Things to Do and Know Before Going to Cape Town





BEFORE YOU GO CHECKLIST!
  • Get or renew your passport as soon as you start your application process
  • Apply for your visa.  Education Abroad will walk you through this process. Be certain to get all the documentation requested as soon as possible. (This must be done early since the South African Consulate will have to return your passport with visa before you leave it may take longer than anticipated).
  • Inform your bank and/or credit card company that you will be in South Africa for 15 weeks.  Provide them with the exact dates to ensure your card is not stopped for suspicious activity.
o Check the international fees on your credit and debit cards and make comparisons  
o If you will be using a credit card it is recommended you have a Visa or Master Card.
o Discover, American Express, etc. will not be accepted at many venues
o Be clear on charges, some don't charge foreign transaction fees, others charge 3% or more. 
o Make copies all credit/debit cards (as well as passport and license). 
o Leave one copy of each at home and bring a copy of each with you in case something gets lost/stolen 
o Consider having a family member on your account so they can access it if there is an issue. 
  • Meet with your advisor(s) before you go.  Be certain you know how the courses you will be taking while in Cape Town will fit into your plan of study.  Also determine what classes you will need to take next fall since you will have to register for fall classes while you are abroad.
  • Pack LIGHTLY! (review section on “Packing for Cape Town”)
  • Get to know your co-eduators.
  • Start reading Long Walk to Freedom. Those who read it prior to going to Cape Town found it to be a tremendously helpful to understanding many of their experiences.

HEALTH ISSUES:
  • Bring enough medications for the time you will be away, also bring copy of prescription(s). Check with you doctor, drug store and insurance company in advance to see how to best handle this.
  • International Health Insurance will be provided to you by Education Abroad. Details will be sent via email.
  • Cape Town is a non-risk zone for Malaria. The only time we will be in a Malaria risk area is during the two days we will spend in Kruger National Park while on our excursion.  There are many different malaria prophylaxis.  Most previous participants have taken Malarone which is taken two days before entering the malaria risk area, while there, and than one week following exposure (a total of 11 tablets)  You can check the CDC guidelines at and check with your health care professional to get a prescription to bring with you whatever medication you decide to take.
  • Bring a sturdy, durable water bottle, most students carry them everywhere.

COMMUNICATION WHILE IN CAPE TOWN

 Utilize apps like: Skype, Viber, WhatApp, Google Hangout, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger  and be certain your family and friends have then downloaded and know how to use them to make staying in touch easier (see information below)

 Phones:
  • You will be given a cell phone to use while you are in Cape Town. It is a pay-as-you-go phone for which you will have to buy Vodacom airtime (this will be explained to you when you receive your phone).
  • You must keep this phone with you at all times.  You will be given a list of phone numbers for the Resident Director (Marita), Intern Coordinator & Associate Director (Vernon Rose), both RAs, other program participants and emergency contacts when you arrive. You will be told to program these into your ZA phone and to have that phone with you at all times.
  • Text messages (called “SMS” in South Africa) are very popular and a good way to communicate with local people as it is cheaper than calling. 
  • Whatsapp has become a popular way for students to communicate with folks in the U.S.
  • You can receive calls from the United States on the phone you are given but it is expensive for you to make international calls from it. 
  •  If you plan to bring a smart phone be absolutely certain you know how to use it abroad and what the costs will be.  If you plan to use your U.S. phone while in South Africa, we recommend you use it in house when you have access to wifi so you can put your phone on airplane mode to avoid huge charges.
  • In order to call the U.S. you must dial 001, the area code, and the number you’re calling.
  • To call South Africa from a cell phone it’s +27 plus the number. If calling from a landline it is 0027 plus the number.

WiFi (can be unreliable):
  • Internet is much slower in Cape Town than in the U.S. and it may not always be available.   Let family and friends know there may be times when you cannot access the internet!
  • Students recommendation: it's best to just not get too frustrated with lack of internet.  (Many believed some of their best times were spent together away from computers and their accompanying distractions). 
  • There are Internet cafés throughout the city.  Student favorites include Coco Wawa establishments: Coco Wawa in Rondebosch; Coco Chachi in Observatory; another one in downtown Cape Town. (This is an unbelievable café with great breakfast, sandwiches, cakes, scones and coffee/slushy drinks. With any purchase you get a 1-hour Internet voucher.
  • Free internet is available at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
TIME DIFFERENCE:
  • In January Cape Town is 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.  
  • In March, when the U.S. goes daylight savings, there will only be a 6 hour difference.

SAFETY:
  • A local police officer will speak to the group regarding safety on your first morning in Cape Town.
  • You will receive additional safety talks at the U.S. consulate and UCT.  (These are generally designed to scare you enough to not forget to careful and not do anything stupid)
  • Lock your bedroom door as well as the doors & windows to the house when you go out.
  • Keep lists of important numbers and contacts with you at all times (Marita, Vernon, RA, housemates and emergency numbers)
  • Student advice: be on vigilant but don’t be paranoid.  (Don’t go out alone at night and don’t flaunt money, jewelry or electronics).
  • Be smart and be careful, as you would in any city.

POWER:
  • South Africa has different voltage and plug type than the U.S.
  • Laptop and phone cords have a little box that converts the electricity.   However you will need an adapter for those plugs.  The plug type in South Africa is very rare, so better to just one when you get there.
  • For other things (hair dryers, straighteners, alarm clocks, fans, etc.) that come for the U.S. you would need a voltage converter, which is big, heavy and expensive. The best thing to do is buy one those small items share with others (if previous students have not left some there).

MONEY:
  • South African money is called Rand. The exchange rate changes from day-to-day (sometimes it seems to be minute to minute).
  • Over the last 8 years the exchange rate has ranged from 6.5 to 13.5 Rand=1 dollar.  You can check the current the rate at http://www.exchange-rates.org/converter/USD/ZAR/ 
  • There are bills for 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 Rand and coins for 1 Rand, 2 Rand, 5 Rand, 50 cents, 20 cents, 10 cents, and 5 cents.
  • It’s best and easiest to just bring a debit card and go to an ATM to get Rand once you arrive. Don’t worry about trying to get travelers’ checks or Rand ahead of time. 
  •  Find out from your bank if it is less expensive to withdraw larger amounts at one time and know what your daily limit is for withdrawals.
  • Don’t carry both your credit and debit cards with you at the same time

 SOME CHALLENGES
These are some broad cultural norms that may force you to step out of your comfort zone to experience a reality that is very different from life at home. These are some highlights particular to aspects of Cape Town culture that may be challenging– there are certainly many others.

 Lack of personal space
• Physical space, in homes, taxis, bus journeys
• Social engagements, i.e., teas, weddings, ceremonies, etc.
• Mental/Emotional space, i.e., ability to exist in one’s own space, physically and mentally

  Lack of privacy
• People are interested in what you are doing and where you are going
• Expectations around sharing/not sharing personal belongings
• People like to practice their English
Expectations Around Time
  • Life is not regulated by the clock, i.e, It is better to take time with relationships and to arrive late to a meeting. This can mean a student’s plans to meet with someone at a certain time may need to be flexible.
  • Always bring a book or be prepared to visit with others (language practice!) while you wait.
  • Although this can be initially very frustrating and difficult to understand, once accepted as part of the culture you may experience a sense of freedom from the clock and Western culture’s obsession with schedules.
Relationships
  • Preserving relationships is very important in African culture. People will say “yes” to invitations even if they are unable to attend rather than say “no” which would be offensive. People will be agreeable and polite, even if they feel displeasure, because it’s more important to honor the relationship than express a preference
  • This can be initially very confusing to those who may be used to people expressing their opinions openly. You need to understand the importance Africans place on preserving relationships. Understanding this cultural norm may help to understand how to resolve conflict or even to avoid the conflict while simultaneously keeping the relationship intact.
  • Stereotypes that students carry abroad may also impede their ability to adapt and understand the culture. In recent years, the field of study abroad has witnessed a growing interest in Africa.  Sometimes students know the stereotypes they are carrying abroad with them and sometimes they don’t realize they hold them until they are in the cultural context and these stereotypes come to light
  • Make every effort to meet new people. Smile and say hello --people are very friendly. Be personable and strive to make connections with Capetonians.
Language
• There may be the expectation by some that if you are living in their country, you should learn at least a little of their language.
• If you make an attempt to learn even common phrases it will be very much appreciated.
Communal Living
• Open communication is a key to successful living with so many people (see section on Communal Living)


FINAL TIPS: Don't hold back.
  • Don’t let personal inhibitions get in the way of you trying something new or taking a (small, calculated) risk or doing something really, unbelievably cool.
  • It may sound corny, but you don’t want to regret anything because this truly is a once in a lifetime, life-changing opportunity.
  • Don't be afraid to try new things
  • Be open to new experiences
  • Expand your comfort zone