those are American, right? And we always have grilled mushrooms and tomatoes with our breakfast, right? We checked email quickly at Postnet, which is another chain found all over South Africa that charges ... read more

This morning I took care of some business before going to the hospital. I went to Biwater to conclude negotiations for the position of Project Engineer. Iraj gave me the number of a consultant to help with the work permit, so I will meet with him tomorrow. I also went to the National Bahá’í Centre to make phone calls and check on some things, and to give people an update on Bob. The NSA was meeting this weekend, so everyone knows he is in the hospital; they said prayers for him. We will move our things back to the Centre tomorrow until we find a place to live or determine some other course of action. Today Bob went to the theater. Rather, he went to the operating room (“the theater”) to have the ultrasound therapy, requiring ... read more

I talked with Iraj and Karin’s maid, Christine. Many people have maids and gardeners, at least part time, in southern Africa. When I have talked with the maids and told them that few people in America have maids, they are always surprised. Another thing that surprises them is that we left America; isn’t it so wonderful? I always tell them that there are good and bad things about every place, and we like South Africa. We are also hopeful for the progress of this country that is trying so hard, making mistakes along the way, but not giving up on making a new society with opportunities for all. Christine has two children, aged 8 and 11, who are cared for by her cousin during the week while Christine is working. She goes home for most of ... read more

Well, Monday I had a very nice 2-hour interview with Biwater, and on Tuesday I received an offer for the position of project engineer at that firm. The location is Johannesburg. Nothing has come of the interviews in Pietermaritzburg yet, and I have had some follow-up from two other firms that produced dead ends. Here is the story we hear everywhere: there is a desperate shortage of engineers in this country, and yet the government has a complicated, lengthy and unpredictable process for getting work permits. The legally mandated affirmative action preference is first for a black woman, then black man, then white woman, then people of color, and lastly white males. Some of the ads for municipalities state that “represented” groups (bottom of the preference list) will only be considered for positions when no one ... read more