It is hard to explain how difficult it is to get things done here. Ian and I started out with great hopes for what we might get done today. Here are 2 things that could be simple
I wanted to connect to the internet. I went to Africel – provider with lots of advertising all over town. They have run out of dongles but their other branch miles away “might” have one. So to Airtel who are refurbishing their shop so we go up to a crowded back room. They have one, but the man who registers them is not there. He is coming! Various calls and groups of it will be done in 10 minutes and still no sign. After an hour waiting, we agree to comeback in another hour. On return there is no change, he makes a call and yes I can have one that is connected but have to come back Monday to register it. After 3 hours I walk out with an unregistered dongle. Then I try to use it and whilst on it does not seem to see the internet except for short bursts! This is the top provider in the country, simply working with technology that does not work well.
Ian decided to get the batteries on the truck protected from theft y a metal cage. Needed some welding. 30 minutes they said so 2 hours should be plenty. 4 hours later it was done – a mess as used heavy welding solder for lightweight metal. Then the battery light would not go off as they must have welded with it connected and probably blown a fuse. Ian spent an hour trying to fix it and in the end we returned back to the compound.
Each day in the heat, we make progress but the reality if we follow a rule that everything will take twice as long and cost twice as much we won’t be disappointed. I do not mean to be critical, but in this environment, and layer Ebola on that, it is a challenge