By 'Bad South Africans', I mean people who are not good at being South African, who don't like South Africa, but are nonetheless South Africans. They are not necessarily bad people, but they are bad South Africans.
I've known quite a few of them. Some of them are even friends of mine. Point is, they emigrate. The funny thing about South Africans, is that they will always act like refugees when they choose to leave the country. A friend of mine got a high-up job for Rolls Royce, but ask him why he left the country and he'll tell you it was because crime became intolerable (which is what all ex-pats say) rather than that he chose to leave because he was offered a jolly good job (which is what actually happened).
So, you'd think they'd be happy at all events. Greener pastures, etc, etc - but no. Let's take the example of Mr Rolls Royce. He left the country some years back. I get regular letters bemoaning the terrible weather in England, the awful people who complain about just everything, the crime (even that!) and so on and so on. So. It doesn't seem like he's all that happy does it? Why is it that I'm starting to think that the RR family are chronic complainers?
A lot of South Africans think they'll make more money elsewhere, and one will - at least on the surface. I have it on good authority that a Mc Donald's assistant in the States earns more than I do with a degree over here. I can earn what seems to me to be vast amounts of money elsewhere. Mistake. Taxes. Cost of Living. Especially cost of living... I'd be earing more than I can imagine at present and be as poor as a church-mouse.
A few of my friends have made that mistake. Some of them want to come back, but they can't afford to. Some say they're 'Doing it for their children'. One of them even said that they thought it irresponsible to raise children in SA. I offered to forward their mail to our mutual acquaintances (The ones with children) for comment, but they refrained from taking up my offer.
Point is, the grass is not always greener on the other side. If you have scarce skills: say medical qualifications, the offers are very attractive and you might even be better off after all, but for most of us all that waits across the water are jobs as overqualified and underpaid grunt labour.
Oh yes, but I was forgetting: SA expats are without exception refugees. Money and the desire to leave the third world in order to live in wealthier countries doesn't even enter the equation. Tch! Its all for the kiddies, isn't it? I hope they appreciate it.
And where do bad South Africans go? Canada, New Zealand and Australia mostly. Now you know.
Today's pic: 'I wonder if the next clover flower has more nectar?'
