While traveling abroad it’s easy to get caught up in noting differences and similarities between foreign and familiar cultures. Urban South Africa has proven to be quite the study in such behaviour. Aside from minor examples like everyone being a smoker, the populace’s generally poor pedestrian/driver ability and near non-existent internet connectivity; the difference in security measures stand as the strongest example of contrast.

It’s not uncommon to have assistants help you park your car at a shopping mall, wearing a Kevlar vest amongst other supplies and smile politely all the way. Wire-barbed electrified-fortified walls line almost every city block and they are simply unavoidable from view. Oddly, we’ve become accustomed to our ever present fortification. We patiently wait to enter facilities by passing a drop-arm bar and/or guard tower like docile farm animals being herded about. At the end of the day, if the safety of our family is increased by such measures we are proponents of this notable difference, albeit reluctant Canadian ones.

– Jimmy