All white people have money in their backpacks...

Another myth proven TRUE!!!!!

  So, really, when you talk to some people here, the myths they believe about foreigners are truly ridiculous.  Somehow because our skin is white and we come from the US, we are just LOADED with money.  While in comparison to them, we do have a lot, we also have nowhere near the amounts that they envision.

  We have a friend who was casually asked for a few thousand dollars.  He replied - 'Of course, let me get it from my bank in my house.'  Then he waited a moment and said, 'Do you have a bank in your house?'  'No!' came the shocked answer.  'Neither do I...'  he calmly stated.

  Anyway, the myth I am oxymoronically proving true today is that Wazungu carry tons of money in their purses or backpacks.

  Let me explain - recently, we have had some construction going on in our back yard.  A 'granny flat' is being built out there.  We are paying a certain amount of the money towards the building as our future rent.  Our landlord is supposed to be paying the rest. (But that is another story I don't want to get into...)

  So, to get the contractor started, we needed to give him a lot of money.  A LOT!  Benjamin was gone on one of his all too frequent trips and I started to realize we wouldn't have the money for the contractor unless I began to withdraw money in advance (think - limit per day on ATM cards...).  So, I took my backpack with me and drove down to an ATM.

  You know, I just don't normally do stuff like that.  For the most part, Benjamin handles the actual money and I keep the budgeting records on the computer.  We both like it that way.  I am happy when my numbers all line up and he doesn't mind paying people and going to ATM's and handling that nasty filthy smelly stuff...

  So, I withdraw the maximum amount four times - which is 1.6 million Shillings.  Yes, 1.6 Million.  Now, the highest note they have is a 10,000 Shilling note - which means, I have a stack of bills 160 deep.  I mean, it is not like it would fit in my back pocket.

  So, while I am withdrawing the money, I count each transaction and put it in the backpack before starting the next one.  I am getting a little nervous here.  There are people coming and going - obviously ALL taking much less money than I am.  And all I can think is - GREAT!  Now all of these people can say that Wazungu REALLY DO walk around with loads of money in their backpacks.  Myth proven true.

  **  Current exchange rate is about 1,600 Shillings to the dollar, so I actually had about $1000.

  **  No, we DON'T keep that kind of cash.

Hello world... long time no communicate...

Dear People who actually read this,
  Hi.  Maybe I should introduce myself... then again, if you are already bored and tired today, an introduction might put you to sleep... so I guess I will skip it for now.
  Life has been... life... busy... tiring... yeah... pretty tiring.  Sorry I haven't posted more.  I have been tired and somewhat lazy.  It is like when SO MANY things are happening, you don't even know where to start and then things get overwhelming... and then things like blogs get ignored.
  So,  I figured I should just take a little time and write something.
  Currently, I am in Dar es Salaam staying with some friends.  I had to come for dental work.  Want the short version of the supremely depressing issue?  My teeth = problems.  Went to dentist in July (or end of June?  I don't know... blocked it out...).  Dentist attempted major fix.  Yuck.  Supposed to go back in September.  Tooth fell out July 24th.  Dentist was in Canada.  Came as soon as all issues could be arranged.  Hope it is fixed... going back on Friday... still have to return in September.  TRIPLE YUCK!!!  This Dentist is really nice, but he is still a dentist... which, in my estimation, is somewhere down there with Satan worshipers.  I just have a really hard time with some people...
  Anyway.  Did you know I recently survived a horrible attack?  I was on the bus when something flew in the window.  I thought it was a wasp - but it disappeared from sight and I decided to put it out of my mind.  THEN I saw it sitting right above me.  It was a cockroach.  Gross.  So, right as I am trying to get Benjamin's attention, it falls ON ME - right on my shirt.  SO WRONG!
  I am on a bus full of people practically trying to climb on my husband's lap, but not wanting the cockroach to crawl anywhere out of sight.  Benjamin was less than helpful.  I happened to have a newspaper in my hand and he wanted me to use it to squish the bug - while it was still on me.  Right.  Not happening.  Anyway, then it finally moved off and fell on the floor.  Great.  5 more hours on the bus with the thing crawling around by my feet - or up my pant legs... you never know.  So, Benjamin stomps his foot and claims to have killed it.  the LIAR!
  Emotionally, I don't know if I will ever overcome this... multiple dentist visits in one year and an attack by a nasty cockroach.  AND another long bus ride.  I am really getting to the point where I just can't handle these buses anymore... with or without the bugs...
  Okay, enough babbling for now.  Will try to write something more exciting soon.
xoxo