Pre Africa thoughts.

Next week, Marcus and I will be in Africa. It will be my first time and the purpose of the the trip is to determine whether we move. Marcus loves Africa and if it was just him would be there tomorrow. But it's not just him, there is a lot we will be leaving so he awaits my verdict and he is being very good in not laying on the pressure.

I thought I'd record my pre views on South Africa before we leave because I know once you've seen and experienced a place your views on it change and it's hard to remember how you saw it previously.

Right now when I think of South Africa I think of vastness.  The vastness of it's land. The vastness of it's people with it's massive population, and the vastness of the sky and sunsets I've seen on TV and screen savers.

I think of African animals like the lions, hippos, giraffes, elephants and zebras.

I think of it's in your face contrast of the haves and the have nots. How you can have a million dollar house on one side of the street and a township shanty on the other.

I am aware of the violent crime that has plagued the country due to poverty and the desperate position it places people in.

I think of all the South African's I have met that have left and come here for a better life and think we must be a little crazy to be going in the other direction.

I think of gated communities, tall barb wire fences, security and bars on windows as an everyday reality and wonder how people can live in that constant state of fear without exploding in a tight ball of tension.

I think of a lot of nationalities all co existing in one country and wonder what that looks like on the ground level.

For someone like me who uses the internet everyday, I'm frustrated at the lack of internet use in South Africa and the complete lack of decent or any websites for schools and kindergartens and churches. I'm picturing south Africa being about 20 years behind New Zealand in it's use of technology.

I doubt whether I would feel safe hiking the local mountain weekly like I do here, Safe from violent crime or from snakes and critters.

I picture South Africa full of friendly welcoming people who like their rugby, their BBQ's, dried meat sticks and who think fondly on New Zealand.

I'm picturing the weather being very similar to here, only better thunder storms.