Twenty Years in South Africa

An Immigrant’s Tale

Michael J. Lowis

• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN:
  9781532617775
  9781498242721
• eBook ISBN:
  9781498242714
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Social Science Biographies

This book narrates the story of a young family that, in the year 1975, made the bold decision to leave the United Kingdom and seek a new life in South Africa. Although intending to stay for just a few years, they only returned some twenty years later. Whilst there, they took the opportunity to visit virtually every town and game park, and five of the neighboring countries. However, this was not just an extended holiday, but an opportunity to study different cultures and customs. Their time there spanned the darkest days of apartheid, through the first signs of change sparked by the Soweto Riots, to the release of Nelson Mandela, the first democratic elections, and beyond. Thus, in addition to this book being partly a travelogue and memoire, it is also an eye-witness commentary on the highs and lows, the good, the bad, the dangers, and the changes that occurred during an eventful time, in that unique country. It should thus appeal not only the general reader who enjoys a yarn about far-away places, but also to those interested in social and cultural history.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Foreword
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Chapter 1: Why South Africa?
• Chapter 2: The Journey
• Chapter 3: The Arrival
• Chapter 4: Getting Down to Business
• Chapter 5: The Music
• Chapter 6: Rhodesia and Lesotho
• Chapter 7: Taking Stock
• Chapter 8: Swaziland, SWA, and Botswana
• Chapter 9: The Animals
• Chapter 10: The Places
• Chapter 11: Further Reflections
• Chapter 12: The Law, Guns, and Danger
• Chapter 13: Work and Play
• Chapter 14: Customs and Culture
• Chapter 15: The Food
• Chapter 16: Diversion
• Chapter 17: The First Democratic Elections
• Chapter 18: Life after the Election
• Afterword: Was It Worth It?