CultureShock! South Africa , livre ebook

Marshall Cavendish International - Dee Rissik

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193 pages

English

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CultureShock! South Africa takes you to a country that was once torn apart by legalized segregation and censorship but which has since reinvented itself. With its diverse peoples as well as a rich and varied heritage, the country offers an experience like no other. This book is an essential and comprehensive guide to working through South African culture, helping readers understand its tumultuous past so as to make sense of its present and future. In addition, all concerns facing a first-time long-term visitor such as housing, immigration laws, transport and office etiquette are all effectively discussed. CultureShock! South Africa is your companion to navigate what the wonderful land has to offer, settle down and succeed in the country's complex society.

Sujets

Republic of South Africa

South Africa

Afrique du Sud

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Publié par	Marshall Cavendish International
Date de parution	01 février 2011
Nombre de lectures	1
EAN13	9789814398664
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	2 Mo

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This 5th edition published in 2011 by:
Marshall Cavendish Corporation
99 White Plains Road
Tarrytown, NY 10591-9001
www.marshallcavendish.us
Copyright 2008 Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited
Copyright 2000 Times Media Private Limited
Copyright 1994 Times Editions Private Limited
All rights reserved
First published in 1994 by Times Editions Pte Ltd; 2nd edition published in 2000 by Times Media Pte Ltd; 3rd edition published in 2001. 4th edition by Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited in 2008, reprinted 2009
Copyright 2008, 2011 Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited
All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Request for permission should be addressed to the Publisher, Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited, 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196. Tel: (65) 6213 9300, fax: (65) 6285 4871.
E-mail: genref@sg.marshallcavendish.com
The publisher makes no representation or warranties with respect to the contents of this book, and specifically disclaims any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose, and shall in no events be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
Other Marshall Cavendish Offices:
Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited. 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196 Marshall Cavendish International. PO Box 65829, London EC1P 1NY, UK Marshall Cavendish International (Thailand) Co Ltd. 253 Asoke, 12th Flr, Sukhumvit 21 Road, Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Marshall Cavendish (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Times Subang, Lot 46, Subang Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Batu Tiga, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Marshall Cavendish is a trademark of Times Publishing Limited
eISBN: 978 981 4398 66 4
Please contact the publisher for the Library of Congress catalogue number
Printed in Singapore by Times Printers Pte Ltd
Photo Credits:
All black and white photos by the author. All colour photos from Photolibrary. Cover photo: Getty Images
All illustrations by TRIGG
ABOUT THE SERIES
Culture shock is a state of disorientation that can come over anyone who has been thrust into unknown surroundings, away from one s comfort zone. CultureShock! is a series of trusted and reputed guides which has, for decades, been helping expatriates and long-term visitors to cushion the impact of culture shock whenever they move to a new country.
Written by people who have lived in the country and experienced culture shock themselves, the authors share all the information necessary for anyone to cope with these feelings of disorientation more effectively. The guides are written in a style that is easy to read and cover a range of topics that will arm readers with enough advice, hints and tips to make their lives as normal as possible again.
Each book is structured in the same manner. It begins with the first impressions that visitors will have of that city or country. To understand a culture, one must first understand the people-where they came from, who they are, the values and traditions they live by, as well as their customs and etiquette. This is covered in the first half of the book.
Then on to the practical aspects-how to settle in with the greatest of ease. Authors walk readers through topics such as how to find accommodation, get the utilities and telecommunications up and running, enrol the children in school and keep in the pink of health. But that s not all. Once the essentials are out of the way, venture out and try the food, enjoy more of the culture and travel to other areas. Then be immersed in the language of the country before discovering more about the business side of things.
To round off, snippets of basic information are offered before readers are tested on customs and etiquette of the country. Useful words and phrases, a comprehensive resource guide and list of books for further research are also included for easy reference.
CONTENTS
Preface
Map of South Africa
Chapter 1
First Impressions: Shifting Sands
Chapter 2
The Land and its History
The Look
Where is it?
A World in One Country
Landownership
More Provinces, Bigger Cities
Record of a Long Road Travelled
The Land of Milk and Honey
The Rise of Apartheid
Black Resistance Gains Strength
The Decline of Apartheid
The Fall of Apartheid
The Desparate Battle Against HIV/AIDS
Who s Who in Politics
What s in a Name?
Neighbours
Chapter 3
Our People: A Multicoloured Tapestry
Celebrating our Racial Differences
Racism Doesn t Die Overnight
Cool Dudes of the Townships, Hip Mall Trawlers
Ignorance is Bliss, But it s Getting Better
That South African-ness
The Fairer Sex-Don t Even Go There
Gay and Lesbian Rights Up in Lights
Chapter 4
A New Society: Join In, Fit In
Making Friends
The Many Faces of Communications
Names that Divide... If You Must
Aspirations
Attitudes to Sex and Babies
HIV/AIDS: Our Greatest Tragedy and Our Greatest Challenge
Divorce
Tribal Customs
Male Chauvinists-Not a Dying Breed
The Great Rural-Urban Divide
Censorship
Family Planning
Entertaining-South African Style
Lifecycle Milestones
Religion
Chapter 5
Settle in, Make Yourself at Home
How Things Have Changed
Do You Have What it Takes?
Pre-immigration Advice
Housing: The Practical Tips
Work to Rule
Househelp
The School System
The Four-legged Love of Your Life
Staying Connected
Light Up Your Life
Banking
Paying Your Dues
Crime Watch
Getting Around in the Cities and Towns
Getting Around from City to City
Shop Till You Drop
Media Madness
Keep Cool with a Swimming Pool
Be Weather Wise
Dressed for Success
Chapter 6
Culinary Crossroads
Food, Food, Glorious Food
African Dishes
Where to Get that...
Eating Out: Be Bold
Celebrate in Style: Grand Style
What s There to Drink
Entertaining at Home
Chapter 7
Join in the Fun, Share in the Culture, Take a Trip
Leisure-It s an Outdoor World
Nightlife
Sport
Some of Our Sporting Heroes
Travelling in South Africa
Survival Sense
WIldlife and Environmental Management
And Try Our Neighbours Fare
The Arts
Annual Arts Festivals-Not to be Missed
Theatre
Fine Art
Craft
Music
Architecture
Art, Culture and Politics-Then and Now
Chapter 8
Learning the Language... All of them
Langauges Aplenty-Colourful and Diverse
African Languages-A Complex Mixture
Literacy: A Long Road to Hoe
Kaleidoscope of Colour
Some Words and Expressions to Help You
When Words Fail You...
Chapter 9
About Business
The Wealth Ethic
Making Your Own Way
Alternative Financing
Gateway to Africa
High Costs of High-Tech
What Fuels Our Economic Engine?
Forms of Business Entities
Business Etiquette and Practice
Outside Government-Role of NGOs
The Power of the Workers
The Old Boys Network
Small is Beautiful
Chapter 10
Fast Facts
Where in the World are You Living
National Symbols
Public Holidays
Steps Through History
Recent Leaders
Culture Quiz
Do s and Don ts
Glossary
Resource Guide
Further Reading
About the Author
Index
DEDICATION
For my partner, David, who shares my love of lands strange and wonderful, my love of Africa and of life. And who, although an Australian, understands the magnetism, the lifelong ties that draw me back to South Africa time and again.

PREFACE
Moving from the cosy confines of wherever you call home to the strange and wonderful (or initially sometimes far from wonderful) ways of a new land, a new people and a new culture, is certainly no easy task. In fact, it rates very high on the ladder of the most stressful thing we do in our lives.
But one of the best ways to minimise the hassles, inconveniences and insecurities we all feel when surrounded by things strange and new, is to be as well-informed as possible about each aspect of the life we are about to begin.
Being a born and bred South African who has had the privilege of living and working in a wide variety of foreign countries and cultures, I am only too aware of how the initial difficulties seem insurmountable: the smallest setback can seem like a major calamity in those early days. But once you are an old hand, you can rest assured you will look back at those tetchy moments in stunned amazement and with a large dose of merriment.
I hope reading this book will give you a little insight into who we South Africans really are, how we live and how we have changed. I hope it will be enough of a taste of the Rainbow Nation to make your stay, however long or short it may be, a positively memorable one.
Writing this book was no easy task, but for the first edition I had the assistance of my mother, Jan Rissik, whom I thank for all the hours of research she did for me, for reading some of my copy and bouncing ever more ideas off me. Now, more than a decade later, I hope this fully updated, new edition again captures the spirit of a very different country. My great appreciation and thanks is extended to everybody who has helped me put this book together-wittingly, deliberately, or quite unintentionally by simply being South African.

I heard the drum beat behind your footsteps And the children of the south began to sing. -Mazisi Kunene, South African poet

I T MAY SEEM STRANGE FOR ME to be writing about my first impression given that I was born and raised here. But the explanation is simple. I have lived away from South Africa on so many occasions in my adult life-sometimes for a number of years at a time, sometimes only for a year or two, or even just a few months-that each time I return home, I find myse