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Hey everyone! So I'm an Australian that's going to be swapping the vast flat landscapes of Perth, Australia for the vast bumpy landscapes of Cape Town, South Africa. The good news is I have a heap of family over on that side who are happy to break me of my optimistic small-town habit of not locking my doors at night and leaving my car-keys in the ignition. The okay news is I've got a bit of money in the moving fund, a possible job lined up, and my partner is over there so he's happy to do the legwork as far as apartment viewing etc. are concerned. The bad news is other then a few tourist experiences, I have very little idea of what areas would be good to live in, what the work culture is like, and just the nitty gritty of moving to a new city in another country. I'd like to stay in an area easily accessible to the city center since that's more then likely where I'll be working. I would have posted this in the moving megathread, but I noticed most of it seemed to be advice specific to North America. So Cape Town goons, any advice for a new arrival? Any Australians here who've moved to what is arguably one of the most beautiful cities I've ever been to? I've always had a good time whenever I've visited, everyone seems super friendly, the beach and night life are fantastic, and there's all these wonderful little towns to drive out to when we've had a spare weekend. I must mention that compared to Perth though, rents are dirt cheap. A swimmingpool, outdoor area and undercover parking in a new apartment complex that costs the same as a dingy one-bedroom here? Yes please!
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Oct 27, 2014 05:48
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| # ¿ Apr 28, 2024 06:02 |
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Thanks for the reply! Yeah I noticed that about Woodstock. I found some suspiciously lovely apartments for a bargain price, and was unsure how nice the area was. I'm looking at about 5-6,000 rand per month on preferably an apartment. I'd prefer a 2-bedroom if I could find it, so I can set up my studio and have a bit of extra space. And yeah, I'm well aware of the dangers of living in South Africa. Other then telling you how wonderful the country is (it really is) there's nothing a South African loves doing more then telling you about all the HORRIBLE CRIMES that have occurred to one or more of their relatives recently. I spend most conversations like that looking like this:  I'll be relying on my partner for transport for the first few months, so I was wondering if Public Transport is a viable option if he's not available. Obviously if its late at night, I'd be better off catching a taxi or something, but during the daylight hours?
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Oct 28, 2014 01:08
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Crazy C posted:Not sure if you have already been looking but look around on gumtree.co.za for places. Yep, definitely been checking Gumtree. Although it seems most places on there only advertise a month or two in advance. So I'll have to hold tight for a little while at least. Haha, oh man, those drat taxis. My grandma is old, angry and full of Afrikaans, and didn't give a poo poo about what my uncle had to say about a sixty year old woman catching one of those things to go shopping in Durban. She took me along once and it was exhilarating how few fucks the driver seemed to give. Saladman posted:You missed the other thread a couple months ago -- a couple South Africans were posting about their security setups (one is I think north of Joburg?) that had like automated turrets, guard dogs, laser defense grids, a single entry bridge rigged with explosives, and a 24 hour a day Predator drone for the neighborhood. My memory may be slightly exaggerating what was actually posted. My uncle had something like that set up at his complex. It was like trying to enter the DMZ what with a guard every few metres in his own little box. Didn't stop them getting robbed twice though  Crazy C posted:I'm 26 and I have lived in pretty decent suburbs all my life and we have been burgled twice and my car has been broken into once It's weird how I've grown up in the city here in Aus and have had almost no contact with guns at all. Visiting the same uncle I remember how spooked I got when he walked in, calmly dropped his massive shotgun(?) on the dinner table and just started eating supper like it was no big thang. My sister grew up in South Africa and had her car stolen at gunpoint. She bought this tiny gun that holsters around her ankle. Still freaks me out. Fake edit: oh great, I've begun to tell stories of all my relatives getting recently robbed. Truly, I have begun to assimilate already.
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Oct 29, 2014 02:53
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Crazy C posted:A mate just got screwed renting a new place from a private ad on gumtree. Handed in all the normal requested docs and paid 2 months + rent. Arrives at the house to collect keys and sees a "Sold" sign in front and now can't contact the dude. Thanks for the heads up! When I was moving to Canada for school for a year I replied to a few of the obvious scam ones for the hell of it. The responses were always hilarious. I've got more of an advantage in that my partner is there to look at places for me. In fact they're checking a place out for me this weekend in Observatory! Can anyone comment on the area?
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Nov 10, 2014 11:11
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