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Member since 12/31/03
Posts: 3011
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Posted on: 5/25/04 3:11 PM ET
I usually like to keep my posts to sewing related topics but thought that I would ask you all for input.  I am constantly amazed by the breadth of knowledge at Patternreview!
I have a 20 year old daughter who is going to be living in Durban, South Africa for 5 months beginning in January(university exchange).  
I have another daughter -17- who is probably going to Osaka, Japan for 2 months in the fall(modelling).  
My lovely friends in Rural Ontario are all very quick to tell me all the horror stories of life in those two countries.  Rapes, poverty, political upheaval....(To be fair,they also think Toronto is a filth laden city as well!;)

Have any of you had any experiences good or bad with Durban or Osaka?  What sights should they make sure they visit? What areas should they stay away from?  I should add that I will accompany the 17 year old - at least until I am confident that she doesn't get into anything over her head.
Hey thanks for the input- I will make sure I post my long overdue drafts this weekend in return! :tounge:
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Connie Bontje
Facebook: Connie Bontje
Desperately trying to keep ahead of my pattern, fabric and dressform collection!
  
Member since 4/8/02
Posts: 2587
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Posted on: 5/25/04 5:23 PM ET
Wow, you are a brave mom to have your daughters traveling so far from home!  One of the first places I'd check would be your government's state department.  (Maybe Canada calls it something else, though.)  In the US the state department will post succinct overviews on the web of what to expect and be wary of in countries where citizens plan to travel.  I would say to take them with a grain of salt though.  Sometimes, for political purposes, they are a bit 'nicer' than they probably should be.  

Even tour guide books rarely give a true and accurate description of a country.  Of course, personal opinion creeps into every writer's version.  For example, one guide book I have for London describes it as a dirty, ugly city filled with nightmare public transportation and horribly rude people.  Not sure what part of London that person visited, but I've not seen much of it in nearly three years!

One thing my DH has done to get info on a country is to call our embassy and ask an employee there about what to expect, etc.  At times he's lucked out and talked to a foreign national working there who can give a really candid picture of what it's like.

I'd also check the net for sites run by individuals with ties to those countries.  They can fill in a lot of details about culture and stuff.  For example, I found one site by an American who had lived in Turkey for many, many years.  On his site I learned that in Turkey, for a woman to smile at a strange man was to invite 'unwelcome attention' as Turkish women do not, ever, smile at strange men!

But in spite of how cautious my message seems so far, there is very rarely anything truly dreadful that happens to tourists.  Yes, we can get robbed or cheated, but money, jewelry, a camera or a passport are material things that are replaceable.

The thrill of discovering the world is well worth a little risk, IMO.  Your daughters will have wonderful times in their travels.  I wish them bon voyage!
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2020 Sewing Goal: Anything. Anything at all. And please let it be more than I buy.
  
Member since 11/6/03
Posts: 76
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Posted on: 5/27/04 3:47 AM ET
On a positive note, my brother is currently in Pretoria, South Africa for a 6-month assignment from the State Dept. He loves it and would even like to move there if it was feasible for the family. I don't know any details but thought this might cheer you up.
  
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