Live from Arusha II

Mar 3, 2009 - Coming to you live again from Arusha TZ.

Joyce and I are headed back towards Mbita Kenya tomorrow and leaving all the kids behind. I'm looking forward to it. I'm not much one for crowds, especially just hanging out not doing much. And moving in a big group, such as 6 family members, when there are no definite plans is not always easy. No one has an idea about what they want to do, everyone just trying to make sure what is being done is okay with others who do not really care what is going on anyway, checking and re-checking, new thoughts and possibilities come up that might be better, so re-discuss everything. And it doesn't really matter much since we are pretty much just wasting time anyway and all looking for almost anything that will be distracting for at least part of the day.

And then there is the money aspect, being away from a permanent base and being on "holiday" just feels like it burns through money sometimes. And then sorting out who needs how much for what going forward since we will all be apart and separate. And with some to many unknowns it is not known how much will be needed or when or if it will be TZ or KE shillings or US dollars. I seem to be the default person to figure this all out, but just want them to give me some idea on what they think might be happening and expenses that might be needed. Fortunately the rest of the family won't be reading this anytime soon, because I'm sure another over-long for my present frame of mind conversation would ensue to make sure what is going on and the amounts are really okay with me.

Enough of the letting the frustration run out.

As mentioned before, Ashley and Travis are here until they go home later this month, about 2 - 1/2 weeks. They have a few things planned with David the local side of the Safari company of our friends. One item they plan on doing is visiting some land David has. They are thinking that someday it may be great to open a "summer camp" here in TZ for under privileged kids. They also are planning on visiting a couple local camps, not necessarily kids camps, for ideas, etc. They may also get to go to Chagga land, David is of the Chagga tribe, at the base of Kilimanjaro and see some of the culture, such as banana beer - tasty stuff they ferments for only 12 hours, and a walk up to the first huts on Mt Kili.

They were looking for a volunteer project they could do for a couple weeks before they head home. Turns out finding something at the spur of the moment is not so easy, especially arranging for food and lodging, transport etc. Short term projects need to be something that people can pick up on quickly and do without much supervision. otherwise it just doesn't pay to have the volunteers and it takes more effort to get them set up and going then the return. I'm starting to understand the logistics and costs associated with groups going on mission or volunteer trips for 2 to 4 weeks.

Nick has some leads for work in Nairobi and will head out in about a week. We found out that one of his team mates from his Cross Fire Youth Encounter team from last year will be arriving in Arusha this Sat. So he wants to hang out here long enough to see her.

Moran is going to hand out here with Nick and head back when he does. She will be going on to Kisumu to work with a couple friends we have made there. She'll be helping at a Kiwanis supported nursery school, and maybe some other stuff.

It's interesting on walking the streets and having the local hawkers approach you. Today as we were walking up to Shabears place - an Elizabeth contact that gives decent prices for better then average quality and has some more unusually crafts and handiwork - I was approached by one selling jewelry. I noticed some coffee bean bracelets that he had that that were similar to one that a acquaintance we met paid about 5000 TZ shillings for I think. The hawker started at 2000, I countered at 500. He came down quickly to 1000. I then said I was really not interested after all. He was then quickly at 500. I then said 2 for 500. He said 2 for 1000 or 1 for 500. I said not interested at all, I don't want to buy one after all. We were walking this whole time so I never gave him my complete attention. At this point I thought I had brushed him off and lost him going through a narrow point in our route. But he soon caught up and agreed to the 2 for 500 price. I wasn't interested, I didn't buy, but the bargaining game was an entertaining pastime.

Later on I was walking the street around Shabears (I'm sure this is a misspelling but it doesn't really matter) shop and picked up an 'artist' selling batiks that he had made. It's amazing how many artists in Arusha there are, all doing batiks that look so much alike. I asked for the best price, which he gave as 12,000 shillings. I said I had seen others like his already and that was not a good price. He said to make an offer and I said I asked for his best price and 12,000 was to much. He said 'business is talking' which is a favorite line here for the sellers letting you know that negotiating is expected and assumed you knew this. Of course during this time other locals see me talking to a hawker that this makes me fair game for others. So I'm getting asked about what I'm looking for, where I'm going, what safaris I want, etc at the same time as this artist is trying to negotiate a deal with me.

I tell the artist I didn't want to negotiate that's why I asked for the best price. He started doing damage control and saying he just assumed I would talk, since business is talking. I said nope, I didn't want to talk. All of a sudden the price was done to 8,000. I'd really like to know the wholesale cost of some of these things.

Unfortunately while the bartering game is a little fun, entertaining and passes the time it also irritates me, getting me in a sour mood, even though I'm the one that started it and can control it. By they way the only way to get the hawkers to leave you alone is to ignore them completely. No hi, no giving your name, no indication that you even heard them talking to you. Once you acknowledge them at all they will keep talking to you for a long time after you say you are no longer interested, have no money, aren't looking for anything. If you reply they keep talking and trailing you.

Even pricing at more upscale establishments such as restaurants with prices on the menu, you have to be on you toes. Often the prices are quoted without the VAT (value added tax) that happens to be 20%. This can add a bit to the final bill that was not expected. I also ordered something today and the waiter said that it comes with fried rice, which fried rice did I want? I picked one, only to discover that the rice was actually a separate item that would be added to the bill, not included in the item I ordered. I also had the wrong item brought to me, so I sent it back for what I ordered. Of course it didn't come until everybody else was done with their food. And on the bill the waiter just manually adjusted the total, downward since what I ordered was less, but didn't change the printed receipt. Since we were at 2 tables we had 2 bills. When the second was sent out, the waiter grabbed it and attached the two and totalled them for me. He used the printed total not the adjusted total. I of course caught this, and corrected this. Oh yeah, of course they didn't adjust the VAT amount on the bill which should of been less by 20% of the difference in prices. I left no tip.

I have taken a number of pictures on this holiday we've been on. It'll will take me a while to work my way through them because I got bored a few times and went a little crazy with the camera. But hopefully on a week or so I'll have lots of pictures to peruse. I'll try to only do the best of the best so you don't lose interest. I have a feeling that even I am going to be very bored looking at all the pictures I took.

Well the time is about up and I've learned I better start ending early in these internet cafes as it just cuts you off and you may not be able to save the final draft.

Checking out of Arusha,
Paul