South Africa - Etelä-Afrikka

South Africa is located In Africa.

Regions

Cities

• Capetown
• Johannesburg
• Pretoria
• Durban

Please note

South Africa is experiencing an “African time,” which means things don’t usually go awry and agreed schedules may not be true. Delay is very common. Understanding the attributes of time and the attributes fast and slow mean very different things in South Africa than for us Finns. When we think Africans are slow or even lazy, they can feel very busy on their own. They should not be rushed as they find it rude and stressful.

The most confusing definitions of South African tenses are the sayings “just now” and “nownow”. The saying “Just now” does not necessarily mean its direct translation of “right now,” but may refer to the future or the past. Example 1: “I am coming just now,” “I am just coming.” means that a person can only arrive after several hours. Example 2: “I was in the meeting just now.”, “I was just in the meeting.” This sentence may mean that the person has been in a meeting yesterday, for example. The word “now” does not necessarily mean now, but this concept of time is also stretchable. If, on the other hand, we say “nownow”, “now, now”, this means that the thing is being done in the moment. Example 3: “I bring the paper to you nownow.”, “I bring the paper now.” Similar word repetition applies to other time-defining words, such as the use of the word quick. Example 4: "Do it quick, quick." “Do it fast, fast,” When the word is emphasized by repeating it, the purpose is to bring out the urgency of the matter.

Come

A Finnish citizen does not need a visa to South Africa if the trip lasts less than 90 days.

By plane

South Africa’s main airports are located In Johannesburg and In Cape Town. There are no direct flights from Finland to South Africa. There are the most flights London through, but Frankfurt you can get there a little faster. There are a lot of flights to South Africa too Paris and Amsterdam through.

By train

By road

By bus

At least you can get to South Africa by bus

• Namibia (from the capital Windhoek)
• Lesotho (located within South Africa)
• From Mozambique (from the capital Maputo)
• Eswatinista

At least the following bus companies operate in South Africa:

• Greyhound
• Intercape
• Interstate

For example, the bus from Pretoria to Cape Town costs R550, ie about € 40 (December 31, 2008). The trip is in the most expensive price range as the trip is very long.

A "backpacker" bus line operating on a slightly different principle

• Baz Bus

All these bus companies are the so-called. better quality buses than the so-called buses used by the poorer people. "bush taxi".

Buses run on schedule and do not pick up too many people, as is customary in bush taxis. Some buses have air conditioning and TVs.

By boat

A ship can enter or leave South Africa, at least on private vessels, as a "yacht pump". It is advisable to monitor, for example, hostel notice boards for ships that hire crews.

Cape Town is a legendary stopover for all African travelers on the waters so there is probably the best chance of finding a ship for yourself.

Move

Talk

Eleven official languages, other tribal languages ​​and the home languages ​​of migrants from all over the world are spoken in South Africa. The official languages ​​are: isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, Sepedi, English, Setswana, Sesotho, Xitsonga and SiSwati, Tshivenda and IsiNdebele. Most South Africans speak one or more of the country’s other languages ​​in addition to their own home language. Only 8.2 per cent, or about 3.7 million people, speak English as their mother tongue. However, more than 57 percent of South Africans are able to communicate in English, although English language skills are concentrated in urban areas. South African English can be difficult to understand, as it has over time been influenced by other languages ​​spoken in the country and the speaker’s pronunciation does not always Remind us of the language we have learned. It is worth remembering that sometimes a speaker can be as difficult to understand us as we are to him. For this reason, it is often better understood by speaking clear and slow English.

Regardless of the speaker's home language, the following words and phrases are commonly used by South Africans: - Ag shame = pity or nice. A saying that is used to express sympathy, but can also be used confusingly in a positive form. For example: "I had a wonderful holiday." Answer: “Ag shame”. "I was just on a great vacation." Answer: “How nice.” - and = yes to Afrikaans, however, used in all language groups - Jo`burg, Jozi, Egoli = Johannesburg nicknames - The Mother Town = Mother City. Means Cape Town.— Izzit? = Really? Is it so? The phrase “Oh really?” Is used on the farm.– Howzit, Hozzit? = How are you? - lekker = good, comfortable.– yebo = yes or good morning. The word is Zulu, but commonly used.– robots = traffic lights

Avoid the following words:

- boy / girl = boy / girl. Care should be taken when using words because during apartheid, words were used to address African adult men and women. - non-white = non-white. The word is an offensive racial apartheid description of human skin color. - kaffer / niger = pagan / nigger. Do not use under any circumstances! - God, Lord, Jesus = God, Jesus. Avoid making a point in vain because many South Africans are religious.

Buy

Currency

• Randi or ZAR
• 1 rand = 100 cents
• Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 14-15 ZAR

Price level

Eat

Juo

Grocery stores and e.g. petrol stations sell local wines. They can also be bought from vineyards and restaurants. A bottle opened at the restaurant can be requested on departure if there is a drink left. You can also take your own wine with you to many restaurants, in which case a corkage fee is usually charged for opening the bottle. The local wines are also cheap when ordered from the restaurant. Beers, ciders, etc. and strong alcohols are sold in separate stores = bottle store.

Local low-alcohol is also preferred in restaurants, imported goods relatively expensive. Many of the brands we know are also manufactured in the country under license, which is cheaper than the goods produced. You should check the prices when ordering alcohol and favor the local. South Africans, including men, drink a lot of colorful drinks. They also love different shots e.g. Springbok = cream liqueur and green mint.

Sleep

Study

Work

Stay safe

The disadvantage of traveling is crime. Robberies, rape and car hijacking are common. When moving outdoors, be vigilant and avoid moving at night. Driving at night is also not recommended, and even during the day the doors must be kept locked. Carrying money and other valuables with you is also a risk of robbery. Keep valuables close to your body, even in a breast pocket or some other secure hide.

The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs recommends that you make a travel declaration to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs or the Finnish missions before the trip. [1]

Stay healthy

• Website of the South African Ministry of Health [2]

Recommended vaccinations in addition to basic vaccines are hepatitis A and B vaccines. Use of antimalarial drugs mainly in or near nature parks.

AIDS is widespread in South Africa and about one in ten people is HIV-positive.

Respect

South Africans are proud of their country and its achievements. The country had an apartheid policy until 1994, after which black residents were given the same rights as Caucasians. Today, black and Caucasians are on good terms with each other.

South Africa is the first and only African country to allow same-sex marriages. That is what South Africa is said to be into a rainbow state.

The Rainbow Nation does not refer to gay rights, but Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, was the first to use the name of his rainbow nation, The Rainbow Nation, for his country and his people. This term is now commonly used and refers to the ethnic diversity of the population. The population is made up of at least twenty different ethnic groups. (Editors Inc 2004–2005, 18, 42.) South Africa is a rare country in that it is politically correct to talk about blacks, whites, colors, and Asians. These ethnic definitions are also used in official state documents.

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