Johannesburg, South Africa Report of what it's like to live there - 08/03/11
Personal Experiences from Johannesburg, South Africa
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
Mexico City
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Atlanta. Direct flights daily lasting about 14 hours.
3. How long have you lived here?
2009 to 2011
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Government
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
apartments and cluster homes. communte time to the Consulate is about 10-15 minutes.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
wide availability of groceries and household supplies. prices are comprable to the u.s. most popular grocery stores are woolworths, pick n pay, spar, and checkers.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
not much, just those specific products that remind you of home. I shipped coffee, chocolate chip cookie mix, graham crackers, etc.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
fast food - mcdonalds, KFC, Chicken Licken, Anat, and Nandos (all good and cheap). sit down dining- tons of good places and variety- prices range from moderate to expensive.
5. What kinds of organic, vegetarian and allergy-friendly foods are available, such as organic produce, gluten-free products, meat substitutes for vegetarians, etc?
woolies has organic products in pretty much every category.
6. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
nothing major, some ants are the only noticeable household problem i experienced. Outside never really noticed anything too weird. Mosquitos aren't a problem here.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
we send mail throught the embassy, but local mail with DHL or FeEx is okay, if not expensive for international mailing.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
domestic help is plentiful and affordable.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
yes. most join Platinum or Virigin Active. They are of superior quality.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
credit cards are widely accepted (they bring the credit card machine up to the table at restaurants). ATMS are regularly used here. it is recommended to use them in malls, etc. for security purposes. Never accept help or assistance in any form at an ATM it is more than likely a scam.
5. What English-language religious services are available locally?
lots of christian, jewish, and muslim services available in english.
6. English-language newspapers and TV available? Cost?
english newspapers available. DSTV is the choice for cable TV.
7. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
almost everyone speaks english.
8. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
there are some accomodations for people w/physical disabilities but its not 100% up to date.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
gautrain is new and safe to get to the airport and pretoria. local taxis buses aren't safe, but private taxis in the form of cars are okay. popular taxi compnies include Rose Taxi and First for Women.
2. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
most vehicles are acceptable. most people at post have honda, toyota, nissan, jeep, BMW, audi, and mercedes.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
high speed internet is available. most people use telkom, iburst, and mweb.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
Get a blackberry as most plans are prepaid, but w/blackberry you can use BBM or Whatsapp and text for free locally and back in the U.S. with friends and family.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
depends on where they come from. My dog came from the U.S. and there wasn't an issue with quarantine. I recommend a pet shipping co. to handle this portion as it can get complicated.
2. Quality pet care available (vets & kennels)?
Pet care is good andf widely available here. I used a local vet and pet walking/care daily service. Kennels are good too. I recommend Sun Valley and Menlyn Kennels.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
it's hard to get a visa to work on the local economy, but it seems it's possible but can take a long time if it's not done through an inter-co. transfer.
2. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
dress code is smart casual or formal at work and casual to smart casual in public.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
security is a concern, but does not monopolize your life. stay alert and aware of your surroundings and you should be fine.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
HIV/AIDS is a big deal here, but w/responsible behavior it should not impact your life. Private medical care is good and SA is used as a medical evacuation site for the rest of Africa.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
good (winters are dry).
4. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
summer is in the 70s and is the rainy season. winter ranges from the 50s to 70s and is dry.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
mission employees generally send their kids to the American school, though there are plenty of other good private schools in the area and some colleagues utilize these to avoid the lengthy communte to the American school.
2. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?
not sure don't have kids.
3. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
preschool is available and utilized by embassy employees, though some prefer to utilize nannies full time rather than pay for school.
4. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
yes. soccer, cricket, riding, track and field, etc.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
relatively large, i had american and other expat friends working on the local economy as well as friends from the Embassy.
2. Morale among expats:
morale is good, i find most people enjoy life here.
3. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
great social life opportunities. plenty of clubs, restaurants, and lounges.
4. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
this city is good for everyone.
5. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
same sex partnerships/marriage is legal here and widely accepted/tolerated socially.
6. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
there are issues but seems like mostly people get along in terms of day to day life.
7. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
travel in SA and surrounding countries, city life in Johannesburg (great nightlife, shopping, dining, etc.).
8. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
local markets, lounges, restaurants, shopping, parks, theatre, clubs, etc.
9. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
african crafts and jewelry.
10. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
advantages include tons of cultural diversity, lots of entertainment in the city, great location for weekend trips,and mild climate.
11. Can you save money?
you can, but it's hard if you take advantage of everthing there is to do here.
Words of Wisdom:
1. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
DEFINITELY and will return if I have the chance.
2. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
expectation for good customer service and thoughts that the city will function as it appears. The level of development here is only an illusion and often power outages, water outages, etc. are headaches.
3. But don't forget your:
outdoor gear and sense of adventure as there are so many travel opportunities.
4. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
Jozi Chic, Johannesburg: Places and Spaces, From Jo'burg to Jozi.
5. Recommended movies/DVDs related to this city:
Totsi, Long Walk to Freedom, Skin, Power of One, District 9, and Spud.
6. Do you have any other comments?
This is a great city to live in if you are open to diversity and citylife. Get to know the people and the culture and you will enjoy it here.
