So I had another argument with the afrobureaucracy the other day. I've been here a while, I know I'm not asking for anything exceptional, and I just want to get what I want and get the hibbedy-jibbedy on with my business. I am not curious about why this man in front of me is slowing me down, I'm only interested in bypassing him as quickly as possible, through whatever means of confrontation or cajoling or anything.
At a certain point you begin to refuse to expend the energy it takes to play by the rules of this place. I want to deal with the government as a matter of last resort. I want to bypass people who want to make conversation instead of solving problems.
Over on the other side of the continent they call this getting WAWA'd (West Africa Wins Again). Dang continent has too many acronyms already, so I won't introduce EAWA. But oy.
Now I pretty much don't complain if I know it's not going to change anything. Like when I found a staple (a. staple.) in my iced tea yesterday.
Get past all that and get on with the desirables. Like the afore(and afore that)mentioned all-new, seatbelt-equipped, newly-painted, government registered matatus. Enjoy the way when someone cuts off our VW bus, everyone in our vehicle mutters about the guy driving the other vehicle. Enjoy how, if there is traffic, you know the driver will happily cruise past the berm and into the grass if there's a (cold product)'s chance in (hot place) that it'll get us home any quicker.
Compare that kind of I-can-tell-the-driver-cares-about-my-time-because-he-just-cursed-out-that-old-lady-in-the-Daihatsu-who-was-driving-too-slow service to the NYC subway, where you're just riding in an unthinking metallic leviathan, that will start and stop when it pleases. When the NYC conductor comes on the radio and says "We're held up because we've got a red signal," it's about as helpful as his saying "We're stopped because I hit the brakes."
Matatu driver? He gets angry so I don't have to. Thank you sir. I'm so glad your industry is no longer one mettalic deathtrap.
