I saw the Dragon. It didn’t breath fire, but it startled me. Fat and serpentine, it was sunning itself on the path ahead. It was in fact the large monitor lizard that lives in our estate. Its distinctive blue and yellow markings were clearly visible in the sunshine. Trying to restrain an over excited Cheese… Continue reading Dragon Sighting
Author: Expatorama
From dodging stray bullets in Lagos, to dodging stray cats in Istanbul, we are now getting cosy in Jozi. Far flung travels and further fetched tales of expat life.
Introducing Africa’s Iron Rule
Here in Africa we have an Iron Rule. It’s nothing to do with government control or military states. It’s to do with the state of electrical appliances, irons in particular. The Iron Rule is as follows: In Africa, 1 Iron will last 1 year. Then it will explode, fuse the house/entire neighbourhood or occasionally, without… Continue reading Introducing Africa’s Iron Rule
South African Wasps and Bees
Discover and identify some South African wasps and bees including the mud dauber wasp, the spider wasp, the paper wasp and the Carpenter bee.
Expat Friendship: The Expat Locationship
Expat Friendship and the Locationship
Dubai Days, Dubai Daze: Highlights
We’re back from a little jaunt to the Sandpit (Dubai). I’m still in a bit of a daze from the exhausting heat, the dizziness induced by looking up at all those glittering skyscrapers and the headiness of looking down at the ground from our birds-eye accommodation. I was dazed by the supersized malls and their… Continue reading Dubai Days, Dubai Daze: Highlights
Shopping up a Storm
We’re off to a summer wedding in the UK quite soon and I need an outfit. It’s winter fashion all the way at the moment here in Jo’burg, so finding appropriate attire is a no-go. By the time we land back in the UK we will be hitting the tail end of the summer stock, which… Continue reading Shopping up a Storm
Suitcase Shopping
Sweetpea has grown. Her old wheelie case now bobs along uncomfortably on the floor and bashes her leg with every step. Time to buy a bigger one… After examining every single case, pocket, locking system and colour available in the shop, she settled on a hot pink number, which we took to the counter. Meanwhile Pickle… Continue reading Suitcase Shopping
Surprise Soup
One of the wonderful things about being an expat is being part of a rich multinational community and the fact that you regularly have unexpected new experiences with lovely new people. For example… Last month a Japanese lady I barely knew threw open her doors and warmly welcomed a group of us over for a sushi… Continue reading Surprise Soup
South African English: A Slightly Silly Post
South African English can be confusing. Throw in some slang, some unique words and a few derived from Dutch. Let us decode and translate some of those words that have been baffling you.
Africa After All 5. Hats Off
I want to end this series of Africa Lite and yet Africa After All posts on a positive note. Despite all the inequality, despite all the problems, crime and other negative associations with Africa and in this particular set of posts, the country of South Africa, on many a street corner you will find somebody who… Continue reading Africa After All 5. Hats Off
Expatorama 