| Latin America
Versus South Africa
Despite my
reservations about the country’s future South Africa may still be
one of my top places on my dance list.
However,
I’ve no intention whatsoever of relocating anywhere. The reason is quite
simple. My current life in my current Latin American backwater could hardly
be more pleasant. During my time in South Africa I was working for a business
and management consulting firm. My clothes looked accordingly from
Monday to Friday. From Monday to Friday yours truly had to wear a suit
and a tie in Jo’burg.
Based on my
experience so far, appropriate clothes appears to be quite a significant
matter in Latin America. But we’ve to keep in mind that there are a
few differences between Mexico City and Buenos Aires on the one hand and
Colima on the other hand. For example, the climate in Colima tends to be
virtually tropical. Moreover, Colima ain’t the centre of the universe.
All this
means for my clothes that I need formal clothes primarily for graduations,
and every now and then when I’ve to put something together for private
activities that we may call “executive casual”. Anyway, when I need
formal clothes for graduations, I like the idea of attracting attention
by doing things a little differently. Similar to New Zealand most men in
Mexico go for dark suits and black shoes. It won’t surprise you that I
pop up on those occasions in rather bright colours and wine red shoes.
Businessmen
in South Africa wear quite often suits in bright colours. I thus continue
to display my South African influence in Colima. Needless to mention that
the main reason for this habit is my deeply ingrained contrarian instinct.
Doing what everybody else does and having too many folks in the same boat
makes me nervous.
Anyway, wearing
formal clothes forms the exception to the rule for me in Colima. Most of
the year – which of course includes my appearances in the classroom – I
stagger around dressed in jeans and polo shirt. Changing my jeans every
day and just going through a pile of polo shirts makes life very easy.
Doing that sort of thing may not always be possible in Mexico City and
Buenos Aires. But again, Colima isn’t the centre of the universe, which
I’m very grateful for.
Besides
the casual clothes that I can now enjoy wearing there are other – more
crucial – reasons why I should be grateful for leading a mellow life in
a Latin American backwater instead of being exposed to South Africa’s uncertainties.
On the whole – there are a few exceptions of course – Latin America currently
radiates an air of tranquillity. It’s off the beaten track politically.
In mega cities like Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro you’re likely to have
to put up with loads of crime. On the other hand, in backwaters like Colima
– we may add heaps of other spots all over Latin America – you don’t have
to waste a thought on that sort of thing.
Do compare
that with South Africa. Everybody and her pet are aware of the horrible
crime rate there. It may have reached another level. A while ago, a mover
and shaker in South Africa’s mining industry was assassinated on his way
to dinner. The mining magnate I’m talking about is Brett Kebble. His
assassination was carried out gangland style killing in one of Johannesburg’s
posh northern suburbs.
Brett Kebble
was no ordinary Joe Blow in the street. A mining executive in the city
of gold – the nickname for Johannesburg – quipped that Brett was the JR
Ewing of South Africa’s mining industry. There have been a heap of
rumours and speculations that his killing may be linked to his business
dealings. In case there’s some truth to these speculations it may give
us a glimpse of what that killing may portend. “Banana republic” is the
term that springs to my mind. To put it slightly different, Mike Davies
– Africa analyst at London based consultancy Control Risk Group – reckons
that the city centre of Jo’burg is as risky as Liberia and the Ivory Coast.
Final Thoughts
The purpose
of the exercise of all this rambling is twofold. First, after spending
an extended period of time in Africa you’ve Africa in your blood. It’s
very difficult to get it out of your system. That’s presumably one reason
why I’m now completely useless for a life in Germany. In case yours truly
were to return to Africa, without hesitating I’d pick South Africa. South
Africa may be characterised as spectacular and “not entirely risk free”
at the same time. However, the combination of South Africa and a certain
German may most likely be put on file in the history department.
Second,
in case you’re looking for a lifestyle that may fit the bill for tranquil,
mellow, relaxed….in a pleasant climate you may be better off at various
places in Latin America. Living and/or investing in the less developed
world always entails a certain degree of risk. But most of Latin America
currently tends to be marvellously off the beaten track from the world’s
trouble spots, from trouble in all shapes and sizes.
Finally,
to get a feeling for my former and my current stomping ground you may be
inclined to suss out www.financialmail.co.za
and www.businessday.co.za
for South Africa as well as www.informador.com.mx
for Mexico.
These outfits
radiate neither the international flair of “The Economist” nor the brilliant
contrarian instinct of “The Spectator”. But
they’ll help you learn a few of the local dances before you put your boots
on the ground. At least I hope so.
The following
is a list of articles written by Jurgen for the magazine:
To contact Jurgen
Click
Here
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