Wondering what a typical day is like for me?  While today wasn’t quite typical, it does provide a bit of insight.  I should learn to lower my expectations for productivity…

Objective 1 – Fix Computer

  At 8:30am, I met the partner who lives very near to us (Issa) to give him a ride into his office to look at his computer (he received one of the newer ones from the recent shipment).  We stopped by our managers’ house so I could pick up a spare monitor as it sounded like Issa’s was bad and arrived at the office around 9:45.  I got to work on his computer but not too long after starting, the power was cut (not unusual but poorly timed).  Sometimes it is only out for a short time, so I waited.  By 11am, I decided I should try to check other items off the list and promised to return.

Objective 2 – Pick up Cynthia’s Drivers License

  I drove to the Zambian equivalent of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to pick up Cynthia’s driver’s license.  As you recall, we have gone through quite a lot to get our licenses, but when we stopped to pick up the actual card they discovered that Cynthia’s was damaged and asked us to return two weeks later.  Today was three weeks later and after waiting for a bit (but really not long on Zambian standards) I was told that her card was still not ready and they asked me to return in three weeks. 

  Mission FAILED!

Objective 3 – Pick up Study Permits for Jason and Jared

  Next was immigration to pick up the study permits.  I arrived and found the boys names written in the book.  (This is the way in which you determine if your documents are ready.  There are several books in a lobby and each day they hand write the names of the people whose documents were processed so you have to find the right book and flip through it backwards to find your names.)  I was directed to desk 12 which had a very short line.  However upon arriving I was told that I can’t pick up the boys study permits, they must come in person.  I tried my best to be polite and ask if that was really necessary.  The boys are in the country on my work permit, the fact that a 7 and 10 year old need study permits is a bit outrageous if you ask me.  On the way out, I double checked with the lady who had been so helpful last time and she confirmed that they do in fact need to come with me. 

  Mission FAILED!

Objective 4 – Purchase some computer parts

  Since I was in the right part of the city and with the ongoing fuel shortage, I decided to head to my good (and cheap) computer store to get some parts.  I found the store closed which wasn’t a big surprise as I had been told by others that Fridays are hit and miss as they are Muslim and attend the mosque.

   Mission FAILED!

Objective 5 – Fill up the car with petrol

  There has been a fuel shortage for a couple of weeks now.  I waited 3 hours to get $20 worth of fuel earlier in the week.  (BTW – unleaded here is 5800 kwacha per liter which comes to $5 per gallon so I only got 4 gallons).  After leaving the computer store I noticed a car parked at a pump and pulled in to check if they had petrol.  (Many times people would simply park their cars at a station and wait for petrol to arrive and there wasn’t a line so I didn’t expect it).  When I asked they said they did indeed have petrol!  My previous failures would be forgotten if I could fill the tank.  There was an SUV at the pump and a car behind that and then me.  I was happy, no waiting in line and I was going to check an item off of my “To Do” list.  However the SUV must have had a huge container in the back of the truck and they were pumping for a long time.  (Many people try to purchase petrol in various containers and then resell to people unwilling to wait in line). When they did move on the next guy pulled up.  He didn’t get a liter in before it quit.  No more petrol. 

Mission FAILED!  But wait… the attendant told me to hurry to the station across the main road as they still had petrol.  (Apparently today petrol wasn’t terribly short and diesel was lacking).  I followed their guidance and was able to fill my tank AND the large container I had.  When I paid for the fuel the attendant asked me to buy him something to drink.  I was so happy I was willing but I only had 1100 kwacha (and some large bills that he wasn’t getting) so I gave him what I had which amounted to a quarter.  They typically don’t ask for anything and I typically wouldn’t have given him anything but I was able to check something off my list so there was reason for celebration. 

   Mission ACCOMPLISHED!

Return to Objective 1 and starting Objective 6

   I returned to Issa’s office to find that power had still not returned and shortly thereafter received a text from Cheryl (an MCC coworker who had travelled to Lusaka and was staying at our house for the weekend).  She was letting me know she was in the city and I was planning to pick her up.  I excused myself and met her at a grocery and picked up a few items for Cynthia.

  Mission 1 – FAILED, MISSION 6 ACCOMPLISHED!!

SUMMARY

  If you were counting, I was 2 for 6 or 1 out of 3.  In most everything but baseball and Zambia, that would be considered a poor performance but it is pretty typical here.  It wasn’t a bad day and we are happy to have Cheryl staying with us.