Lincn OT- SOUTH AFRICA | Arthritis Information

HI. Just trying to work my way through messages and posts.After being away for 2 weeks thats a lot of reading.

Where were you in South Africa?

We lived in Natal, just outside Zululand and then I moved to Durban and then Pinetown. We also live in Transvaal for a while and Capetown. I moved out there in 1976 from Uk. My father opened a paper mill out there. I came back to the uk in 1995 because of the political problems and violence.

I was only there for 2 weeks, but I came home wanting to move there. I stayed in a small city called Ghanahoek (sp?) Not too far away from Port Elizabeth.Its a beautiful place and I really loved living there.My sister in law still lives there. We travelled up the Garden Route so we passed by Port elizabeth ( very windy). I have some lovely photos of P.E. and areas in that region. I will have a look at them maybe I can find where you were. I havent heard of Ghanahoek but as SA is so vast I am not suprised.. Is there a landmark in that area?No, not really. It was sorta in the middle of nowhere. We stayed at a hunting camp called southern cross. SA was the most amazing place I've been, ever. We did get to see alot of different areas though we didn't spend much time in any of the bigger cities. We only saw Table Mountain from the air.Oh man, I'm so jealous. Africa is one place I really wanna go to someday. Oh man Lori, if you get the chance, go. I've been three times, to South Africa, Zimbabwi and Mozambique. If not for the poitical unrest, I'd live there.I took care of a guy not long ago who had gone to Africa on a hunting trip.
He came home with that African sleeping sickness. Almost died. What was
interesting was the CDC sent us the chemotherapy that he needed for
months to get over it. Anyway, that was a bit off topic but when I think of
Africa, I think about that. Oh, and btw, he said he'd go back in a heartbeat
cuz he has such a great time, lol. Maybe someday.

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Do you mean encephalitis? Do you get that from mosquitos, or some other parasite?

My husband got malaria while we were in Mozambique. Took pills to prevent it, got it anyway. He was one sick man, fever headache. Spent a couple days in the hospital. Came out of it alright though, and I know he'd go back at the drop of a hat.

There is such a diverse culture in South Africa and the sights and the smells of the country make it so different from anywhere else. I had friends who lived in the transkei, I lost my passport and wanted to visit them so instead of going through the border control I swam across the umzimkulu river. I was only told afterwards that the river had crocs in it.

My sister and her family went to Tanzania this summer to help a village build a new school. They were there for 3 weeks and absolutely loved it. They loved the place and the people. They definitely want to go back.

Ya'll are making me sooo envious! How romantic and interesting everything sounds! Pin's pictures are so breath taking you feel you are there. Makes me yearn to travel outside the country. I love these stories

My cousin married a man whos parents were South African. He was born in SA although he grew up in America. He and his family are very enlightened when it comes to race and tolerance of reigious beliefs.

Rather odd isn't it?

Do you mean encephalitis? Do you get that from mosquitos, or some
other parasite?

My husband got malaria while we were in Mozambique. Took pills to
prevent it, got it anyway. He was one sick man, fever headache. Spent a
couple days in the hospital. Came out of it alright though, and I know he'd
go back at the drop of a hat.

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Yes, it was encephalitis. It was some sort of a flying bug that he got it from.
I guess he laid in bed for a few days before his family realized something
was wrong. The CDC told us that it is so rare to have a patient with this type
of illness in the US. It was interesting learing about it.

I was 12 when I went to South Africa and spent most of my school years there. In the 1970's South Africa was on the verge of a lot of political changes ( the Soweto riots ) Apartheid was very much alive then too which was distressing for us as UK Imigrants as I had been to school in the UK with many diffrent race people. Africans were not allowed to go to our schools, hospitals or even travel on the same buses.The africans had to carry pass books to say why they were out after a certain time at night. Sanctions were on in South Africa too because of apartheid so we couldnt get a lot of things from other countries.What amazed me most though was the Africans themselves, for all the hardships they had been through they always smiled and sang and looked like life was good to them.They are the most lovliest people who were just treated so bad.

South Africa has so much to offer everyone but because of pig headed politicians way back who thought that they knew better its now made the country full of violence and crime.

My children are all South African born so its a heritage that they will always have and we like to tell them about.

My youngest child was born as Nelson Mandela was being inaugurated(sp)

Every country has certain areas that still have archiac ideals, south Africa just had a name for it.

I know lots of South Africans who are definetly not racists. I think its the way we are brought up as children.

South Africa is somewhere everyone given the chance should go to.