The Car Guard

Hello hello :)

I've decided that I'm going to start a little side topic in this thing called...

"Things in South Africa that Americans Don't Have, 

and that Americans Will Find Strange"

My first topic...

Car Guards

Excited American (center) posing with a Car Guard (left) and Car Washer (right)

So... when we Americans go to our friendly neighborhood Walmart we really aren't that worried that our car is going to be broken in to, or parts of it will be missing, or the whole gosh darned thing will be missing. Well... in South Africa is a wee bit different. There are these lovely enthusiastic men called "Car Guards". They usher you to their section of the parking lot, with all the ethusiasm in the world, and then 'guard' your car while you're in the store. Then you hand them a rand or two and off you go.

Of course we are a bit weary about walking to our car alone at night, especially being a woman, but they guard your car during the day! B i z a r r e, and sad :-/

On a high note, there are also people that will wash your car while you are shopping! Now that is something I wish we had in America!!!

Here's an amusing little viddydiddy...
7 guys, 7 guns, to steal 7 cars