In Rome do what the Romans do.

002.  In Rome do what the Romans do.
While walking in Rome I spotted someone across the  traffic crazy rondaval with the Italian drivers and I risked across and spoke to the person. Asked him if he was from South Africa ? Answer, YES.
He was the education head in the South African army, later principal of the then called NATAL University College. It was he who was disgusted with the facilities offered to Non-Europeans and took measures for improvement.

He invited me to join him on a few hours of sight seeing. When the time arrived for him to be at the airways terminal for bus to the airport we were met there by the South African Ambassador to Italy.
The diplomat shook hands with Prof. Malherbe and hesitated for a moment and offered to shake my hands, saying in Rome do what the Romans do.
(Those were the years in South Africa when NO GOVERNMENT CIVIL SERVANT IS ALLOWED TO SHAKE HANDS WITH NON-EUROPEANS.  Similarly no typist can address a letter to a
Non-European with the customary DEAR SIR, which had to be substituted by word GREETINGS.

001. Travel Experiences 1953 onwards

001.  I was on the British ship of Union Castle Company, WARWICK CASTLE, for a 42 days voyage from Durban to London via the ports of Lourenco Marques (Maputo), Beira, Mocambique,
Port Amelia, Tanga, Zanzibar, Dar-es-Salaam, Mombasa, Aden, Port Said, Suez, Genoa, Gibraltar and London.

Between Durban and Dar-es-Salaam I was assigned a separate bath room and wc toilet and to eat
on a separate table that excluded whites. After Dar-es-Salaam the racial separation was discarded.

I travelled Tourist Class. On Sundays the Roman Catholic Priest was assigned the Lounge Room for
service but the First Class Lounge reserved for the Anglican priest and where the Captain may be present.

The Roman Catholic  priest often complained about the inferior treatment meted out to them  by the Captain.

He often commented on RELIGION and advised me accept JESUS as SAVIOUR, and abandon my
faith. I told him I am not impressed by the animosity between his catholicism and protestents, but
I am a  admirer of the teachings of the  GREAT CHRIST. I regard the TEN COMMANDMENTS
is the teaching of ALL RELIGIONS.

Until Dar-es-Salaam I was the only non-european but from this port about six Indian passengers came on board.  Two were vegetarians and soon began to eat meat and beef. One passenger joked about my
veggie food which was indeed lousy on the ship. I was given double desserts as compensation.

This passenger became annoying and aggressive in his comments. After we passed Port Said, about 10 days, I offered him a challenge. I said I will now eat meat provided he eats PORK at the same time.  RESULT:  Harassment ceased. (Muslims do not eat Pork.)