Zambian Immigration

After an uneventful flight, involving a stop over in a corn field (Llongwe Malawi), we arrived in Lusaka Friday the 12th. Entering a new country is always a bit unnerving since you never know if they'll find something they don't like about you or try to bribe the socks off of your feet. We investigated the 4 immigration counters and quickly got ourselves to the right queue. The line moved along nicely until we were next to be called. Just as we were starting to approach the desk, some nuns (dressed in a Mother-Theresa-esque outfit) came back from the luggage (post-immigration) side of the counter and start talking to the officials. And talking...and talking.....20 minutes later we notice that there's only one group behind us, all the rest had jumped out of the line into another.

The officials motioned us to go to another line...we look to the left, a group of 20 Japanese tourists were getting their visas en masse. Not a good sign. We look to our right, a couple Egyptians were wrangling over something, using mostly body language as they seemed to not know English. Ugghhhh.....we tried switching from one line to another but none of them were moving. A school tour group came through, walking past the counters and we wondered if we could just make a break for it. Another 20 minutes later, we are absolutely the only people left from our flight and still no visa.

Finally, Mother Theresa Inc figured out their problem and we got to the counter. Thankfully, the officials were sympathetic, and only required the US $50 that we planned on spending for a visa. So began our trip to Zambia

Welcome to Kenya Dad!

Our first visitor from our family or US friends is now underway as Dad Kistler is spending a month with us in Kenya. Over the next few days, we'll share some stories of our experience together, first touring Zambia and Tanzania and now staying in Najile. Hope you grow desperately jealous and decide to come visit us too!

Victoria Falls

Hello everybody. Just wanted to update you on our adventures. We’ve been with our dad in Zambia the past few days and yesterday got to experience Victoria Falls. Whoa! Right now we have limited internet so I’ll get into more details later but suffice it to say they make Niagara Falls look like the kiddy pool. We got soaked to our skin and got lots of nice pictures.
Meanwhile, be praying for us as we spent the next 5 days traveling pretty much 24/7. First from Livingstone to Lusaka (7 hours) then Lusaka to Kapiri Mposhi (maybe 3 hours?), then by train to Dar (at least 36 hours), then bus to Nairobi (7-10 hours), and then finally a matatu to Najile (3 hours)....Be praying that vehicles don’t breakdown, get in accidents, and that we’re able to enjoy our rides. Thanks!

Visit

We're enjoying our first family visitor! My father arrived tuesday morning, only one day late due to a missed layover. So far he's been mostly visiting place in Nairobi and recovering from jetlag. I, on the other hand, have had the pleasure of....going to a conference on end-of-project reporting! Hooray!

Actually, the conference hasn't been do boring. The facilitator has done a pretty good job of keeping things interesting even as there hasn't been much new information for me. I also got a certificate for participation. Can you say going up next to the diploma!?

On friday morning we'll be heading to Zambia to visit family friends and Victoria falls, followed by a train trip across Tanzania to Dar. Be praying for safety and functionality of transport as we've all been late getting to Nairobi. Hopefully the problems are behind us!

So, while you suffer away in feet of snow, remember that if you come visit us in Nairobi, you get mid 70s, sunny weather all year long.

words, words, words

I never realized how much I valued our western "say it as it is" approach to relationships until coming here. In Maasai culture, it is rude to say no to someone directly. So quite regularly when somebody says, "sure", "yes" or "great" when really they mean "no chance", "not likely", or "never." Obviously, dealing with this could be written off as, "adjusting to a different culture" but part of me wants to reject this practice right out. Often, this face-saving type attitude boils down to deceitfulness where people will complain about something all day but then when asked in a meeting if they agree with it, they'd nod their head like good little drones.

This especially is frustrating when we are the ones people say "yes" (but mean "no") to. We'll talk about how everybody should report daily and they all nod their heads enthusiastically. Then when it comes time to do the report, we ask "are you doing your report" "definitely." When it comes time to look at the report, what is done...nothing.

When we try to schedule a meeting we ask everybody, "does this date work" and everybody dutifully schedules it in their calendars. Then a day before the meeting, the meeting will ALWAYS (6 months running) be canceled because people can't make it.

Finally, when trying to get certain changes passed by the board, every member could have agreed to the concept of a policy, each one will vote against it when the time comes.

There are clear reasons for this type of practice and we know them as well as anybody. It's part of a system of generational respect, its a way to keep the peace when you don't agree, it's just fear of those in power etc... etc... However, we don't live in a ethnography, this is our daily life: things being said behind others' backs, of building resentment but no guts to speak out, of cruel retaliation, a climate of dishonesty.....

Sometimes we wonder...why can't you just say what you mean?