You know you are in Tanzania when…
21 March 2008
Hopefully, this is just volume 1 of “You know you are in Tanzania when…” blogs. I am banking on contributions from Dana and Johannah, the other TZ fellows for the next volumes…
1. Coworkers frequently walk by and casually mention that they have malaria.
2. The most common question you are asked is: “Are you a Muslim or a Christian?”
3. Gospel music plays full volume during the workday.
4. During traffic jams, 2-lane roads become 6-lane highways courtesy of drainage ditches, school yards, and storefronts.
5. Cell phone airtime is billed per second.
6. Getting a seat on the bus during rush hour requires running at a full sprint or climbing through a window.
7. Children greet you with: “Good morning,” no matter the time of day.
8. You get better cell phone reception than you do in the U.S., but you have no access to running water.
9. Your bus hits a biker and drives away.
10. Your taxi driver can watch TV, make videos and play music with his cell phone, but his taxi has no radio, A/C, seatbelts, locks…and often, no gas.
Entry Filed under: KF4 (Kiva Fellows 4th Class), Tanzania, Youth Self Employment Foundation (YOSEFO). Tags: Alec Lovett, Dana Lunberry, Joannah Davis.
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1. drew | 21 March 2008 at 13:30
Alec: Great observations and very funny!
In Uganda I would add to the list;
“When the TV switches in mid-sentence from English language international programming to local language programing.”
2. Mary Sue | 21 March 2008 at 17:21
Alec:
Grandma, grandpa, Rick, Carol, Shannon and I all enjoyed this. Thinking of you from Richfield.
3. Ben Elberger | 21 March 2008 at 22:47
11. Multiplying the estimate the taxi driver gives you for how far he is by 7 is a conservative estimate.
4. Sharon | 23 March 2008 at 15:46
This list could double for Kenya as well. Am so jealous you get to be in Africa for so many months. I’m already planning another trip for the summer. Hope you are having the time of your life
5. drew | 24 March 2008 at 21:45
When the guy walking down the street with 5 suit jackets on his back is just certain he has the size and style you will want to buy.
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