Driving in South Africa [Amy]

Well besides the bank account being wiped out, our greatest excitement so far is driving here and the process of buying a car. As you know we settled for a 7 seater volkswagon that will require great patience on the part of all of us because it is tight quarters. 8 seaters and above especially "Kombi's" which are large Volkwagon vans are used as taxis here, so when you own one you are at risk for two behaviors when you stop at a stop light. First, someone you don't know may try to get in your car because they need a ride somwhere, or second, someone may ask you to get out of your car because now it is theirs because they have the gun. The first behaviour would be fine with us, the second one propelled us to buy a smaller car. Now to get the car registered in your name..... Well, someone you know calls someone they know to call someone they know, to have that someone meet you at your home. Which he did, just to chat etc. We finally asked him what he did for a living and would not have been at all suprised had he said the South African Mafia. But, apparently he's just a nice South African bloke who helps foreigners buy cars because the law here is odd and hard to maneuver. At least that's what they tell us. I really don't know, you really don't have a choice but to go with it. It is interesting because there used to be a lot of laws on the books that discrimminated against black Africans. So, the black Africans, not trusting the white Africans, found ways around them via a "black market." Now with aparteid lifted, you have both black and white Africans in positions of power, but the white Africans do not trust the black Africans, so they make ways around things. It's funny how what goes around comes around. All I know is that we pay a guy a certain amount of Rand and then we own the car-I hope, or something like that. This is a country for trusting the Spirit and going with the flow, Certainty is not a part of every day life. But a maid is!!! Just came home from grocery shopping to a perfect house. Mike is concerned about my spoiledness level, as housework was not a forte of mine to begin with.
I ventured out alone with the kids today to grocery shop. When you drive here, you are sitting on the right side of the car, with the stick shift, (all the cars here are standard), in your left hand, and you are driving on the left side of the road. It is nuts, but I am getting the hang of it. Thak you to everyone that has posted, hopefully more will, it is really fun for the kids. We are loving it, this week has felt like a month, but time will heal all wounds I'm sure. Take care.
Amy