We’re not all the same, ya know. Here’s just a few of the interesting cultural differences South Africa has to offer.

B.B.Q.
South Africans enjoy a good barbecue, called a “braai”. However, a South African braai does not consist of hamburgers and hot dogs, but usually has a variety of meat including steak, lamb chops, and sausages.

Early bird
Because of the agricultural heritage of most of the country, South Africans are “early to bed, early to rise”. It is not uncommon to receive a phone call at 6:00 AM, although you’d be hard-pressed to find someone willing to phone you after 7:00 PM.

Lunch time
Most businesses close between 1:00 and 2:00 for lunch, which is the typical South African lunch time. Shops usually close at 5:00 on weekdays and at 1:00 on Saturdays. Most stores are not open on Sundays, except in the cities.

Buddy system
An interesting South African habit is to walk a guest to their car or out to the street where they will be walking home. It is intended as a courteous and friendly gesture.

We’re all family here
Family relationships are looked at differently in South Africa than in America. People often refer to someone as their aunt, brother, or mother who, in the sense of blood relation, does not actually hold that relationship. This is because of the strong relational aspect of the culture.

Chitchat
While Western people are accustomed to a quick “Good morning” type of greeting as you pass someone, in South Africa, that is considered rude. Since more importance is placed on greeting someone and exchanging a few pleasantries, it may be necessary to stop and chat rather than blurt out a quick greeting. Remember to wait for the reply and to answer the questions that are asked of you.

Talk about a vacation
From about the second week in December to the middle of January, it appears as though the entire country has shut down! It is the peak of summer, the long school break, and the Christmas/New Year period. Many factories and businesses shut down over that time and most people go away on vacation.

Brrrr….
Indoor heating is not incorporated into homes in South Africa, even in areas, like ours, that experience freezing temperatures and snowy winters. As homes are typically built with cement blocks or bricks, it is often colder inside than out. When possible, South Africans move out into the sun during the day to warm up.

Sports fans, unite
The most popular sports in South Africa are rugby, cricket, and soccer (called football). Typically, soccer fans are African, while rugby and cricket fans are white, although more and more people are beginning to embrace and enjoy other sports.

Can you hear me now?
Almost everyone in South Africa owns a cell phone. There are insufficient telephone lines throughout the country, so most people have a cell phone but no home phone.

Holidays
There are many public holidays in South Africa, from Family Day to Worker’s Day. Most South Africans don’t know (or care) what the significance or meaning of the holidays are. They are just days off from work and that’s all that matters to most people.

You’re in my space
Personal space matters less to South Africans than it does to Americans. You may encounter people standing very close to you or holding your arm while they speak to you.

Hold please
Customer service is not as highly valued or as much a priority in Africa as is in America. In Africa, the customer is not always right!

No refills
Restaurants do not offer free refills on drinks. This is important to remember when eating out, as your beverage bill may be much higher than expected!

Getting schooled
Public schools, referred to as government schools in South Africa, are not free. There are school fees that must be paid each term and uniforms are required. A student will not be allowed to attend without the proper uniform. The school year runs from January to December.

Numbers and Commas
Many people and establishments use military time, referring to 2:30 PM as 14h30 or 14:30. Many also use a comma instead of a period in financial figures, so that R1,000.50 looks like R1000,50.

Use that knife and fork correctly
When eating, South Africans hold their knife in their right hand and their fork in their left hand (inverted so the fork curves downward, not upward). Using the knife to push food onto the fork, they use both utensils during the entire meal. Should they set the utensils down while they are still eating, they will be set at opposite angles from each other (at roughly the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions). When they are completely finished, the fork and knife will be set together in either the 4 o’clock or the 8 o’clock position. This is a clear sign to the host that they have finished eating.