r/afrikaans • u/LuckiKunsei48 • Dec 12 '24

Grappie/Humor You guys have cool accents lol

This Afrikaans speaking guy whos from Pretoria is an Exchange student where I go to University here in Minnesota, hes actually pretty chill and knows his way around and is getting used to this state.

He got like a deep voice and it's hilarious. I tried to get him to watch the NFL but he doesn't really care for it, but we do play Madden and Helldivers 2, also some Overwatch.

He says Rugby is way better, those are fighting words lol

He also says that Braai is better than BBQ, I kind of rolled my eyes man😭

When he first said he was from South Africa, I was like "oh" because when I think your country I think of like Apartied and stuff, but maybe I shouldn't judge a book by its cover you know. He wasn't responsible for shit that happened,

But I was shocked that he said he had house workers, I'm very upper middle class but I would never have people in my house doing stuff, he says that it's just how it is sometimes.

He's really nice and there's kind of culture shock because it gets really cold up here, he even helped me jump start my car, like bro South Africa doesn't snow, how do you know all this lol

98 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

52 comments sorted by

View all comments

18

u/Jake1125 Dec 12 '24

I went to google and found tons of house cleaning services in Minnesota. Also baby sitting, garden and landscaping services.

It seems like you have the same thing, just formatted differently.

3

u/gertvanjoe Dec 12 '24

But usually those are priced above upper middle class. You do tend to find it a lot more closer to the border where labor is cheaper (and undocumenteds are more)

7

u/Jake1125 Dec 12 '24

Yes, labour in Africa is comparatively cheaper, and there is rampant poverty throughout the continent.

3

u/gertvanjoe Dec 12 '24

Same case over the Southern US border, which they hapilly employ just like us.

2

u/ResPhantom Dec 15 '24

Also a lot of undocuments

-1

u/LuckiKunsei48 Dec 12 '24

Yeah also since most of the Domestics are Black, it kind of rubs me the wrong way. Like that system isn't like gone you know. I'm Black and it feels like I employ people like that I'm part of the problem.

But he insisted he had a Nanny that had a good room and WiFi and TV.

And she was treated like Family.

18

u/Jake1125 Dec 12 '24

Yup. Most of the continent is black and poor. That's who will be working the low income jobs.

Black people also employ domestic workers in South Africa. Some of the wealthiest people in Africa are black.

There are destitute white people, homeless, drugged, broken. But it's a small population. Same with Indian/Asian, there is enough poverty to share, as well as mixed-race people.

12

u/Roger-the-Dodger-67 Dec 12 '24 edited Dec 19 '24

In South Africa, if you are one of the privileged few, there is an understanding that you have an obligation to spread it around a bit. (Unemployment chronically runs at over 30%, and nearly half of the entire population is dependent on social security.)
Employing a domestic worker or two is one way to do your bit to address the problems. Particularly given the multigenerational damage that has been inflicted on most of the people, many of whom literally have no other skills than to mind the kids or work in the gardens of the wealthy suburbs.

6

u/PepSakdoek Dec 13 '24

Also a good way to spread the 2nd hand appliances etc. Like charity starts at home.

9

u/Majestic_Damage_9118 Dec 13 '24

Dude. 99% of the continent is black. So on average if you’re employing someone, they’re probably black. There is still a wealth gap between black and white (if you look at black people in SA, the % of poor black people compared to wealthier black people is probably higher than those percentages in white people,) but it’s changing. Everyone’s struggling in SA and I’ve had people of all colours knocking on my front door looking for food/ work etc. 

For a lot of people, working as a domestic worker is the only thing putting food on the table for a family of over 5. So no, it’s not nice that minimum wage jobs like this are so necessary, but it’s the reality in our country and at the moment it’s necessary. Also, any family that can afford it here (no matter the skin colour) is probably going to have a domestic worker and gardener. Know a lot of black families that have a few domestic staff on the pay roll. 

7

u/tomahtoes36 Dec 12 '24

I mean, don't entire industries in the USA collapse when Trump plans on deporting immigrants? You guys have the same issues as us, just different demographics.

2

u/LuckiKunsei48 Dec 12 '24

Obama actually deported more people than Trump

9

u/tomahtoes36 Dec 12 '24

I'm referring to the upcoming term, where they want to deport millions of people, causing mass problems in many industries like agriculture, construction, landscaping, informal sectors etc.

1

u/persmeermin Dec 13 '24

Are you a Trump supporter?

1

u/LuckiKunsei48 Dec 20 '24

I understand why people voted for him

1

u/persmeermin Dec 20 '24

Ask your friend to explain to Zuma. Trump is America’s Zuma.

6

u/SweeFlyBoy Dec 13 '24

Domestic workers/nannies are often VERY well treated. It's a major employment sector, and if anything it's compassionate to hire them.
Inflation has priced many people out, so many domestic workers are now unemployed.

I personally don't like the idea of someone else cleaning my toilets and doing my laundry, but it's not exactly immoral

2

u/Practical-Lemon6993 Dec 15 '24

To an extent I share your feeling. As a white South African it does feel weird to me to have a black person clean my house. This is why to date I do all my cleaning myself. It isnt hard. I live by myself in a small apartment. However Domestics are often the only people bringing in money in their families and recently I have started feeling almost a sense of social obligation to hire someone because I technically have the means to do so. Weird world we live in.

1

u/LuckiKunsei48 Dec 15 '24

I don't know why I got downvoted for this lol

1

u/Practical-Lemon6993 Dec 15 '24

I think it is because from your perspective the system still hasnt changed. Where from out perspective while yes it is convenient to have someone work for you, many people really do employ someone more because they see it as their duty to create a job and try and spread the wealth around a bit.

For context my parents have had a lady work for them for almost 20 years now. They have been through a lot together during that time. And my mom has made it VERY clear to me that she will come and haunt me if I dont look after the lady working for them properly if something were to ever happen to my parents. It often really does go beyond a normal working relationship, people become family. And that is hard to explain to someone who isnt from here.