Friday, 12th March 2010
Relocation to South Africa - meeting new people
Introduction
Leaving behind family and friends is not easy. What you will have to do in South Africa is to create a new set of friends as quickly as possible. When it comes to mingling with South Africans, there are a number of traditions one must follow.The South Africans love the outdoors - They also love to socialise at home having Braai's (BBQ's). Much drinking, talking and generally having a good time is part of this tradition. Sport also features heavily in South African socialising. Whether you watch it or play it is not of consequence but you will learn to love the passion of South African sport.
Pubs and Restaurants
The bar is the social gathering place for after work or on Friday nights. When it comes to paying the rule is simple - cash for drinks (no tabs unless ordering food). The prices for drink are similar across an area but can vary depending on the type of bar (trendy bar = expensive trendy drinks).A bottle of beer ("Castle Larger" of course) typically costs R10.00 to R15.00.The restaurants in SA are fantastic. The food is excellent value and the wines are not over-priced. Stick to the local SA wines and you should be paying R40 for a decent bottle (R180 plus is an excellent bottle).
The cost of a meal is usually around R125 a head all in for a middle of the road restaurant. Look at spending R250 for a good restaurant. The variety is excellent from Italian through to great Chinese and everything in the middle.
Clubs and Societies
This is an excellent and quickest way to meet the locals. If you have a sport or interest, get hold of the name of the nearest club.Usually each neighbourhood has a sports club or health centre. The membership fees are normally reasonable and you will meet people with similar interests.
