SA: an Uruguayan point of view

Simon Williamson

July 2nd, 2010

We're two thirds into the Soccer World Cup and it is safe to say South Africa has exceeded the pessimists expectations by staging a glitch-free tournament, well not counting the linesmen mishaps but that's FIFA's problem.

Even more indicative of how successful we've been in welcoming and entertaining the hundreds of thoursands of tourists in our country is how they'll relate their experiences to other foreigners.

We caught up with Uruguayan Carolina Rasenti who has been living in South Africa and asked her to give us her take on the tournament thus far.

Carolina has spent a large portion of her life in Johannesburg, but is a passionate Uruguayan - often shouting at the TV during their fixtures in fluent Spanish. She is 25-years old and works in marketing when not out being a social butterfly.

How has your World Cup experience been in South Africa?

It's been amazing. Waiting with anticipation for the day to finally arrive. And now i'm not sure how we will all go back to normal? What reason will we be able to give for needing to finish work at 3:30. It's been amazing watching Joburg change, from an already diverse city, to an International airport/city. And all the eye candy has been delicious.

Who do you think is going to win the tournament, and why?

That's easy, Uruguay will win. No seriously, i always thought an underdog or the most unexpected team would win this World Cup. Maybe it's because so many people thought South Africa was not going to be able to pull it off, and WE DID! And now, we have had a World Cup of surprises.

How do you rate South Africa as a tourist destination?

10/5. Show me a country that can give you what South Africa offers? We have it all: metropolitan cities, mountains, deserts, ocean, white beaches, untouch land, elephants, lions. No matter what your budget you can experience it all!

Where is your favourite place in South Africa?
Hmm... that's so hard. Johannesburg is my favourite place in South Africa, but especially Joburg Town. Arrive there at 3pm and do some bargain shopping, watch how the city moves, creates. The different languages, the mixture of colours, from buildings, to produce, to fashion, it's so undeniably South African. And then sit back while you watch the sun set, and party to international music, with several bars and clubs to choose from.

Tell South Africans why they should visit Uruguay
Well for starters, SAA now has a direct flight to Buenos Aires making it really affordable to visit South America. As South Africans we love our Braai meat, well in Uruguay so do WE! Our meat is of the most amazing quality, like NOTHING you have ever tasted before. We use wood to braai, giving it a unique taste and colour. We like to walk on beaches and streets and share Mate (a herbal tea, drank in a calabash through a metal straw) very similar to the Umqombothi that traditonal tribes drink, just not alcholic. We are friendly and offer a variety of activities for such a small country. And when we speak English we sound super sexy.

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User Comments

IZPNhVUzfoc

Submitted by Lexine on Thu, 12/22/2011 - 13:41.

What an awsemoe way to explain this-now I know everything!

They're Cheats!!!!

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 07/05/2010 - 12:10.

This comment was off topic and has been vapourised/incinerated/eaten by our pet chihauhau. If you feel strongly about your tangent, why not turn it into a blog

Uruguay

Submitted by SPoTpro on Mon, 07/05/2010 - 08:40.

Having had the pleasure of the company of Uruguayans (and tasted their MATA) in the DRC Congo when deployed with the United Nations, I have to say that they are by far the friendliest of people ... excellent braai'ers and I have to agree, they definately sound super sexy when they speak English ... Carolina you come from a world I hope one day to go visit (soon) and if they all look like you, I will have died and gone to heaven

(SMILE)

:-)

You've nailed it.

Submitted by Johann @ABSOLUTALEY CORRECT!! on Sun, 07/04/2010 - 20:04.

Boet, I think you've hit the nail on the head.

ABSOLUTALEY CORRECT!!

Submitted by Les on Sun, 07/04/2010 - 11:48.

Thanks for the interesting article... How I wish we had more foreigners living here.... and could send MORE of our negative SAFFAS off to OZ... or in fact anywhere BUT HERE!!!!

I do suspect though that the bulk of the negative respondents on this site are EXPATS living the 'good life' elsewhere.... but always ready and waiting to paste their 2 cents worth on this webite... ridiculing SA and the wonderful country THAT IT IS!!

It seems also that many other EXPATS living in SA share these sentiments...... have a look at this article.....

http://www.southafrica.info/about/hsbc-survey.htm

It seems that only some Saffers and many foreign expats actually acknowledge what we have going for us here in SA.... (perhaps their opionions are not so dulled by racism/Afro Pessimism as the SA expats/some locals are)

(P.S Ive lived in JHB for over 30 years and this is home, I certainly do not live in fear either but embrace this country and land... WARTS AND ALL!!)

klippies half full

Submitted by just cool on Sun, 07/04/2010 - 09:24.

Its great to hear positive things about south africa.
why dont all the naysayers and the malemas go live at the southpole,
then they will have nothing to complain about except the weather.
All over the world there is crime but at least we dont have earthquakes, major floods and synamis.
Our family has also had our share of hijacking and robery but then again i have also been robbed in another country too.
So, to make it right we must fix what we can and not break it down further.

Ostrich

Submitted by JJ on Sat, 07/03/2010 - 11:02.

What a "Wonderfull" place your head must be in, wish I could live in it.
But ALAS!! most of us are forced to stay in the "Real South Africa" where things are lightyears removed from the fantasy world you live in, and where everything is "Amazing!!!".
What a pity.

Propaganda

Submitted by Jay on Sat, 07/03/2010 - 11:01.

I am aware of MANY incidents that have been swept under the carpet. Just like the colossal drain the SWC has been on SA's finances dispite our finance ministers lies.

We have done well, we should be proud but no allow the propaganda and shyte blind you. The aftermath of the SWC is still coming...best we all prepare.

Cheats

Submitted by Sa_Support on Sat, 07/03/2010 - 08:53.

Uruguay wont win thay are a bunch of cheats! The Neatherlands will crush them!

Pity about the football team

Submitted by Mario on Sat, 07/03/2010 - 03:31.

I'm sure Uruguay is a gorgeous country, but their soccer team aren't a good representation of the people.

Uruguay

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 07/03/2010 - 00:37.

You forgot to say, one can sleep safely at night in Uruguay, You can drive and enter your home without being robbed, hijacked, etc. You can walk around safe in Uruguay! Yu can have a BBque or braai in your own Garden in Uruguay withut people(Crminals jumping over your garden walls and robbing and assaulting and stealing and if you are LUCKY yu can survive withut being shot/ perhaps raped or killed)
Wake up! The world cup will be over and typical crime in South Africa on track. We have survied 2 hijackings, a house robbery , so have many family and friends and GUESS WHAT !! We are on our way to URUGUAY, have bought property. intend starting business, have in the mean time learnt Spanish and we are on our WAAAAAAY1 we can sleep at night and live like normal HUMAN BEINGS in a CIVILISED COUNTRY!!

Love to visit

Submitted by Anony on Fri, 07/02/2010 - 23:50.

I would love to visit Uruguay. It sounds like it is a very nice place. Sounds like SA. Was very sad to see Ghana knocked out by Uruguay though. But it was a matter of may the luckiest man win. NO hard feelings. Also glad to see that comments are being filtered.