White Toyota Corollas

Part of the package for moving to South Africa with BV includes a brand spankin' new lease car for each BV employee. However, when we first arrived to SA, we were given "just a rental" car, a Honda Jazz. This was apparently because the lease cars had not yet been completed at the "press."

So, anyway, we drove our little Jazz as we adjusted to driving on the wrong side of the road. Fortunately, that Jazz was pretty easy to maneuver and avoid bumps in the road, semi trucks, urinating men and whatnot else. What we didn't realize right off, was that Jazz also held our (driving) anonymity...

After two months of delays on the delivery of our lease car, we finally went to pick it up this past weekend. It is a white Toyota Corolla with a push button start, upon other fancy features Ben enjoys, such as headlight wipers. Of course, I am more concerned about the color. All that fancy stuff doesn't really get my attention.
I forgot to mention: This car was so new, it still had protective stickers over the windows and other various parts of the car!

Let us discuss the color. We pull up to the car lot with our friends (also BVers) who were getting their car at the same time. Also, a white Toyota Corolla. Furthermore, there was another BV employee there to pick up his car, a white Toyota Corolla. (Are you getting the picture, yet?)

We drive back to our Estate. As we drive to our house, we drive by yet another BVer in a, drum roll please: white Toyota Corolla!

Now answer me this. Why, when it appears a large number of South Africans are not in favor of outsiders coming in to do their jobs are we all going to be placed in identical vehicles? If, for some odd reason, some intuitive (angry) person discovers that all of the BVers and their families drive white Toyota Corollas, then we are a driving and/or parked target.

Okay, so realistically we will probably be fine. But, the thought has entered my mind.

Next thing to consider about the posse of white Toyota Corollas. Picture a company event, say, a picnic. We all drive to the chosen location....uh-huh, you got it: parking lot full of WHITE Toyota Corollas.

OR, just think about Ben's office parking lot. What if one of the guys forgot where he parked his car at the end of the day!?

Oh yes, I must add my least favorite feature of the car. The other thing, besides color, that caught my attention straight away: the darn turn signal. It's on the wrong side! Our little Jazzy at least had the turn signal on the left hand side of the wheel, albeit, it was on the wrong side of the car, my hands didn't have too much of an adjustment to make. Until we got the white Toyota Corolla. For some odd reason, this car has the turn signal on the right and the windshield (and headlight!) wipers on the left.

I never realized how trained my left pinky was at hitting that signal until now. Windshield wipers are flicked on often against my will.

Maybe that's why it appears few South African's use their turn signals. They don't know where it is.

All that to say, if you come to South Africa and want to speak with a BVer, just look for the white Toyota Corollas.