Full Version: American expat Charlotte lives with her husband in South Africa

American expat Charlotte lives with her husband in South Africa

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Though originally from the USA, Charlotte finds that she doesn't miss her homeland as much as the UK, where she and her husband lived before moving to their present residence near Johannesburg, South Africa. The cost of living is much more manageable, they are surrounded by natural beauty, the conditions are favorable for their passion for flying. There may be some rough spots--like being a bit too close to nature--but all in all it has so far been a memorable experience.
  
Charlotte Hanks Moher



February 08 2007
-Where were you born?
Boston, Massachusetts, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?  
On a nature reserve outside of Johannesburg, South Africa, but I've lived before that in London for five years.

-Are you living alone or with your family?
Just my husband and I, but my uncle does live in Johannesburg six months of the year.

-How long have you been living in South Africa?
Five months

-What is your age?
29 and three quarters

-When did you come up with the idea of living in South Africa?
We were offered jobs in my uncle's company and since we'd spent a lot of time here before, decided to go for it.  We are both pilots, and part of the upside of living here is that we have use of the company's aircraft, which helps us greatly.  The cost of living, the weather, and the adventure also factored in!

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Yes, it took us a year of work while we were in London.  Getting together the bits was a nightmare - police reports from every town you've lived in, medical reports, chest xrays, bank statements, you name it!

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
Nope, wasn't a problem.

-How do you make your living in South Africa? Do you have any type of income generated?
We work for my uncle's safari company.  It's the only way we could have come here.  We did some work for him in London and while we were here on holiday and he offered us our jobs.  We make a small salary from him and also get money from the rental of our flat in London.  The cost of living is low enough here that it's fine, albeit tight!

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?  
There are eleven local languages here, but most people speak English, thank God.  I don't think I could learn all of them if i tried.  I can exchange pleasantries in several, but luckily for us, English is the most widely used language.  We observe as many local customs as we can, which I find important, but there aren't many that really clash with our own.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Of course I do - but after living in London for five years, I don't miss America as much as London!  Funny to be homesick for the country I came to as an expat.  I suppose after living in London for so long, I've just become more attached to it than to the country I grew up in.

As far as recreational activities go, we're so busy travelling around Southern Africa that we don't get time for much else!  We've done a lot in this area, though - elephant riding, horse riding on the savannah, hiking around the reserve, game viewing, etc.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
We're here for at least another year, then back to London I think?  No idea.  I'd love to try living in Dubai though.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We're currently staying in my uncle's house while he's in America for a few months.  But soon we'll move into our own place--a 2-bedroom townhouse-type deal costs about USD$500/month, and that includes a pool, garden, etc, etc.

-What is the cost of living in South Africa?
Cheap.  We can go out to eat three times a week.  SUCH a nice change from London!

-What do you think about the South Africans?
Hoo boy, this could well be an essay.  Everyone treats foreigners well, people just don't treat each other well.  Racism is a massive problem here, I'm still shocked almost daily by some of the things people say.  Trying to get to know black folks is tough, the legacy of apartheid has made it such that people have a proscribed way of interacting and trying to break mold is hard, if not impossible in some cases.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in South Africa?
Positive: weather, cost of living, the nature and scenery, proximity to some amazing places, the flying, the food.
Negative:  Crime, crime, and more crime.  Racism, the venomous snakes and scorpions where we live, and all of the driving!  I hate having to drive everywhere!

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in South Africa?
It's not as bad as you'd think. :)

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about South Africa?
Not really, sadly.