“South Africa? Wow, how exotic!”I’ve received this comment, or a variation on it,several times. But the truth of the matter is thatJohannesburg is a big, modernized city like manyof the ones you live in. True, the weather is near perfect:as we approach winter, day-time temperatureswill usually be between 18–23°C and,night-time, 9–14°C. Just as in many other big cities,we have our share of crime, traffic and other urbanproblems. And, like many of you, my day beginswith e-mail.