Finally mid afternoon Lars got his passports from the Morogoro Immigration Officer. But not after being “detained” on purpose because the authorities think he’s purposefully doing something illegal by studying language on the wrong kind of visa. After getting their passports (for a fee) the Stenlands started down the road to Dar es Salaam to get it further straightened out there then realized they needed one more bit of paperwork from the immigration office in Morogoro. Although the current visa expired today the Stenlands should have a 30-day grace period to get everything sorted out.
It all seems so unjust but I think now it was a matter of the immigration authorities showing whose boss in the situation. I am sure our Tanzanian director sees it a bit differently.
Tomorrow they will go back to get the last bit of paperwork then head to Dar. Thursday is a holiday (again) here and so it might be a bit before they get it all worked out. I for one will continue to pray.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
What to do, but pray...
The Stenlands, the Norwegian family here studying Swahili at the language school have become pretty good friends. These are the folks I traveled to Zanzibar with and had an adventure or two there. They are facing huge unnecessary trials at the moment.
They are here with the Norwegian Lutheran Mission. Their organization has been working in this country for over 50 years. Lars and Kjersti will be working with a very isolated people group in the interior of the country when they finish language school. They had received a residence permit to do their work through all the proper channels when they arrived. The established church in Tanzania had written a letter inviting them and done all the work necessary to get the correct kind of permit. The Stenlands realized one problem, their initial stamp was only good for three months, and language school is four months. So after Easter they made a special trip to get things straightened out.
The proper authorities in their area didn’t get the paperwork done and somewhere along the line somebody realized a technicality, they are students right now, they need a student visa. So they started the work of sorting that out.
The language school has a man who gets our permits for us. He went to the local immigration office to get a student visa. Last week our man explained they needed not just the stamp in the passport but the original (paper) to cancel the current residence visa and get the new one. That paper was filed away in an office on Arusha, an eight hour drive from here. Oh well, they got it mailed to them and our man went off to finalize it today in town.
But he came back to get Lars mid morning. Someone in the local office was saying that they had done something wrong and needed to pay a fine of $500 per person. Now their visa expires tomorrow!
Arrr. This is the point at which everything in me screams, this is so wrong, no one should pay a fine that is just a “little something” (bribe) to come here to help the people of this country. The principal of the thing really has me upset. Lars has a totally legitimate visa and just needs it renewed. On the advice of their mission leaders in Arusha they will drive to Dar es Salaam (three hours) tomorrow to try the immigration office there. But first they must get their passports back for the immigration office here in Morogoro. What happens if it doesn’t work? Not sure there is a back-up plan but leaving the country comes to mind.
Lars calls this Good Missionary Training (GMT). I say the training is over, this is the real thing.
I start working on my resident visa when I get to Kenya. The tourist visa I have now expires the day before I arrive back in Kenya.
They are here with the Norwegian Lutheran Mission. Their organization has been working in this country for over 50 years. Lars and Kjersti will be working with a very isolated people group in the interior of the country when they finish language school. They had received a residence permit to do their work through all the proper channels when they arrived. The established church in Tanzania had written a letter inviting them and done all the work necessary to get the correct kind of permit. The Stenlands realized one problem, their initial stamp was only good for three months, and language school is four months. So after Easter they made a special trip to get things straightened out.
The proper authorities in their area didn’t get the paperwork done and somewhere along the line somebody realized a technicality, they are students right now, they need a student visa. So they started the work of sorting that out.
The language school has a man who gets our permits for us. He went to the local immigration office to get a student visa. Last week our man explained they needed not just the stamp in the passport but the original (paper) to cancel the current residence visa and get the new one. That paper was filed away in an office on Arusha, an eight hour drive from here. Oh well, they got it mailed to them and our man went off to finalize it today in town.
But he came back to get Lars mid morning. Someone in the local office was saying that they had done something wrong and needed to pay a fine of $500 per person. Now their visa expires tomorrow!
Arrr. This is the point at which everything in me screams, this is so wrong, no one should pay a fine that is just a “little something” (bribe) to come here to help the people of this country. The principal of the thing really has me upset. Lars has a totally legitimate visa and just needs it renewed. On the advice of their mission leaders in Arusha they will drive to Dar es Salaam (three hours) tomorrow to try the immigration office there. But first they must get their passports back for the immigration office here in Morogoro. What happens if it doesn’t work? Not sure there is a back-up plan but leaving the country comes to mind.
Lars calls this Good Missionary Training (GMT). I say the training is over, this is the real thing.
I start working on my resident visa when I get to Kenya. The tourist visa I have now expires the day before I arrive back in Kenya.
Nime piga simu - I have hit the message (phone)
Well, I just made my first phone call in Swahili! I am so proud of myself for making a hair appointment all in another language. Now let's see if I can get a daladala and find her in town on Wednesday. I hope kesho kutwa means the day after tomorrow.
Friday, April 25, 2008
What's on your bicycle?
Here in Morogoro, as in many parts of the non western world bicycles can be used as a main mode of transportation. Below is just a sampling of what you might see on a bicycle here. If I come up with another good list I will post again.
A basket full of coconuts and a few more hanging off the handlebars
My girlfriend
15 flats of eggs (30 eggs to a flat)
25 empty 5-gallon buckets stacked together
My wife
3 cases of full coke bottles
Huge bag of homemade charcoal (5 feet tall, turned sideways)
My family
Huge load of firewood
2 25-lb bags of flour and a 5 gallon bucket full of something
5 6-foot logs (maybe poles for mud house walls)
Basket full of live chickens
A pig
My customer (as in a bike for hire with a driver)
A spare Land Rover tire
A basket full of coconuts and a few more hanging off the handlebars
My girlfriend
15 flats of eggs (30 eggs to a flat)
25 empty 5-gallon buckets stacked together
My wife
3 cases of full coke bottles
Huge bag of homemade charcoal (5 feet tall, turned sideways)
My family
Huge load of firewood
2 25-lb bags of flour and a 5 gallon bucket full of something
5 6-foot logs (maybe poles for mud house walls)
Basket full of live chickens
A pig
My customer (as in a bike for hire with a driver)
A spare Land Rover tire
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
My Name in East Africa
When I lived in East Africa before, I found that the name Jan really isn’t in existence here. If I tell Africans my name it Jan it becomes Jane. I used to be more adamant that people call me Jan over my given name of Janet. To be sure, I still strongly prefer Jan. I think it is because I associate my full name with being called by angry parents, not to mention that is sort of sounds like (or kind of rhymes with) a certain phrase used when swearing. But now when I’m here, I have given in to telling people its Janet, it’s just easier.
After getting to know several Kenyans well the first time I was in East Africa, they got the concept of Jan being short for Janet and used it. For example, Jaynie and Rosy took to using Jan on a regular basis. They even did the typical East African thing and made it into Janni which reminded me of being called by my older siblings. (Who were never angry with me. – smiles.) In fact, these gals are really named Jane and Rose but we never call them those names.
The Tanzanians absolutely love that I am named Janet since it’s a relatively common name here and they can remember it. The other day a couple of our cooks from the kitchen were looking for my room. They knew the block (set of six rooms) it was on but not the room, so they were calling out my name – and it came out, Janeti! (Imagine it with three syllables and the middle one is stressed.) Now how cute is that!? I guess I really don’t mind being called Janet, at least not here.
After getting to know several Kenyans well the first time I was in East Africa, they got the concept of Jan being short for Janet and used it. For example, Jaynie and Rosy took to using Jan on a regular basis. They even did the typical East African thing and made it into Janni which reminded me of being called by my older siblings. (Who were never angry with me. – smiles.) In fact, these gals are really named Jane and Rose but we never call them those names.
The Tanzanians absolutely love that I am named Janet since it’s a relatively common name here and they can remember it. The other day a couple of our cooks from the kitchen were looking for my room. They knew the block (set of six rooms) it was on but not the room, so they were calling out my name – and it came out, Janeti! (Imagine it with three syllables and the middle one is stressed.) Now how cute is that!? I guess I really don’t mind being called Janet, at least not here.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Hand Bag
Yesterday I mentioned on Facebook that I made a new handbag in the afternoon. It’s really more of a briefcase. I had this in mind since I first got here. I was inspired by the beautiful (maradadi) kitenge fabrics available here in Tanzania and by the need to have something to carry my book back and forth to class. After considerable thought as to how to put it together and creating a pattern. I resolved to try to finish it with a borrowed sewing machine on Sunday afternoon. Here is my friend, Sophia modeling the bag.
I am already thinking of an easier pattern for a simple book bag.
I am already thinking of an easier pattern for a simple book bag.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
International Cooking Day
It felt like a holiday here but it was just lesson 40 on cooking vocabulary. The school’s coordinator, Chuma decided to make it possible for the students representing at least 4 different continents to share their food with everyone. Most of our teachers stayed for dinner. It was a blast! We all had a great time! I think I had much more fun making the food than I did eating it. I had a team of one of our teachers, God Bless, another young man from the Congo, Blaise, (he’s a student) and me. They were the muscle for mixing!
I made my favorite chocolate cake recipe found on our small group’s recipe blog. We sampled curried cassava and chicken masala from India, potato pancakes from Korea, and these potato balls things and an apple cake from Norway. Julie, the other American made real tacos! She had just gotten a care package with seasoning packets. Our regular cooks made a number of Tanzanian dishes. We were tired and stuffed by the end. Please see the photos at my photo site. We really had a great time. And I am glad not to be cooking over little charcoal cookers all the time.
I made my favorite chocolate cake recipe found on our small group’s recipe blog. We sampled curried cassava and chicken masala from India, potato pancakes from Korea, and these potato balls things and an apple cake from Norway. Julie, the other American made real tacos! She had just gotten a care package with seasoning packets. Our regular cooks made a number of Tanzanian dishes. We were tired and stuffed by the end. Please see the photos at my photo site. We really had a great time. And I am glad not to be cooking over little charcoal cookers all the time.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
