[LeRoux Strydom]

Jeff, again I respect your view as seen through the experience of your acquaintance. However, may I give a counter-view and argue that many millions of people have very normal livelihoods here, going out for a dinner, to the movies, beach holidays, for a stroll through the park, visiting friends, off to the grocery store, going camping, off to the church/school/library etc. Countless executives of billion-dollar (yes billion dollar) corporations live and work here, were born here, and would not dream of leaving. Major global corporations like BMW, VW/Audi, Toyota, Daimler-Chrysler, BHP-Billiton, Anglo-American, Barclays, Mittal Steel etc etc are investing billions in this country, because the returns await the knowledgable and the patient. Yes, many people left for many reasons, and guess what, there are just as many returning for another variety of reasons.

Sure, many people may have had bad experiences, compared to their relatively safe lives elsewhere in the first world. But if you are prepared to adjust and be aware of the issues and how to effectively deal with them as you would do in most parts of the world today, you could have a very good life here.

I think the problem is that most westerners (read Europeans and Americans) tend to judge any place elsewhere in the world against very high standards, forgetting that the world today is actually a rather dangerous place, and not just in the physical sense. Neglecting to adjust for those circumstances often lead to drama and disappointment.

I have also temporarily lived elsewhere in the world when I was younger (Germany), but as someone who was born here, it would have to a whole lot worse before I would consider leaving for good.

I actually prefer to spend my time and energy trying to help fix what is wrong here, than to complain and whinge from the sidelines. Somehow I still believe in destiny.

L