Active since Aug 2024
This is my experience from 2018, maybe things have changed but it still left me with social anxiety. The worst experience I’ve ever had with any embassy is that of Spain in Brooklyn, Pretoria. Be prepared to cry on your way home trying to apply for a Schengen visa! They are not friendly at that office at all, they will shout at you through that glass window and treat you like you are stupid. Thereafter, come up with some conclusion that your application has been denied and you need to resubmit and pay that hefty application fee again! I never bothered doing it again and decided to reject my job offer in Spain. Back then, they never answered their phone and barely responded to emails. Hopefully in 2024 they have new properly trained employees and hopefully things have changed for the better. Good luck to anyone applying for a Schengen visa through the Embassy of Spain in Pretoria!
I went to apply for a work visa. The entire process was completed within 3 days. The entire establishment is professional and friendly. From the security guards who assisted me with kindness and the embassy official who collected my documents. I didn’t catch her name but she was absolutely lovely. I am hard of hearing so she was very patient when I couldn’t hear her well through the glass window. Overall, the processing time, affordability and service of the Japanese Embassy in Pretoria is the best embassy I have ever been to.
Out of every time I’ve ever flown with Cathay Pacific, I’ve had from a mediocre to “okay” experience. My worst one by far, was my most recent flight from Japan to South Africa (Flight CX549 + CX749, 22 July 2024)! The flight attendants were rude and unhelpful. The entire flight in both instances I had to take the food tray back by myself as they walked past helping every other person. I asked for milk and sugar for my coffee and the attendant said she would return, she never did. I switched on the light to call for service and nothing. I went all the way to the back to ask for assistance and when I got there, they were chilling and gossiping. Honestly, I’ve always overlooked the service of the flight attendants but the more I fly with Cathay, the more I notice how mean and unhelpful they are in the economy section. Unfortunately, I can’t afford other airlines for my flight route so I’m stuck with such treatment. The plane is comfortable and the food is amazing but the flight attendants! Wow! I’m not coming from a place of entitlement, but, if you pay R18k + for a service, should you not be getting your money’s worth? Or a bit of kindness at the very least??? Anyway, as I was leaving the plane, I thanked them and smiled as I left but was met with a cold glare and no response. They really need to consider training their employees. We’re all tired and going through stuff in life, least you can do on the job is be kind and do what you’re paid for.
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