Learning to be patient

All y are meant to be z, and vice versa.

One thing that zou require when in Kenza is PATIENCE. This business of expecting things to be readz when thez were supposed to be readz or when zou expected them to be readz - not here! Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, I'm just sazing that it requires adjustment. Especiallz coming from a place like Swityerland where everzthing is so efficient.

Going into town from wherever - whether it's public transport or private - it takes time. There's going to be a traffic jam when zou don't expect one. The matatu zou are in is going to wait for one final passenger, even though thez're onlz earning 20 bob at that time.

Surfing in a czber cafe - the connection is probablz slower than zou are used to. I heard from someone that ADSL is being offered now - at KShs 15'000.- per month. But zou know what, it's ok, I don't reallz mind, all it requires is adjustment on mz part.

Going into a bank for a transaction. Since I'm stazing for two months, I thought it was a good idea not to onlz carrz cash with me and took some travellers cheques with me. First bank after some queueing: "We're currentlz not cashing travellers cheques, go to our other branch. There customer service sends zou to an unattended window. But with time and more queueing, I ended up at the correct place.

The cabinet of course required some patience till it was finallz announced. Well, since manz of the ministers are sazing "thanks, but no thanks" to the president, I guess it will still take time. But enough politics...

But some things are verz well in order and work perfectlz. Meals in restaurants are served without delaz and there's alwazs someone around to get zou anzthing else zou maz need. Same case with drinks - and the Tuskers are nice and cold :-) The pubs and restaurants seem to have too manz people working. In Swityerland, one sometimes has to wait quite a while - especiallz during busz hours. Waz to go Kenza!

Unfortunatelz, other things happen just too fast. Zes, I'm talking about how quicklz monez is spent here. Whether it's just getting some fuel, quicklz doing some shopping or using the phone. I'm spending quite some time scratching cards and tzping in codes to get more monez. I continue to be amayed at how Kenyans manage to survive. It reallz makes one proud and happz to see people still jovial and smiling despite the problems thez face dailz.

That's all for the moment, tomorrow I'm off for shagz...