Duvane Does Durban

If you have an appetite for escapades and are keen to try new things, the usual restaurant franchises provide little relief from this intrinsic yearning of the adventurer.

From pizza to pastas, sushi to grills, burgers to prawns, to curries and cocktails, welcome to new experiences…  

Gone are the evenings that are spent begging the questions of where to eat, what to do, what do you feel like eating? This is part 1 of a 3 part dining series that will provide you with fresh insight into some of the popular culinary locales in and around Durban & Johannesburg.

Don't even plan it, just go. 

So make sure you bookmark this page for quick access! You're welcome. 

 (Please feel free to leave a comment below of your personal experience with these establishments)

       

Prawn Shack

Prawn Shack

As the name suggests, this rustic lodging located near the Amatikulu Estuary on the KZN north coast offers a unique culinary experience.

This isn’t the place for the prissy or the sissy. The caipirinha is the signature drink of this establishment and is served as a complimentary welcome drink. This is a place for the open-minded, offering a 7-course buffet style menu known as the “Lazy Lunch”, due to the amount of time it takes to get through! (Approximately 5hrs).

Honestly, I did come expecting prawns the size of my head but was sorely disappointed.  The prawn soup was by far the best of the lot. Also served up was a prawn salad, prawn bunny (A hash of spices with a small burn, quite an insult to a curry)… but palatable. Grilled prawns on an open braai which were good but could’ve been better. Dessert consisted of camerbet… which I realized how much I dislike. I must point out that this place is more about the drive, the bohemian vibe and the social experience rather than just the food. The bar has a nice touch with playground swings instead of formal seating. I suggest coming along with good company; people that know how to have fun regardless of context.

Service is extremely friendly and they add a nice personal touch to the entire experience albeit at the cost of efficiency. Half-way through the day all patrons are escorted down to the beach to walk off a bit of those extra servings. This is an ‘all you can eat’ experience but taste testing is about as much as you’ll be willing to do for some of the dishes.

Damage: 160pp (7 "courses")

Contact Details: 084 737 6493  

    prawn@shak.co.za

                               http://www.shak.co.za/

  Note: Prawn Shack is a cash free zone so be sure to take along your debit/ credit cards

La Casa Nostra

La Casa Nostra

This ‘little piece of Italy’ located in Umdloti is an authentic old fashioned Italian trattoria. A family run restaurant, who also own Bel Punto (next review), that has all the exclusivity that such an establishment should possess. You won’t get any sea views but the cuisine should be distraction enough.

The starter courses were decent. The deep fried calamari (baby squid) & mushrooms in cheesy sauce-Both done exceptionally well. I am quite the fan of pasta dishes and but was a tad disappointed in their ‘carbonara’. The pasta sauce was used frugally, which left the dish very ‘underdone’. On that note, Primis Carbonara never fails to disappoint. As for the ravioli at Casa, superb. Having used Spiga d’Oro as a yard stick when measuring any pasta’s, I can confidently say this ranks among the best.

Next on my hit list will definitely be their calzone!

Service was good, friendly and personal. Most patrons seemed like regulars, well acquainted with the owner. The making of an enjoyable evening here begins with starters & a nice port (depending on your meals & taste) with a long dragged out conversation & laughter with mains, desert and coffee before parting.

Damage: 120 – 150

Contact: 031 568 1996

     Shop 4, Whitesands Shopping Centre 1 Main Road Umdloti 

     Note: Operating times are not your usual business hours and bookings are a must if you want to avoid disappointment.

 Times: Lunch Wednesday - Sunday: 12:00 - 15:00

                   Dinner Tuesday - Sunday: 18:00 - 22:00

       Open every day in Season and Mondays on Long Weekends

Bel Punto

Bel Punto is the sister restaurant to La Casa Nostra, also in the Umdloti Village. The evening ambience is bolstered by the soft lighting which pales into triviality when compared to the option of sitting on the deck. This is a modern, casual, chic establishment with a contemporary feel and outstanding panoramic sea views no matter where you are seated. Bel Punto stands out because of venue. Lunch here supersedes dinner, not in menu but in ambience.

Service is friendly and astute. There have been odd instances of disappointment in certain food items at both Bel Punto & La Casa Nostra, but this is to be expected with exclusive restaurants that don’t churn out dishes like a franchised production line. The steak fillet definitely ranks right up there with Beira Alta & Butcher Block. The à la carte selection is sparse but whatever you choose you’ll be left satisfied, more often than not. Trust that I will not lead you astray!

Bel Punto is a definite style point earner for a date, thoughtful outing & even a business luncheon.

Damage: 120

Contact: 031 568 2407

   Umdloti Centre 1 South Beach Road, Umdloti

Note: Bookings are essential!!

The Bamboo Lounge

This remarkable little sushi lounge located in the heart of Umhlanga ranks in at #1 on my current list of sushi places. Some have suggested Aqua at Sibaya but I think it would be cheaper for me to fly to Japan and back for dinner.

Bamboo Lounge

Wherever you eat sushi, even though they’re all named the same, it’s very rare to find a restaurant that make them in the same way. The tempura, maki, California rolls, always taste different at every restaurant. I must say, I’ve been quite impressed with the quality and consistency of sushi at the Bamboo Lounge.

A must try are the cucumber rolls; battered & fried prawn encompassed with rice, cucumber & a small dollop of mayo. It’s the best thing the Japanese have come up with after Nintendo & Godzilla.

 With their lunch time special this place also has excellent value for money, second to none. When you consider the cost of individual plates, R65 is dirt cheap. I must stress, due to the popularity of the lunchtime special, bookings are essential.

Damage: R65pp Uncapped! A.k.a, All you can eat lunch special Mon - Fri (11:30 am – 15:30pm)      Includes 1 free drink.

                - Normally R110pp Uncapped - Includes 1 free drink.

                - ½ Price on all take- away Sushi

Contact: 031-561 2705

               48 Protea Mall 17 Chartwell Drive Umhlanga Rocks (Next to Wimpy)

Beach Bums

For a coastal city, Durban and its surroundings have few quality dining and entertainment options with a sea view or beach vibe. This is where Beach Bums rise above the rest.

Beach Bums

What could be better than breakfast on the beach with your toes in the sand? Or an evening of cocktails lying on the dunes…

Their motto “Forever Chilled” gives a good indication of the vibe that you can expect. It’s very laid back and tropical accompanied by decent background music .

The menu offers a wide selection of dishes. The Moroccan chicken burger, peri-peri chicken and line fish are worth a try. The pizzas are also noteworthy despite this not being a pizzeria.

Abandoned house

During peak periods bookings are essential but I must warn you, service is slow and inconsistent. During the busiest times you can expect to wait up to an hour and a half for your meals and don’t be surprised if your drinks arrive warm. It’s sad that the abysmal service brings down such an exceptional establishment. What keeps them going is that they have found a niche in the market, without competition. On a few occasions I have found myself having to leave my table to locate a waiter!

Service aside, you will not find another place with bar & restaurant facilities situated so close to a beach (literally on the sand) that allow a safe family atmosphere.

Chilling on the beach & taking poser photos at the neighboring abandoned house is a must!

Without a doubt, this is still one of my favourite places in Durban that I will continue to frequent on every visit to the province. 

Damage: 80

Contact: +27 32 943 1132

   65 Casuarina Beach, Westbrook

   beachbums@mweb.co.za

Special acknowledgment must be made to the following people (in no particular order) who made each and every dining experience a pleasurable one. 

Theesan Muruvan           Prasantha Ramsamy

Tarryn Govender            Kitrishia Naidoo

Jared Manickum             Ashlina Ramdutt

Sairushka Naidoo           Joelene Jetnarayan

Denushka Naidoo           Ian Naidoo

Ryan Fernandes              Thiruven Naidoo

Sanolia Naidoo               Deevaksha Viranna

Akira Ramdhial               Jessemaine Manickum

Shalin Naidu                    Lavania Joseph

Kavudh Panday               Devesh Lakman

Kavona Pillay                  Shaheev Parthab

Lashistha Pillay               Kavir Lutchmiah

Sumaya Ismail                 Tiffany Thumbiran

“THIS IS YOUR LIFE AND IT’S ENDING ONE MINUTE AT A TIME.”

Some say we quantify the quality of our lives by our happiness. By that definition, we reach an optimal quality of life when we are optimally happy and content.

I for one, long for simplicity. A life without stress and strife. We get so caught up in our every day lives, chasing the big house, nice car, and million rand pay cheque that we don’t stop to think if this is all that life is about?

Of course, we need food and shelter. So work is vital. Where then, do you draw the line of “I have enough”?

Society teaches us that ‘enough’ is never enough. So we steadily march on attempting to reach the ideal, acquire material success and money. In this process we climb the corporate ladder, increase our workload, lessen our recreation and family time and

for me, that translates to a ‘low quality of life’.

Why not own an average car, live in house that’s sufficient, work a 9-5 job, spend the evenings with loved ones, weekends of sight seeing, road tripping, traveling and EXPERIENCING, investing in all your relationships fully. Its the only thing that can't be quantified in material ways. For me, the latter makes up a high quality of life!

But.

Can we have both? Do we want to acquire ‘things’ or do we want to acquire experiences? I certainly want it all! I want to earn well enough to take 6 months out of my career to travel and enjoy life.

I have had lengthy discussions with friends about all the cities we wish to visit. So…

How’s this for ultimate fulfillment – Darryl (a distant relative of mine whom I’ve never actually met) & Angela decided to give up the rat race, hop on their bikes and travel the world. To date they have traveled to 28 countries (23 by bike, of which they covered 44, 473km).

Check out this link to follow their adventures: http://oneworld2explore.blogspot.com/

Now that’s living life my friend.

This year I relocated (2^nd time in as many years), this time at least I’m still in my own country! Started a new job as a lecturer. Acquired a new car. With all these changes comes the appropriate stressors. I became so stressed that I couldn’t even think straight.

I had enough! It was time to chill and let the next day worry about itself. This mindset didn’t come overnight though, it took much deliberation!

Just the other day I was complaining to a friend about work stress that I was experiencing. He laughed at me. Instantly I realized that I was stressing for nothing. If he could laugh at it, the problem couldn’t have been that bad!

So I asked myself a few things:

1) Is this situation going to cause me immediate death?

2) Will I remember this situation/ set of emotions in a year from now?

No? Well then what am I banging my head against the wall for!?

When I'm stressed out, I can't do anything but when my mind is free, I'm relaxed. Think of your brain as a barrel with a capacity for thought & creativity. Your stress is like a balloon in the middle of the barrel. The more stressed out you are the bigger you inflate the balloon, the more space it occupies and the less space there is for anything else! Stress occupies your thoughts. Which accounts for 5 months of blog silence.

I had had enough!

I wanted a better quality of life. I didn’t want to have to be stressed out all the time. I want a job without stress. I want to come home and not stress about work. It doesn’t mean I will perform poorly. It doesn’t mean I’m not ambitious. I just want to enjoy my life and not spend every waking moment worrying about something.
I asked my mate why hasn't he started freelancing in his field of work. He definitely has enough clientele via his private jobs. He said that he's happy to earn a salary and do his own work part time. He said to me, "Why stress and chase accounts to double my income on my own when I can go to the office and get a set salary which is more than sufficient that allows me peace of mind."
Keep in mind, he still does private jobs when the need arises, thus increasing his total income in certain months. There's a time to work super hard and a time to enjoy the fruits of your labour. It comes and goes in phases and it's finding that "sweet spot" that's essential.

I say, pack in the hours IF the means justify the ends! If there's milk & honey waiting at the end of your labours, then go for it. Slogging for menial and inconsequential outcomes rob you of time that you could be devoting to other areas, work or personal. If there isn't place to grow or move, then reconsider where you place your efforts.

“What does it benefit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul?”

You can work hard without being stressed. That’s by planning yourself & having clear goals & objectives. Also, don’t confuse ‘pressure’ with stress.

You can be pressurized but still in a healthy frame of mind, able to cope without undue stress! Pressure is good. Stress is bad!

I found that sometimes our stress is self-inflicted. There are so many stressors that can be avoided. Drinking & driving for example. Does the pleasure of the one drink outweigh the consequence of the possible aftermath? If so. That must be one amazing drink. If you’re hedonistic by nature then I’m sure you can come to the table with a whole host of self-inflicted stressors.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re playing it safe in life & not experiencing anything, rather, you’re fully in control of your own life, avoiding unnecessary stress that may arise, leaving you to focus on more pressing matters.

It’s all too easy to walk into a work environment that is stressful and be influenced by it. Don't let other people’s attitudes stress you out.  All else, and everybody else’s stress is inconsequential to you. Their stress may stem from their own inadequacies and lack of confidence/ planning. Don't let it affect you. Know what you know and do what you do!

I have set in motion a 5 year plan that will allow me to take a 6 month sabbatical, at will, without having to worry about any finances/ work commitments. As part of this plan, by next year I will be registered for another degree, possibly of the Bcom route this time!

I do know that stress will come. I am only human. It's just a matter of the efficiency in which I deal with it.

"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:34

Seasons of Change

"There is a time for everything, 

and a season for every activity 

under the heavens:

a time to be born & a time to die, 

a time to plant & a time to uproot, 

a time to kill & a time to heal, 

a time to tear down & a time to build, 

a time to weep & a time to laugh, 

a time to mourn & a time to dance, 

a time to scatter stones & a time to gather them, 

a time to embrace & a time to turn away, 

a time to search & a time to give up, 

a time to keep & a time to throw away, 

a time to tear & a time to mend, 

a time to be silent & a time to speak, 

a time to love & a time to hate,  

a time for war & a time for peace."

Ecclesiastes 3 V 1-8

Mark Twain said, "The only two certainties in life are death and taxes."

I think we can add ‘change’ to that quote cos life is never smooth sailing. Also, if you live in the middle east then you don’t have to worry about the tax part!

Which is where I spent 10 months of my existence, living and learning and not worrying about tax.

Some days were harder than others but I kept telling myself that this is just for a time and a season. I was being prepared and shaped, going through the refining fire of life. Hard times tend to do that you. It breaks you down and builds you up stronger.

I remember having a discussion with my mate Theesan. We were talking about how everyone has a different capacity for “life’s troubles.” Like casts of fine wine, some of us may be small and young, and others are massive and well aged (experienced). Life has a way of stretching those casts out and thus allowing us to have a greater carrying capacity for the troubles that we have to endure.

Case in point. Take a prissy 18 year old who has more shoes and credit cards than hairs on her head vs one that’s the oldest sibling of 4 living without parents, working 2 jobs and growing up on what little sustenance she can provide for her siblings. When life’s struggles strike, who would you put your money on to get through it? Who would you trust to take YOU through it?

Exactly.

Going through life’s difficulties builds character.

It is important for a young professional to learn how to predict these changes and seasons and in doing so reduce the damage that comes with these storms.

During my time in Qatar I had the privilege of building up some finances with the idea in mind that I was gonna get back to South Africa without a job. So financially, I prepared to live comfortably for x amount of months. So after a great harvest’ I prepared for a possible ‘drought’.

After I did my time in the Middle East I landed in S.A and had the time of my life with my family and closest friends, which is still going on, seeing as how it’s the festive season now. Its all part of my networking I say!

“I don’t like that Duvane boy. Ever since he came back from ‘Dubai’ you going out every night and coming home late!” – Kavir’s granny.

Sorry Aunty, your grandson was rotten before I arrived! Except now, he uses me as his excuse!!! =D

Once again, in the opposite way I went from toil and strain in Qatar to absolute bliss in S.A. The season had changed! I know, however that even this time of tremendous gratification would also come to an end at some point!

If you’re fighting a few battles right now, have a renewed hope that the end will come. Change will happen.

If you’re reaping a tremendous harvest, then best you prepare for all possible storms.

Ever heard that saying, “I’m saving it for a rainy day.”? It's a statement of preparation and future planning. Apply it. Not just financially. Life strikes our relationships, loved ones, assets, emotions and every possible thing that can change. Nothing in life is ever certain.

Revel in the harvest but know and understand that change will happen. If you can come to terms with that, half your battle of overcoming it is already won.

Everything comes to an end.

The season of your life will also one day come to an end.

Prepare.

Prosperity and Prejudice

The following article was published in 'The Witness' on Friday 17th June 2011.

It sums up a small portion of my experience in Doha, Qatar.

It is just the experience and perceptions of one individual and does not represent the country or population on a whole.

If you would like more information about my travels, feel free to mail me!


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Mythbusters - Fitness edition

After being posed with some of the most absurd fitness questions, I thought it would be apt to put some of these to rest - once and for all? …Probably not. (if you're after a 6 pack, you definitely want to read the last one!)

Myth #9 - Holding weights while doing cardio increases calorie burn

Ok well this one is partially true. Yeah you will burn a few extra calories but this amount is almost negligible.  Also, you may develop shoulder injuries from excessive movement of these weights.

Besides, it looks ridiculous! You aren’t an extra in an 80’s Madonna music video.

Just don’t’ do it man. 

So if I ever see one of you men holding weights while on a treadmill I will walk over and trip you while you’re on it.

Do this instead:

Man up and give the farmers walk a try. It burns alotta calories! (This is no substitute for cardio exercise)

Grab a pair of heavy dumbbells and let them hang naturally, at arm's length, next to your sides. Walk forward for as long as you can while holding the dumbbells. If you can walk for longer than 60 seconds, use a heavier weight.

Myth #8 – Protein shakes are bad for you.

No they aren’t. Do you eat meat? Or vegetables? Are they bad for you?

They are all forms of protein.

With that said, it can be potentially dangerous for someone that bases the main portion of their diet on these protein shakes. Don’t do stupid things like that, instead, refer to the next myth.

Myth #7 - You need supplements to get in good shape

Supplements should be used for what their name implies, to “supplement” and outstanding eating regimen. I understand that as young professionals it’s hard to find time to prepare 5 million quality meals a day, in which case a protein shake provides a quick alternative. However, this should only be used on those “lazy” days or when you simply cannot fit in a meal between work, weekend sports and taking your lady out on a date.

It is WAY more beneficial to EAT your daily calories rather than drink it. The food you eat has many more essential nutrients that aren’t included in the liquid forms. With that said, it may also be hard to achieve the allotted amount of daily protein intake without a protein shake…. But please... try?

Do this instead: Prepare a meal plan in advance so you know what you’re going to be eating for the week.

Myth #6 - More hours spent in the gym leads to better results

A few weeks ago a colleague of mine asked me some fitness advice. He began explaining his training schedule which was seven days a week! So I asked him, “When’s your rest day?” He said he didn’t want to rest. I expressed my disagreement with this scheduling and told him the dangers of his endeavours.

About 2 months down the line he’s in the hospital seeing a doctor cos he’s constantly fatigued and can barely get out the bed.

This is called ‘overtraining’. It occurs when your exercise exceeds your recovery capacity. This also has a direct effect on the immune system and can lead to its prolonged suppression.

If you’re trying to build muscle you want to avoid overtraining at all costs. When you overtrain you start to break down muscle tissue instead of building it!

Do this instead : Have a healthy balance between exercise and recovery. If you feel that you aren’t performing like normal, take a break. A week off from vigorous training is good for the body and mind!

Unless you’re training for endurance type activities or have a sound professional training program for sport specific purposes you should limit your gym sessions to an hour. Remember, you don’t grow when you’re lifting weights, you grow when you’re recovering.

Myth #5 - If someone looks fit, they know what they're talking about

Who would you rather take advice from?

The guy on the left, Professor Tim Noakes is one of the leading Professors in the world on exercise science.

Unfortunately, more often than not people would listen to the genetically “perfect” human being rather than the one who knows more about Adonis’ body than Adonis himself. (Sorry to the dude who's picture i used, I'm sure you're a clever lad!)

Familiarize yourself with the term “Broscience”: Word of mouth knowledge passed off as fact, primarily among bodybuilders + weightlifters where the anecdotal reports of ripped dudes are considered more credible than scientific research.

Some of the evidence also stem from lifestyle magazines and supplement manufacturers.

I’ve only had ONE client who’s asked me, “What qualification do you have?” That was his very 1st question.

Some people are blessed with good genes and look good despite their training and eating habits. We have these 2 guys at our gym who are ripped and well proportioned despite their pathetic form and choice of exercise. They’ve been training for mere months and have achieved more than what most people would in a year or two.

That’s the ‘Law of individual Difference’. What works for one person will not necessarily work for another. For MOST people, you need to find out what works best for YOUR body.

A perfect example: There are these other 2 guys in our gym that embarked on a training and diet program together while starting an anabolic steroid cycle (I do not condone the use of anabolic steroids. That’s another topic on it’s own, so don’t ask me about it!). ‘Guy A’ gained 8kgs in a few weeks and ‘Guy B’ gained a mere 2 kgs. Everybody’s body responds differently to different stimuli. Steroids have severe side affects and should not be used, other than for their intended purposes.

Don’t get frustrated and lose hope after reading about people who go from flab to superhuman in 8-12 weeks when you’ve been at it for 6 months with little results.

-You don’t know what they did to get that way.

-You don’t know about their previous fitness history.

They could have been track & field stars in their day and merely let themselves go, only to rediscover their genetic potential after hitting the gym again.

With that said, some trainers may not have the relevant qualification but have many years of experience in their field. So while listening to what they have to say make sure you are critical of it and adapt it to your unique situation.

Myth #4 - Eating 5- 6 meals a day will speed up my metabolism.

Says who? The millions of supplement companies that fund these studies? They want to promote the sales of their meal replacement shakes and protein powders. They interpret the results of these studies in a way that suits them best. Out of these studies, which may be poorly conducted, arises half- truths and faulty conclusions. When reviewing these studies, one needs to be critical of all facets. Fitness magazines reach a lot more people and have a lot more influence than scientific studies, which require some sort of academic background to decipher and thus, mainstream media have the advantage of the reaching the masses. Those who have experience with research methodology will be able to provide you with a critical analysis of these studies.

Back to my point.

When you eat, your metabolic rate increases. It takes energy to breakdown this food and utilize it AS energy. This creates a paradox within itself. If you eat a 1500 calorie meal in one serving or if you have it in 5 small servings, it will still take the same amount of calories to metabolize it. Thus, meal frequency has no effect on the rate of metabolism. Personally I eat 5- 6 meals for the sake of convenience, as this method of eating allows me to consume the large number of calories required for muscle building. I prefer this method rather than having to put down large quantities in each seating.

If you want to lose weight you need to consume less calories than you burn. If you want to gain size, you need to consume MORE, quality, calories than you burn. TOTAL CALORIE INTAKE is whats important.

For those interested I have included some reading material on this topic:

STUDY 1

STUDY 2

Myth #3 - "I don't want to get muscles that are too big"

 This one REALLY grates me.

Guy walks into the gym and when you ask him his goals he says, “I want to get bigger, get more muscles but I don’t want to be TOO big”

Dudes. Seriously. Stop this behaviour!

You aren’t gonna become Arnold overnight. You aren’t even gonna be like that 2 years from now. I can assure you, after a few weeks of going to the gym, you wont wake up one morning and find yourself with 10kgs of extra muscle. From the millions of people that I’ve heard quote the above mentioned statement, guess how many have gotten “big”?

None.

I blame the media for this one. Fitness seems to be all about aesthetics. People disregard the physiological health benefits associated with exercise and tend to give up when they don’t see their abs after a few weeks of crunches.

Developing a decent physique takes time and devotion and to be honest, MOST people are never gonna have either of those. Don’t walk into the gym and expect to look like a cover model in 3 months. It ain’t gonna happen!!!!

Most people I see going in and out the gym get results that go hand in hand with their efforts. Some have almost no change at all, despite going to the gym for months (external factors like diet and exercise prescription may be at fault here).

Have realistic expectations. That’s all I’m saying. Everybody can have the body of their dreams but achieving that body comes with varying difficulty.

Myth #2 – This one is for your girlfriends who say, “I don’t want to do weight training cos it will make me muscular like those female bodybuilders”.

Let me say this. It’s virtually impossible. The female body doesn’t produce enough testosterone to achieve that kind of muscle mass.

Ladies SHOULD include weight training into their exercise regimen if they want to burn more calories and lean up. Full-body weight training burns a lot of calories!!

Myth #1 -  Doing crunches and ab workouts will get rid of belly fat

DON'T BE THIS GUY

You can do a 50 000 000 crunches a day and you wont even see a dull shade of an abdominal muscle.

That’s cos achieving a 6-pack has everything to do with your body fat percentage. Guess what your abs are covered with? No, its not a protective layer for your muscles, its fat.

You CANNOT target fat loss on a specific body part!

You simply can’t pick and choose where you would like to burn fat. So please don’t go buy those ab machines they advertise on tv.

Do this instead:  Combination of cardio and strength training with a balanced healthy diet. This will reduce your fat percentage so you can start seeing those bad boys again!

Degree vs. Experience - the constant battle.

It seems that in today’s economic climate, the battle between formal education and experience seems to be raging fiercely. Is a degree even worth half as much as it was 10 years ago?

Of course, in fields such as medicine, engineering law and other sciences, a degree is obligatory.

Recently I’ve considered furthering my studies. Should I be doing masters? Should I change my field of study? Or should I try and get more work experience under my belt?

Having an Honours degree in Sport Science and working as a personal trainer is comparable to qualifying as a medical doctoral student and working as a nurse. I could have done a 3 month course in fitness and still be equipped to do the same job (provided I had the relevant experience) instead of spending four years of my life as a student and pushing out a thesis.

However, I’m told, you have to start somewhere.

One fallacy, among many, that we’re taught to believe is that getting a degree will get you a well paying job. This is far from the truth. Getting a degree may not even get you a job.

A recent poll on an employment website asked employers what kind of candidate they preferred, one with experience, or one with qualification. Experience won by a landslide. I can’t find the link I had for that so you’re just gonna have to take my word for it.

Employers aren’t interested in what you know. Only in what you can do! A degree does however, show employers that you are able to see things through to completion. It shows that you have commitment and dedication.

And sometimes your resume won’t even make it to the employer’s desk if it doesn’t accompany a relevant qualification.

Still, there is no substitute for the school of hard knocks.

It goes without saying that education is EXPONENTIALLY better with experience. This is what makes internships so beneficial.

(This is based from the point of view of graduates and young job-seekers)

We tend to leave school/ college with a false concept of reality. Our expectations and what we experience in life are actually poles apart.

Here is a few things that college WON’T teach you about the ‘real’ world.

The Godfather

1. No job is beneath you

When you’re asked to do something by your boss, you should do it happily no matter the task (within legal reason, especially if your boss asks you to ‘take care of someone’).

Even if it “isn’t your job”. Doing something outside of your job description is a reflection of your character. Of course, you still have a choice. But do it, and earn greater responsibility and respect.

2 The world doesn’t care how you feel, how hard you worked or what your sacrificed. Just how well you perform.

3. Academic intelligence isn’t everything

In school, the smartest kid with the best scores came out on top. In the real world the best person at the job isn’t always the smartest… just the one that knows how to do something that you don’t (through experience).

4.Naïve honesty

We’re taught to be trusting and that the world is just and fair. The world is never fair and justice is flawed. You will never know the whole truth about everything.

Being completely open and transparent with your thoughts, decisions and actions can lead you into trouble and leave you wide open to be taken advantage of. People look out for themselves, especially in a corporate environment. You need to look out for yourself. Never reveal everything at once. Keep a few bullets for your defence.

5. Problem solving

In class we put up our hands and shout out the answer. Or we point out a problem and someone fixes it. In real life you find the problem, provide the answer AND fix it yourself. Anybody can find problems. Few can provide and follow through with solutions.

6. How to voice your opinion

You think your teacher was hard on you? You can tell your teacher off. Go ahead. They don’t pay your salary. Your boss however, won’t take too likely to it. Bask in the roasting.

7. Team Work

Unless you played in sport through school and in college you won’t grasp the real concept of team work, communicating within a team and handling team responsibilities. Nobody can do things alone and people that think they can, end up with a lot more stress and far more enemies than they can deal with. If you need help, ask. That is also a form of team work.

8. A degree doesn’t = a job

The reason school leavers get a degree is to get a job in their desired field. This was true in the 80’s and 90’s. These days every other person has a degree in something and many of them are either unemployed or working in a different field to their qualification.

9.Taking risks and learning by trial and error

Many small businesses started by people just ‘winging it’ and taking things as they come. On the outside we see a working professional with a business, a brand, a plan and a product, when actually, from an insiders view its just one or two individuals doing what comes to them and making decisions and following them through by trial and error. You don’t have to know every single detail of everything in order to succeed.

10. There are more than one way to get to your destination

I had this conception that I would finish high school, graduate from university, get a well paying job and buy my own apartment all by age 23 at least. This seemed like the only logical way to proceed through life and achieve success.

I graduated, spent a year enjoying life and working part-time then ventured overseas, learning valuable life lessons (due to return in a couple of months). We shall see how the rest turns out.

11. Social intelligence and networking

A fundamental key to human function.

Seeing as we all function within a society. It affects every aspect of your life (dating, family, friends and work). It is the key aspect to networking. Take a look around at some of the most successful people in the world. If you don’t have a unique idea or product, you better be socially intelligent.

Take Jacob Zuma, the president of South Africa for instance. When he 1^st arrived on the scene, singing and dancing and causing an uproar, we thought, how could people ever vote for such a man. But scratch the surface and you’ll hear stories of his benevolence and compassionate demeanour. A story from a ‘friend of a friend’ told a tale of an esteemed Jacob Zuma at an important lunch where he noticed the strain taken on by the waitress that was serving the table. He quickly got up and helped her with her tasks of serving the prestigious guests and kindly asked her name and if she was ok. He knows how to read people, treat people, and talk to people. Charisma- social intelligence- will get you everywhere.

Here's some food for thought. You do the dishes...

“…The fastest runner doesn't always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn't always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don't always lead successful lives. But time and chance happen to them all.”

                                                                    - Ecclesiastes 9 v. 11