The Afrikaner has a well developed sense of humor.  Upon arrival at Johannesburg International Airport in 1985, my colleague and I were met by the head of the bank’s technical service and his assistant.  We had heard much about all the unrest in South Africa so my colleague was quite nervous.  I did not hear what she said to our host, but he drolly responded to her that we should stay inside until the shelling stopped.  The only possibility of shelling there would have involved a sack of peanuts.  We had arrived in the full knowledge that the government had issued a state of emergency, and his remark was not helpful to my young colleague.

We made polite conversation while the men were gathering up our baggage.  I was asking about some of the Afrikans signs that were posted. My American pronunciation of the Dutch-like language startled the pair, but they recovered with good grace and seemed pleased with the interest in their unique language. Our host went on to volunteer somberly that there were five states in the Country of South Africa: Transvaal, Natal, The Orange Free State, Cape Province and the State of Emergency.
 
On the way to his home, to introduce us to his wife whom he had no doubt gotten out of bed at 10:30 p.m., he explained the country’s plan for changing from driving on the left side of the road to driving on the right. They would use a staggered plan. On a given Monday, all the caravans and small trucks would change from left to right. On Tuesday, all the lorries (big semi trucks) would change, and by Wednesday they probably wouldn’t need the change anyway.
 
We two banking software consultants had traveled from Dallas to New York to catch the South African Airlines flight.  We had been herded off on the Ile de Sal while the plane refueled and kept locked inside the small terminal with armed guards at the doors. The fuel stop was necessary because South African Airlines was not permitted to fly inland over Africa but had instead to follow the coast line down to South Africa. Now, after all that, at nearly 11:00 p.m. this man with the warped sense of humor was taking us home for tea before depositing us at our hotel? We were uneasy, each trying to imagine an American wife’s reaction at two strange women being dragged in for refreshments at nearly midnight. I suppose we should have guessed. The good-humored and gracious lady made us feel quite welcome, and we became good friends.