Car, Couch and Career

September 25, 2013

This is a post I have been wanting to write for a long time. But, good things take time. And so, I am elated that I am finally able to write about the three things we thought might never happen. Or, at least, the things that took their time happening.

I also wanted to write this post is to provide some colour on the settling-in process and some of the "logistical challenges" we experienced with moving overseas. Because let's face it; while the travelling and exploring is amazing, at the root of it all is life, and while it might not conjure up the same feelings of excitement as seeing the desert elephants in Namibia or hiking in the world's third largest canyon, it is the reason we are able to do those things, and ultimately forms the total experience of living here.

Before arriving in South Africa M and I settled on the vehicle we wanted to purchase here: a Toyota Fortuner. We had heard horror stories about the poor condition of the roads here, and that an SUV would provide better safety for us driving around in a city that sells smash and grab protection for a reason. However; after arriving in Joburg and spending time in the city, we soon became aware of the other side of the coin: petrol is expensive, the roads are narrow, the parking spaces small, and the vast majority of people drive compact hatchbacks, putting a nice target on a giant shiny SUV. My company offers a car purchase program to facilitate the vehicle purchase process for expats, but, like most things that are new and not-so-well-oiled, there were some hiccups along the way. After over two months of living here and still without our own car, we decided we might need to consider changing course. Actually, I woke up one day so frustrated with the whole thing that in the (rental) car on the way to work I said to M, "Maybe we should just go out and buy a car ourselves." By the end of the week, he had found us an adorable hatchback, still under warranty, and it could be ours by the end of the week. Sold! You might be wondering why we didn't just do this in the first place? With all of the things that required sorting, it only made sense to utilize the few programs that are in place to help make things a bit easier. And besides, the important part of this story is that while it didn't work out as planned, it actually worked out better.

Given a two-year timeline we decided before we even touched African soil that it didn't make sense for us to ship our belongings over from Canada, and that we would find a furnished place to rent instead. In theory this seemed like the right approach. However; (there's always a however with these stories, isn't there?) we struggled trying to find a place that ticked all of the boxes: somewhere where I could go running from our front door, close enough to the office that I wouldn't be forced to get up before dawn and fight traffic everyday, a place with a nice outdoor space that would allow us to enjoy the incredible climate here and the outdoor braai culture (something that's a little tricky on a 10th floor flat), and was furnished. The long and short of it was that we were not going to find something that met all of our criteria, and was within our budget. And since the budget factor directly impacted our travelling fund, we were not willing to budge on price. The process of finding a place forced us to learn the neighbourhoods in the city, do our research, and become fast-friends with fellow-expats and locals in order to pick their brains for tips and tricks. We found the perfect unfurnished place, and after a few quick calculations (we are accountants, after all) we decided it made more sense to buy our own furniture rather than fork out the monthly rent for a suitable furnished place. While it took over three months before we actually had a couch, in the end we wound up with a lekker place that is perfect for us. 

When we set out on this adventure we knew that it was going to take a significant amount of time, luck, and patience in order for M to start his career here. In fact, we were not even convinced that it would be possible. We certainly hoped it would be though. Shortly after we arrived M had an interview that after a few weeks turned into a verbal offer. It was the perfect fit for him and would provide precisely the type of experience he was looking to gain here. And then the waiting began. For the written offer. For the work permit application to be submitted. For the work permit application to be approved. For the work permit application to be officially adhered to M's passport. We managed to use this time for M to tackle some of the administrative matters that go with settling in (see above car and apartment related drama), but there was still plenty of time for him to determine if he should forgo the workforce and join the pro circuit. When things were still in process (or limbo, depending on how you look at it), we decided to take a trip to Namibia, knowing that when (not if) he started work it would be awhile before we would be able to take time off together. This turned out to be one of the best trips M and I have ever taken. Seriously, Ever. And then, six months and three days from the day we landed in South Africa, M started work. It was the last piece of the settling-in puzzle for us, and represented a huge step toward the opportunity for this to be a game-changing experience for both of us, not only in life but also in our individual careers.

Before we moved here we were well aware (and aptly warned) that things in Africa take time. I've heard my co-workers and fellow expats mutter "T-I-A"  many times: This Is Africa. I'm certainly not saying this as a slam by any means (I did spend two years trying to make this move happen, after all), but more as a reminder of the fact that we knew in advance that we could not come here expecting things to happen the way they do in Canada, since, well, this isn't Canada. And let's be honest, an international move to anywhere is a mission. So, the fact that we've been able to settle into our life here without any major mishaps and even gain a few good stories along the way, is a resounding success in my books.