Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Ping Pong on the brain
Part of my daily routine has been to walk up to the garage at some point to either visit Tore in the IT office or get the shop guys to do some work. This has allowed me to make a few new Rafiki – or friends – at the garage. This is the hub of all maintenance activity from vehicle repairs and wood-working to yard work and welding. There are also a group of guys that just hang out there in the hope that someone will ask them to do something so they can make a little money. It is one of these guys that helped me on our first day here and I have spoken to him a bit each day since.
In that initial meeting, Mama Kari had asked Samuali to help me get our stove working and he had hauled a fuel tank down to the house and got our stove functioning. I made the mistake of offering him some money as a bit of a tip as it was just past the regular quitting time of 4 PM. As it turns out, Samuali has no real job and just lends a hand if some hospital worker needs something done. This, I assume makes for a tough, hand to mouth existence. And, though I empathize with his situation I am not in the position to support him and his family.
Yesterday, as I was sitting in the office, just in front of the house, I saw him approach. He welcomed himself inside and we shook hands and greeted each other in Swahili. He said he was fine and with the language barrier the small talk pretty much ended there. I asked about things at home and again his response was fine. Then he produced a folded piece of paper from his pocket and explained in Swahili that he had a friend help him with it and he handed me the note. On the outside it said, “Mr. Chart”. I unfolded it and it read:
Dear Mr. Chart
I am come to you like friend for the need to begging you some cash money for I am paid until Thirsday. You give me then I retain for you.
Thanks you
Samuali
This created quite a dilemma in my head (this is where the Ping Pong comes in) I bounced between thinking this was almost fine to knowing that it was wrong. He tried to explain his situation of not having work over the Easter break. I assume from his description that Dr. Olsen hires him often to do odd jobs, but with the Olsens away for 10 days he was quite broke. I tried to ask him questions and explain what I was thinking but this was mostly impossible as my Swahili is very limited. In the end I declined and he seemed to understand but was visibly dejected.
I spoke to our friends about this and they were all very supportive of my decision, saying that it would not have been a loan and I would have never seen the money again. I would have also opened myself up for future problems of a similar nature and if word spread that I gave Samuali money we would be pestered relentlessly by others. The suggestion in this regard that we subscribe to is to give when we leave. We should get our bearings, and, if over time we find a person or family that we feel we should help we can provide them with something at the end of our stay.
This does not relieve the pain of seeing someone suck up the courage to beg and have to turn them down. But I am sure that over the next week I will be able to speak with Samuali and not have to worry about this particular meeting.
In that initial meeting, Mama Kari had asked Samuali to help me get our stove working and he had hauled a fuel tank down to the house and got our stove functioning. I made the mistake of offering him some money as a bit of a tip as it was just past the regular quitting time of 4 PM. As it turns out, Samuali has no real job and just lends a hand if some hospital worker needs something done. This, I assume makes for a tough, hand to mouth existence. And, though I empathize with his situation I am not in the position to support him and his family.
Yesterday, as I was sitting in the office, just in front of the house, I saw him approach. He welcomed himself inside and we shook hands and greeted each other in Swahili. He said he was fine and with the language barrier the small talk pretty much ended there. I asked about things at home and again his response was fine. Then he produced a folded piece of paper from his pocket and explained in Swahili that he had a friend help him with it and he handed me the note. On the outside it said, “Mr. Chart”. I unfolded it and it read:
Dear Mr. Chart
I am come to you like friend for the need to begging you some cash money for I am paid until Thirsday. You give me then I retain for you.
Thanks you
Samuali
This created quite a dilemma in my head (this is where the Ping Pong comes in) I bounced between thinking this was almost fine to knowing that it was wrong. He tried to explain his situation of not having work over the Easter break. I assume from his description that Dr. Olsen hires him often to do odd jobs, but with the Olsens away for 10 days he was quite broke. I tried to ask him questions and explain what I was thinking but this was mostly impossible as my Swahili is very limited. In the end I declined and he seemed to understand but was visibly dejected.
I spoke to our friends about this and they were all very supportive of my decision, saying that it would not have been a loan and I would have never seen the money again. I would have also opened myself up for future problems of a similar nature and if word spread that I gave Samuali money we would be pestered relentlessly by others. The suggestion in this regard that we subscribe to is to give when we leave. We should get our bearings, and, if over time we find a person or family that we feel we should help we can provide them with something at the end of our stay.
This does not relieve the pain of seeing someone suck up the courage to beg and have to turn them down. But I am sure that over the next week I will be able to speak with Samuali and not have to worry about this particular meeting.
Comments:
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Hello Grimms,
I am really enjoying your African adventure. I would enjoy hearing about some of Nik's studies and how Abby is being home schooled.
I hope I am not being too familiar... ask Shannon about me.. and she will fill you in...
Kayleen
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I am really enjoying your African adventure. I would enjoy hearing about some of Nik's studies and how Abby is being home schooled.
I hope I am not being too familiar... ask Shannon about me.. and she will fill you in...
Kayleen
# posted by 
: 2:48 AM, April 13, 2007
: 2:48 AM, April 13, 2007<< Home
