I was just wondering how South Africans view america and Americans. I am an American, and I don't know anything about Africa other than the commercials on t.v. about starving children and diseases. Is that how it really is?

Well, from what I have heard, not all the countries of Africa are starving. What you see on TV is a paid advertisement. The media wants you to see what they feel is necessary to evoke a sense of pity. This way you'll pull out your pocket book and start sending off your money. Yeah, they do drop them food and supplies, but not alot of it. In fact, they do it on purpose to keep the business alive. If they fed all the poor people, then their foundation will no longer be necessary. So when you send them money, essentially you are paying someone's paycheck. I do not agree with those organizations.

However, back to the original question, Africa is made up of several small countries. Each seems to have their own form of government. I know that in South Africa, it is a democracy and is not unlike America is some respects. There are poor towns, like in the US. I think that the country is doing quite well.

Gaikotsu

I spent a very enjoyable 6 months in the USA and was struck by the sheer size of the country and the friendliness of its people. However, I was also shocked that most Americans I met knew very little about what goes on outside of their immediate driving distance. I was also amazed at the wastefulness of the people.. talk about a throwaway society. I know we could have easily supported many families in SA on what was thrown out. Still, at every aspect of american life that I encountered there was always an underlying patriotism, the people there were of so many varying backgrounds and cultures.. but they were always Americans whereas in SA we will always be white and indian and coloured and afrikaans etc...

Love the States

I am South African living in the US for the past 5 years and it has been truly wonderful. My hubby is an American and I can honestly say that I have had no bad experiences with Americans. I love them and they love me. I still have my SA accent( which I won't think will ever leave) and they just love it when I open my mouth. Needless to say I have encountered alot of slack from American women because I am natural nothing fake about me, Because they tend to wonder where I got my long curly hair from, etc...Most Americans have this idea that people from African descent used to live in huts and they have Loins and Zebras walking around in the street, etc....Where I am from Nothing like that, Cape Town is a combination of Miami, San Fransisco and Hawaii, absolutely beautiful, with it's white sand beaches and The Mountain, etc. My hubby loves SA so much that we have actually decided to move back there for about 2 years this coming june. Please whenever you get the chance go visit you will not be sorry, people are friendly and hospitable and what you see on TV is all propoganda.....

Gosh...i envy you South Africans....i really do. I wonder what I would have become if I was born and raised in South Africa. INstead I was raised in America...in Garland/Dallas Texas. For 27 years I have remained here in this prison of sorts. America can be a beautiful place...depending on where you are and who you are with.

However I am bored with Texas. I have never left...mainly because I have never had the oppurtunity. I want so badly to go to South Africa from all I have heard. I hope to one day live there...at least for a year if not more.

I wonder what I could do there? I seemed to have failed here in America. I tried becoming an artist. However, even with my great talent...I am told because I haven;t a college degree I am not worth hiring. I tried being a Computer Technician. I did that for 5 years and made alot of money and was very good...but in the end, it boiled down to no colege degree or cirtificates (this came about when our rescession hit.)

Now i am back in college, living with my father. I hope to get a egree of some sorts or just to learn really. I just wish there were some way of me being accepted in South Africa...and go there...be on my own with a friedly group of people.

Such a life would make me happy.........

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Originally posted by ameliamorgan
Love the States

Funny, I'm going to South Africa for the first time. I have never been there and never really payed that much attention to anything that took place over there. I have a friend who lives over there who talked me in to coming out there for a visit. Now I'm actually looking at the possibility of moving there. I've been to alot of different places in the world, although South Africa is one place I never would have figured I would be going to. I hear all kinds of stories about the crime and the violence, and that worries me a little bit, but my friend has lived there all her life and she loves it and says that it's really no different that going to a big city in the states, you just have to pay attention and don't be stupid. I've seen alot of crime in the States and I don't where you go, you will always have crime. So I'm going to go over there and check it out for myself and not listed to hearsay.

If you really have the desire to go out to south africa.. then just do it. Take a month and go and have a look around. Its not going to cost to much converting from ?Dollars to Rands. There is nothing more nerve wracking and exciting at the same time then touching down in a new country, especialy if its your first trip.

In my opinion, if you wonder what a country must be like , then you may as well go find out. Ive been to the States, and let me tell you, it is way different to anything you have there.

I had fun traveling through some of America, but in 7 years or traveling, I allways tend to go home for a visit every year and a half... its just that good.

Ive met some friendly Americans, but they are funny, not much idea about the outside world. But then again, the cool american friends i made were the ones i met in Mexico !!