African Honesty

As with all peoples there is always this kind and that kind, but generally I have observed many people will try to squeeze out as much money as they can, especially from tourists that aren't aware of the real prices. However, once an agreement is reached that is it. I have given a store owner a 10,000 shilling bill, only to see him disappear with it after my 8,000 purchase Not that he wanted to run off with less than 2 bucks worth of money. No, he just ran off to neighbouring stores to check if they could break the bill for him. Five minutes later he was back and gave me the 2,000.

I even once didn't have enough money in the grocery store and they just let me keep my stuff and said to come back with the remaining balance (1,000) later. Realizing it would take me longer than I had told them I tried to hurry. They were very amused when I stormed back into the store. "You were RUNNING???".

In the buses the money collectors never can get through to the end, but the money always travels from the back to the front without getting disturbed.

I am not sure if I talked about yesterday, where I went to a store to scan a document and forgot to pay? I went back today and wanted to deliver my 500 shilling. Neither Rishi, an IT expert, nor I could remember. He thought I did pay, I thought I didn't. Eventually he just said it's fine. I did ask him if he knew Jesus and he did! Last year there was another German here for research and due to his long hair apparently known as Jesus everywhere. Dora told me to ask Rishi about him, and yep, he knew the guy.

Anyway, I mentioned yesterday I don't think I would see my money for the bike again, but the dude actually gave me 40,000 today. He told me last time he'd let me keep the bike until the end of my stay, free of charge. Didn't quite understand what's in it for him, but then I can pay him a bit of a rental fee at the end. So maybe he is banking on that. Even if the bikes are too crappy to ride around Kili, I am enjoying not having to take the bus everyday.

Speaking of the bikes I am using: I had another flat on the "Black Russian" model. I am switching the bikes more often than my clothing around here.

Another chapter in the book of honesty is written in my travel book (Lonely Planet). There are apparently many touts here, who will try to sell fake or subquality safaris. And that's of course another thing I was lucky with. With a three-month stay there is no need to rush things and I can learn about everything first.

It did take me longer than I wanted to find a (somewhat nonsuitable) bicycle, but I am glad I didn't buy the overpriced ones that Rasta John offered in the beginning. Walking around with him and learning about life in Moshi and the "biker scene" was a valuable experience, though.

Anyway, yet another entry about life in Africa rather than the thesis. Maybe I should change the sub-headline? I did have three very valuable interviews today, though. I met one person who must have been one of the first ones to use biogas in this area. She started in 1987 and used it until August of this year. But finally the cost of keeping the cows had done her in and she abandoned them. Now she is back to full time electricity. She is a retired teacher and calls herself "Mama Project", as she does all sorts of things. While we were there she sold a couple of bags of mushrooms. She grows them in a hut, where you are allowed only after getting fumigated.

Mushroom is a good source of income (1kg between 8-12,000 shilling), but also very delicate to grow. It's not for everyone. Just like biogas, as I found out by now.

I talked myself into a conference in Arusha this morning. See you all on Monday.