Class XVI international seminar trip Reports February 15-27, 2014

Type M Type C Type G
Voltage is 220/230 in South America as compared to 120V in the US. A voltage converter can be used along with the plug adapter to make electricity safe for appliances. According to www.adaptelec.com, “Generally speaking, most modern “digital-age” appliances (especially ones that run on batteries) are being built to be compatible with all worldwide voltages, from 100 volts in Japan to 240 volts in the United Kingdom. This usually includes things like laptops, PDAs, cell phones, digital cameras, digital camcorders, many portable video game devices, digital music players, etc. More and more personal grooming items like hair dryers and curling irons, shavers (especially cordless ones) and such are being built to be compatible with multiple voltages as well, but most of them aren’t.” Check chargers and cords on appliances to see if can be used without a voltage converter. I checked my phone charger and it does have the voltage printed between the prongs. It is can be used with higher voltages.
Language

While the most commonly spoken language in Cape Town is Afrikaans, English is most commonly understood. However, English is only one of South Africa’s 11 official languages, therefore a strong dialect has developed, and English-speaking visitors might have a hard time recognizing some of the words. Here are some local phrases:

ENGLISH AFRIKAANS isiXHOSA

Cape Town Kaapstad eKapa

Good morning Goeie more Molo/Molweni (pl.)

Goodbye Totsiens Hambe kahle

Thank you Dankie Enkosi

Yes Ja Ewe

No Nee Hayi

How much? Hoeveel? Yimalini le?

Expensive Duur iDhulu

Hot Warm Shushu

Cold Koud Banda

Friend Vriend Umhlobo

Good/OK Lekker Kulungile

Excuse me Skuus Uxolo

How are you? Hoe gaan dit? Uphilile?

SOUTH AFRICAN SLANG

Capetonians, as the people are called, have an amusing array of colloquial terms also.

Braai - What you would know as a barbecue, and probably one of the first things you will be invited to do on arriving in Cape Town. We even celebrate national Braai Day on 24 September every year!
Cooldrink or colddrink - This is the common term for a soda. Ask for a soda in South Africa and you will receive a club soda.

Eish - (‘Aysh’) Zulu expression of surprise, bewilderment or shock.

Howzit - A traditional South African greeting that translates roughly as “How are you?” or “How are things?”
Just now - If a South African tells you they will do something “just now” they mean they will do it in the near future but not immediately and possibly not ever.
Jawelnofine - Pronounced ‘yar well no fine’) Made up of four words “yes”, “well”, “no” and “fine”, this saying can express surprise and a sense that things aren’t really fine but there’s not much you can do about it. For example, having been caught speeding, your reaction on seeing the size of your traffic fine might be: “Jawellnofine.”
Lekker - (Pronounced ‘lekk-irr’ with a rolling ‘r’) Afrikaans word meaning nice. Also cool, good, great. Probably the most famous of South African words, so make sure you learn this one.

Pavement - South Africans walk on pavements and drive cars on the road. The pavement is the sidewalk.

Robot - South Africans tend to refer to traffic lights as robots. Sci-fi fans are out of luck – R2D2 and C3PO are not hanging about on every street corner.

Rooibos - Pronounced ‘roy-borrs’) A popular South African tea made from the Cyclopia genistoides bush. Rooibos is Afrikaans word meaning ‘red bush’. Come and try a Red Cappuccino made from Rooibos at the Cape Town Tourism City Centre Visitor Information Centre.

Sources:
“AT&T International Roaming and World Packages – from AT&T.” Web. 21 November 2013. http://www.att.com/att/global/affordable-world-packages/#calling

“Electrical Plug/Outlet and Voltage Information for South Africa (Republiek van Suid-Afrika).” Web. 21 November 2013. http://www.adaptelec.com/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&products_id=309

“Electrical Receptacles, Electrical Outlets, Electrical Plugs, Adapter Plus.” Web. 21 November 2013. http://electricaloutlet.org/

“GSM Coverage in Various Countries.” Web. 5 December 2013. http://www.calibryze.com/gsm_countries.html

“Type M Electrical Outlet and Electrical Receptacle.” Web. 21 November 2013. http://electricaloutlet.org/type-m

“Phoning to, from, and in South Africa.” Web. 21 November 2013. http://www.southafrica.info/travel/advice/telecoms.htm

Whaley, Danielle. Personal interview. 13 November 2013

1^ http://www.mapsofworld.com/lat_long/south-africa-lat-long.html. Accessed 11/20/2013.

2^ http://www.mapsofworld.com/lat_long/mexico-lat-long.html. Accessed 11/20/2013.

3^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_area. Accessed 11/20/2013.

4^ Id.

5^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_area. Accessed 11/20/2013.

6^ http://www.southafrica.info/about/geography/geography.htm#.Uo0cms7nb4g. Accessed 11/20/2013.

7^ http://www.distance-cities.com/distance-washington-dc-to-oklahoma-city-ok. Accessed 11/26/2013.

8^ Calculation based on average starting distance and calculation from OALP Class XVI booklet with home addresses to each session.

9^ http://www.southafrica.info/about/geography/geography.htm#.Uo0cms7nb4g. Accessed 11/20/2013.

10^ http://www.infoplease.com/country/south-africa.html. Accessed 12/2/2013.

11^ Id.

12^ Id.

13^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_South_Africa. Accessed 11/20/2013.

14^ http://www.southafrica.info/about/geography/geography.htm#.Uo0cms7nb4g. Accessed 11/20/2013.

15^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mafadi. Accessed 11/20/2013.

16^ Id.

17^ http://www.vail.com/mountain/explore-mountain/mountain-information.aspx. Accessed 11/20/2013.

18^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_South_Africa. Accessed 11/20/2013.

19^ Id.

20^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_South_Africa. Accessed 11/20/2013.

21^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_industry_of_South_Africa. Accessed 11/26/2013.

22^ http://www.southafrica.info/travel/advice/climate.htm#.UpU9mM7nb4g. Accessed 11/26/2013.

23^ Id.

24^ http://average-rainfall.weatherdb.com/l/10988/Guymon-Oklahoma. Accessed 11/26/2013.

25^ http://sdwebx.worldbank.org/climateportal/index.cfm?page=country_historical_climate&ThisRegion=Africa&ThisCCode=ZAF. Accessed 11/26/2013.

26^ http://www.sa-venues.com/no/weather.htm. Accessed 11/26/2013.