Alright, so I just have a quick couple of questions and didn’t know where else to ask them, so I thought I’d throw them out here…
First of all, when we get to South Africa, will we be able to hook up any of our electronic equipment into the local power lines? Like especially if we have a laptop computer that we wanted to bring. (or if you’re like me and use an electric shaver…:) Or will there maybe be adapters that we can buy?
The main reason I ask is because I am thinking about trading my desktop in for a laptop that I can bring, but I wanted to make sure it would actually work if I did bring it. And it might make it easier for blog updates and emailing supporters too.
For anything electrical you will need an adapter and convertor. Make sure when you go to purchase it is a convertor too!!! Radio shack has these. The adapter allows the item to be plugged into that countries outlet while the convertor actually converts the voltage to so it won’t fry your things!
For laptops and other electronic things, they usually have a voltage converter. Check your power cord and on the voltage converter (the big box in the middle of the cord)it will say what voltage it can handle. Africa is on 220 (US on 110), so if it converts 220 you won’t need a converter, just an adapter. You can buy adapters in SA as well.
Speaking of electronics (or just technology in general), are our individual MyAdventure blogs only in service until we end our missions trip in May? I was thinking if we updated on the blogs, but they would be terminated after our trip is over, we won’t have access to those journal entries anymore.
What happens to the blog sites afterward?
You will have complete access to your blogs after your trip is over. They just won’t be linked to the AIM website.
So I just got a few more questions about using computers..
1.) What kind of internet access will there be when we are in South Africa? Will there be a phone line to hook up to, wireless service, or what?
2.) My parents, being a lot more thoughtful than myself, wanted to make sure that if I did bring a laptop computer it would be safe. Is the local area a pretty safe place to have a laptop? or do we need to worry about it possibly getting stolen?
I talked to a girl who was an FYM last year and she said there is a possibility of it getting stolen but she recommended bringing it. She said she didn’t bring hers the first half and she wished she would have.
Is there a way to connect our own laptops to the internet cafe’s internet (after purchasing internet minutes/hours)?
Also, I have a DSLR camera, and I was wondering if it would be dangerous to bring it on the trip.
Has laptops or cameras been stolen within the last missions trips?
Hey Loretta,
Im bringing my DSLR, theres no way Im going to Africa for 9 months and not bringing it!
One of the World Race crew was held at gunpoint for 20-30 min in there hostel in Joburg, SA about a month ago. EVERYTHING got stolen. They had the right attitude about it tho, its just material things, all replacable!
Ok, you can bring whatever electronics you want…but there is a chance that it could get stolen. It happened last year a couple times in Jbay. I still am bringing mine back, but be aware that there is a possibility. Its up to you if you want to take the risk.
You can hook up your own computer at the internet cafe…there is only two connections for outside laptops, but there are other places in town now that have wireless.
Is there anywhere that provides free internet connection?
Erin – There are a couple places that provide free internet. We were trying to get a few more before we left, so maybe those places got up and running too. As you might hear, however, the connections could be sketchy and unreliable. But they are free, nonetheless.
So should I bring my laptop or not? I’ve heard that I should and I’ve heard I shouldn’t…I just don’t know
Also, I head that best thing to do phone wise was buy a cellphone in South Africa and put minutes on it…is this correct?
Mary, Unless you do a lot of non-internet work on it, I would leave it behind. Most of the time you will use the computers at the internet cafe, because you wont want to carry a laptop around with you.
Yes, the cell phones in Africa are cheap and minutes are easy to get.