I want to live in Sa. How?
Discussion
Hi just a bit of background about me, I've always been strangely linked to SA, seems a lot of my friends are either from there, or family are from there or live there, also from about 16 (when I started working) I realised I had no desire to live in this god forsaken country any longer than I had to.
I spent a lot of my life in France so that was always an option, but although I can speak French, and have been doing from an early age languages don't come naturally to me, and I still feel an outsider, I don't realistically think I would ever feel French.
Australia and New Zealand were considered but both have very strict entry rules, and something just didn't feel right.
America was one of the closest but I don't honestly have anything to offer to go down the Green card scheme, however the life is about perfect for me.
But the one that really seems to fit for me is SA, the life seems to fit mine nicely, the climate is perfect, I get on well with people, including the humour, I understand the negatives and frankly am prepared to just get on with it and work hard for my living.
So my questions are:
I know SA is in the commonwealth, how do you go about living in SA? Do I need to acquire a job first?
Is there a service which assists foreigners with obtaining work? Trade wise I am in engineering, building and restoring specialist and classic vehicles mainly. But anything Engineering wise or practical works for me.
Which areas of SA would be good to look to live, obviously relatively safe, preferably somewhere not too far from the coast, near a large town/city, decent roads, reasonable services.
How much is property out there?
Bringing a car across? Practical? Do you get nailed with import duty even if it is your own personal vehicle? How much are cars? How much is fuel? Do you have MOTs, tax etc. How much is car insurance?
Really anyone with any advice or help would be much appreciated, I'm 26 soon to be 27 and frankly want to get something sooner rather than later.
I spent a lot of my life in France so that was always an option, but although I can speak French, and have been doing from an early age languages don't come naturally to me, and I still feel an outsider, I don't realistically think I would ever feel French.
Australia and New Zealand were considered but both have very strict entry rules, and something just didn't feel right.
America was one of the closest but I don't honestly have anything to offer to go down the Green card scheme, however the life is about perfect for me.
But the one that really seems to fit for me is SA, the life seems to fit mine nicely, the climate is perfect, I get on well with people, including the humour, I understand the negatives and frankly am prepared to just get on with it and work hard for my living.
So my questions are:
I know SA is in the commonwealth, how do you go about living in SA? Do I need to acquire a job first?
Is there a service which assists foreigners with obtaining work? Trade wise I am in engineering, building and restoring specialist and classic vehicles mainly. But anything Engineering wise or practical works for me.
Which areas of SA would be good to look to live, obviously relatively safe, preferably somewhere not too far from the coast, near a large town/city, decent roads, reasonable services.
How much is property out there?
Bringing a car across? Practical? Do you get nailed with import duty even if it is your own personal vehicle? How much are cars? How much is fuel? Do you have MOTs, tax etc. How much is car insurance?
Really anyone with any advice or help would be much appreciated, I'm 26 soon to be 27 and frankly want to get something sooner rather than later.
Actually met you at goodwood shel!
Thanks thats a good start, the target I have set is a new life elsewhere by 30, got 3 years to get sorted, gone and settled. Have 2 options left out of my list, one is short term money orientated (saudi) the other is long term living orientated (SA) it seems strange as I know a good few ex saffas who would never consider going back, yet I kind of feel similar about Britain wherever else in the world I am I feel more at home than I do in the UK. I think what does it for me is the constant shafting from every direction the UK, the goverment shafts you, the business shaft you, customers shaft you, yet there are no pay backs like gorgeous weather and relaxed life, in the UK if I'm not going to be self employed to earn a good living I have to work 12hours a day 6 days a week, giving me the daily life of get up, work, come home tea,shower,bed.
I've not got rose tinted glasses about SA, I know about the crime and violence out there, and the cartels and the government, but to look past all that what a life.
Thanks thats a good start, the target I have set is a new life elsewhere by 30, got 3 years to get sorted, gone and settled. Have 2 options left out of my list, one is short term money orientated (saudi) the other is long term living orientated (SA) it seems strange as I know a good few ex saffas who would never consider going back, yet I kind of feel similar about Britain wherever else in the world I am I feel more at home than I do in the UK. I think what does it for me is the constant shafting from every direction the UK, the goverment shafts you, the business shaft you, customers shaft you, yet there are no pay backs like gorgeous weather and relaxed life, in the UK if I'm not going to be self employed to earn a good living I have to work 12hours a day 6 days a week, giving me the daily life of get up, work, come home tea,shower,bed.
I've not got rose tinted glasses about SA, I know about the crime and violence out there, and the cartels and the government, but to look past all that what a life.
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