Nolan, this arrogance of South Africans is something that I am battling with. I am an ex Rhodie, ex Natalian, ex Cape Tonian. Basically an english speaking pavement special !!!
I have read the posts about arrogant and rude attitudes from SAffers. The first time I came across it though, was a shocker. At a flea market, looking at knives, and this Kiwi told us straight that he did not like the South Africans with the accents. And although we were standing right there, he belaboured the point. I told him, quite politely, that I could not understand this. Because, unless I am wrong here, the Afrikaans people that I know in SA, are the most polite, most dignified people. They are old school in terms of manners, are conservative and usually church going. It does not sound right !! But, he insisted.
It has come up again, this time from a Dutch immigrant. He says that he has to be careful what he says around the Kiwis as often it is construed the wrong way. He has been here for 10 years !! And he is a very quiet, nice, well mannered guy too. It has got me thinking and what I have come up with , in my opinion of course, is that we Saffers, and more so the Afrikaaners, call a spade a spade, don't beat around the bush, and we are used to giving orders. The kiwis, like to beat around the bush, will not tell you if you have offended them, preferring to keep it quiet to you, but not others. You have heard them say "You might like to put that on the table " Where we would say "Please put that on the table " We have told them what to do, they have given us the choice.
They are very sensitive to humanity issues and class issues, and often we come across as being too forward and bullish. This is the South African nature though. We are much tougher and less cocooned than them. We have been exposed to real, hard life in terms of all the violence that occurs in africa.
Just my two cents. Yes, I do think across all scopes you will find some arrogant people, and they should think before they open their mouths. But, for the rest of us, I think we are just misunderstood.
Apart from the episode at the market though, the Kiwis I have met have been amazing and very helpful and friendly towards us. But, we are not coming from a city, or office experience, but from the country, and maybe it is different there.
Good post Nolan. Very interesting reading about the early immigrant.
