Young & Trendy News Clip

Roger Wilkinson has watched with interest and some concern the inflow of Southern Africans and as a Gulf veteran, he decided to design a one-stop website for “all Southern Africans residing in or who wish to reside in, or indeed have an interest in Dubai & The United Arab Emirates.” With everything form jobs, relocation advice,recipes and making friends, there’s sound advice for any rookie Southern Africans seeking his/her fortune in these parts.

A naïve of Zimbabwe and South Africa, Roger Wilkinson says, “I am seriously annoyed when Southern Africans are referred to as ‘cheap labour.’ A large number are well educated, qualified and highly professional persons, focused, hard working and honest. I believe the problem originates from the fact that the cost of living is considerably lower in Southern Africa (and the quality of life very good). When job opportunities become available abroad, as in The UAE, the average person simply converts that to the local currency and then it becomes very attractive. However, in many cases they are not fully aware of the cost of living here, basic groceries, rent and in particular educations as well as socialising. Unfortunately this leads to problems once they arrive and try to settle down, sometimes with the family. I would like to see better disseminations of information prior to their arrivals." The need to inform new and potential migrants gave birth to the websites – www.sagroupdubai & www.sagroupuae.

Initially the six-day week, including Saturday and Sunday and an average of 14 hours a day, working then as a Quantity Surveyor took some getting used to, but evidently Roger believes in the maxim of working hard and playing hard. He says, "I enjoy the socialising aspect of life here. You can dine at a different restaurant two or three times a week and always have somewhere new to go. Also there’s loads of outdoor activities – bashing through Wadis, windsurfing, deep sea fishing…if there is anything particular or extraordinary you would like to do, you can find it here”.

Whatever thrills the UAE can throw up, you would still never hear the distant roar of a lion while camping. Roger says, "I miss the bush the most, the huge open uninhabited areas, the mountains, Jacaranda's, Flame Lilies, Msasa Trees and the wild life, The smell of fresh cut grass, afternoon tropical thunder storms, the smell of first rains and the flying ants that followed by the zillion, the cry of a fish eagle whilst fishing, and of course my friends that I grew up with."

Competition is now stiffer as stiffer as the over 30,000 strong community o Southern Africans vie for a slice of the good life in Dubai. Then again, you cannot underestimate the city. As Roger puts it, "Back in 1981 I was surprised with the growth. In 2004 am still surprised about the growth. Dubai is a 'doing city.' They make a decision, and they do it, and it always works out." So there's always room for more in the rainbow.

A native of South Africa's largest city Johannesburg, Dunja Gudegast is a 3-year veteran in Dubai. Having done over a year's stint in Saudi Arabia, she has inadvertently taken the 'shock treatment' route to the region. Dubai was really cakewalk after that, we imagine. Fascinated by the multicultural society here, she says, "I love the way people from different cultures work together here. Also there is no crime here."

Part of a growing band of Southern Africans working outside their home countries, she believes that though ethnically she belongs to the same category as Europeans, Southern Africans are more "worldly. At least our generation is. We travel more easily and purely because of the region we come from, we are a lot less insular than most people from Europe would be." Though a deteriorating law and order situation and recession back home might have taken this smart new generation of Southern Africans literally to the far corners of the world, their heart is firmly back home. For Dunja, on the agenda for her annual leave is a visit to the family holiday home at Soughbroom - a sea-side resort that she sorely misses.

When you are brought up among wide open spaces, chequered with farmlands, vineyards, rugged mountain ranges and fishing harbours, a part of you will find this region rather limited. "It is also the sameness of the weather," says 27-year-old Hermann Venter from Pretoria in South Africa. Especially nostalgic about thunderstorms and the changing weather, this young 3-D Animator also yearns for a taste of authentic Biltong. This is a spicy dried meat made from every game animal imaginable. "You do get a rather sad version in a local supermarket," says Hermann wryly.

While Biltongs and Braaivleis (an outdoor meat barbeque - a popular culinary activity) are stuff for reminiscence among fellow South Africans, Hermann has embraced the multiculturalism that Dubai has to offer. With close friends from many nationalities, he says, "It is fun interacting with people in Dubai. I love the variety and cosmopolitan nature of life - though the aggressive spending that people indulge in here takes some getting used to."