Gaborone - would you?

Sinbad

Sinbad

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Spent the long weekend there, and am now seriously considering emigrating.

The country works. People are friendly and open. There's no racial tension. Everyone is educated. The economy is growing bigtime. Crime is almost nonexistent - and it's certainly not violent. And it's 400km from Joburg so it's not like you're abandoning family ...
 
only for the right amount of money... the same stands for any African or Middle Eastern country. If I can make a lot more money in a couple of years there, then hell yes...
 
Awesome place and awesome people ++ I really enjoyed it! The only thing that was hectic was the sunshine, it feels way stronger up there, I was in the shade as much as i could, being in the full sun up there hurts :o
 
R13... said:
Isn't a weekend a bit short to make this determination?
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Yes it is very short. It's not the first weekend - and we have good friends who have been there >10 years and wouldn't move back for anything.

Going for a couple of months isn't really practical though... Who can leave a job for a couple of months - or for that matter GET a job requiring a work permit for a couple of months?


We really loved the openness and friendliness there. Were sitting at the Fegos and overheard the guy at the next table talking about SA- so we just moved across to join him and he gave us lots of info, tips, contacts etc...


Also, yes holy CRUD it's hot! Was 34 there on Sunday
 
It's almost like living in the North West Province, only a bit further, so it makes you feel as if you did not even leave SA! The people are the same as those in the NW Province - Tswana speaking people. They are generally very laid back and easygoing.

I went to Gaborone in 2004 for a conference and again in 2005 during a roadtrip.
 
blunomore said:
It's almost like living in the North West Province, only a bit further, so it makes you feel as if you did not even leave SA! The people are the same as those in the NW Province - Tswana speaking people. They are generally very laid back and easygoing.

I went to Gaborone in 2004 for a conference and again in 2005 during a roadtrip.
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Yes that's the thing. My fiancee has lots of family in SA - she doesn't want to leave them behind - at 400km from joburg, it's better than if we moved to Durbs! ;)

One thing that I found kinda symbolised the whole thing - the road from the border into Botswana is in a great state. The road from the border to Zeerust - I only missed the potholes because I could see the giraffe eyes poking out at surface level.
 
Sinbad said:
Yes that's the thing. My fiancee has lots of family in SA - she doesn't want to leave them behind - at 400km from joburg, it's better than if we moved to Durbs! ;)

One thing that I found kinda symbolised the whole thing - the road from the border into Botswana is in a great state. The road from the border to Zeerust - I only missed the potholes because I could see the giraffe eyes poking out at surface level.
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But would you be able to get a job there easily ?
 
blunomore said:
But would you be able to get a job there easily ?
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I haven't really investigated that - but I suspect yes.
I work for a big bank that has a big presence there, and is building a bigger building with a big IT infrastructure as a springboard for their push to Africa. I have lots of relevant and rare skills too, with 20+ years in IT.

My SO pretty much has a job lined up at one of the better private primary schools there anytime she wants it too.
 
Sinbad said:
I haven't really investigated that - but I suspect yes.
I work for a big bank that has a big presence there, and is building a bigger building with a big IT infrastructure as a springboard for their push to Africa. I have lots of relevant and rare skills too, with 20+ years in IT.

My SO pretty much has a job lined up at one of the better private primary schools there anytime she wants it too.
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ABSA? :erm:
 
It is a good move. Lots of South Africans are moving there. At least the people running their country are nowhere near as corrupt as the ****s running our government. They actually have a far intelligent grouping of people. Not having racial tensions is a big bonus. Having low crime is a big bonus. Having a stronger currency is epic. Not having to deal with corrupt racially charged locals is win.

I know of several factories moving from SA to Botswana. Theyre over the corruption and lazy staff in SA. Just a warning. Its not easy to get working permit.
 
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Sinbad said:
Spent the long weekend there, and am now seriously considering emigrating.

The country works. People are friendly and open. There's no racial tension. Everyone is educated. The economy is growing bigtime. Crime is almost nonexistent - and it's certainly not violent. And it's 400km from Joburg so it's not like you're abandoning family ...
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Everything you mentioned is true, however that place is soooooooo boring. There is really nothing to do 'in Gabs' beside that tiny tiny casino and a mall.
Unless you out in the bush every weekend, I think you would get bored very easily and end up driving to JHB every other weekend (Like everyone I know in Gabs).
 
Lived there for 9 months about 15 years ago. Was ok, but I missed Cape Town, the people in CT. I found it a bit basic. While the people were quite friendly, I always thought of myself as a bit of an outsider. One place I could easily settle down, although completely different from Gaberone and SA, is Laoag City in the north of the Philippines. My friend has a sugar cane and rice farm outside and has a wonderful lifestyle. I have been there many times and spent a year there in 1999/2000. He has a house he says awaiting my arrival. It is also one of the cheapest places to live on earth. Climate like Durban, but not so intense.

DSCF9014.jpg
 
ghoti said:
It is a good move. Lots of South Africans are moving there. At least the people running their country are nowhere near as corrupt as the ****s running our government. They actually have a far intelligent grouping of people. Not having racial tensions is a big bonus. Having low crime is a big bonus. Having a stronger currency is epic. Not having to deal with corrupt racially charged locals is win.
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You know, they really have the right idea. They've forced de Beers to move their diamond cutting operations into the country. Upskilling, benefication, value adds rather than just exporting raw materials.

There are areas of Gabs that have all the infrastructure laid out - roads, power, water etc - no houses though. This is in preparation for population expansion as companies move in.

They've found fat coal deposits, have signed a contract to EXPORT coal to south africa and are building two powerstations to remove their dependence on Eskom. They are actively pushing the transkalahari railway - again because they view SA as a risk and want to be able to function without us.


Max tax rate - 25%? Yes please.
 
Pynet said:
Everything you mentioned is true, however that place is soooooooo boring. There is really nothing to do 'in Gabs' beside that tiny tiny casino and a mall.
Unless you out in the bush every weekend, I think you would get bored very easily and end up driving to JHB every other weekend (Like everyone I know in Gabs).
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3 malls now, and a golf course and driving range, multiplex cinema.

To be honest, we don't do that much as it is. The occasional show - which we could make a trip to Sun City out of, no big deal.

Quiet, slow tranquil life is very very appealing right now. We like the bush - we'd end up doing road trips to Caprivi or the Okavango...
There's always DSTV (bleh) and hopefully, decentish broadband, though Sickbeard makes that a bit less critical!
 
chrisc4290 said:
Lived there for 9 months about 15 years ago. Was ok, but I missed Cape Town, the people in CT. I found it a bit basic. While the people were quite friendly, I always thought of myself as a bit of an outsider. One place I could easily settle down, although completely different from Gaberone and SA, is Laoag City in the north of the Philippines. My friend has a sugar cane and rice farm outside and has a wonderful lifestyle. I have been there many times and spent a year there in 1999/2000. He has a house he says awaiting my arrival. It is also one of the cheapest places to live on earth. Climate like Durban, but not so intense.
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I intend retiring to the Philippines. People there are wonderful. Living is so cheap. R5 for a KFC zinger meal AND they batter the chips!. I lived there for half a year and loved it. I was in Manila so the traffic was insane. The weather is bad. Did you go in their rainy season or their summer? In summer it cooks like heck. You will need to live your life in aircons. I also love the malls. Theyre the biggest and most modern I have ever seen. Its also a country that doesnt hate white people. Americans liberated them twice (once from the spanish and once from the japs). So its a foreign country that actually welcomes whites. A strange feeling to not be persecuted because of your skin color :D Another bonus is most people speak English :D
 
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