Still more cultural context

On transportation...
Most people in the suburbs drive, but most people in townships don't have cars. They'll ride taxis (minivans crammed as full as they can get) or the train into town (downtown Pretoria) or to the suburbs for work. It's really rare to see a white person riding the commuter trains or in taxis. I was first told that it wasn't safe for whites to ride the train or a taxi, but have since been told otherwise, and have now done both (although I haven't done either alone). I've found that people give you weird looks and ask where you are going, but are also really helpful, curious, and friendly.

On the city...
Downtown Pretoria is pretty crowded during the day, with tons of taxis everywhere (honking their horns at intersections to let people know they have extra room); people crossing the street at any opportunity; vendors hawking oranges, cell phone chargers, rugby shirts, and all kinds of random stuff at street corners; and guys with bottles full of soapy water who will squirt down your windshield and clean it before you can say no, asking for a couple of rand before the light turns green!

On times and seasons and hemispheric differences...
Right now, South Africa is 9 hours ahead of California. South Africa doesn't observe daylight savings time, so after the time change in October, we'll be 10 hours ahead. The seasons are opposite here, since we're in the Southern hemisphere... so right now I'm looking forward to the end of winter! And, finally--yes, the drains do swirl in the opposite direction here.