Smitten Kitten

Mass Merchanditis

Of the four full days I’ve had in Africa, three of them have been spent in malls. I’ve now a very cute little digicam and my own phone (please e-mail me if you’d like the number), and I’m all shopped out.  No more shopping, please. I’ve got to sort out my bank card, as it refuses to give me money, but I’ll get that handled.

The malls here aren’t very different from malls I’ve seen anywhere else. There is a noticeable increase in security personnel, devices and retail outlets for such things, but otherwise they’re just malls.

Jo-burg does have a more unique option for shopping. People stand at intersections with fruit or bungee cords or newspapers … whatever will make a profit. They walk down the line of stopped cars at a traffic light (robot) and try to hock their goods. There are beggars, too.

As I understand it, there are very few laws regarding businesses and free enterprise. South Africa encourages people to be creative with their business ideas, so they don’t have a lot of complicated rules for businesses.  As a result, the country is full of entrepreneurs. It’s a very short route to success here, if you have a good idea and the means to implement it.

On a related note, I go to meet my new boss this morning. I’m nervous because I have to walk and it’s a fair distance, but it’s a nice day and I’m reassured it’s a good area. I’m sure I’ll be ok. In any event, I’m not taking much of anything with me and nothing irreplaceable.

And some pictures! These are some quick shots of the backyard and one of the front. There are no pictures of the apartment as it is tiny and currently clothes-clogged. The lavender trees you see on the street are all throughout Jo-burg.  When you look  back at the city (from Pretoria, for example), you can see long lavender lines going ‘round the hillsides.