Frustrations and Successes (or I think so far)

Today I set out to get a sim card and to attempt to learn how to get registered as a nurse.

So a couple of girls from the lodge where I am staying joined me in walking to town.

I found a sim card, could not open my phone, finally a Malawian was so kind and helped me, then bought the wrong minutes (well I should say units,

when I say minutes everyone looked at me with blank stares).

Once I got my minutes I tried to call the number I had for the nursing council.

Busy tone, every time.

This used all of the units I bought (that was when I finally bought the correct ones).

So I split off from the girls and went to an internet cafe to try to find the new number.

Walking to the internet cafe alone was slightly more intimidating.

Men were yelling and calling me sweetheart, I did not have many people approach me,

except children begging for money.

But it was still intimidating.

I got to the internet cafe and she told me the internet would be too slow for me and I would not want it.

She looked at the address I needed to get to and told me to go down the street to the mini bus.

I got to the mini bus and they just pointed down the street.

So I walked down the street and a taxi driver approached me, as soon as I pulled out the address book there were about six men surrounding me (none of which know personal boundaries).

I laughed out loud at their wanting to help me, they are all so desperate for business, which is very understandable.

One man told me to come and he would take me there.

He pulled the floor mat off of the wall (I am still confused as to why they were all hanging there).

Then I got in the very damp (confused about this too, I figured I did not want to know) front seat, and we were off.

I always forget that they drive on the opposite side here, every time he turns I think we are going into oncoming traffic, and much like their not knowing personal space they also do not understand the importance of keeping space between vehicles.

At one point I told him that I forgot he drives on the side I am not used to.

He laughed so hard, he said he saw my hands fly up to pull the steering wheel in what I thought was the right direction.

The cab driver took me to the address I thought I needed to be at.

Guess what? 

Wrong effing place.

Thankfully my cab driver waited for me and a woman came out and translated for him.

Then we went to another place.

I filled out a form and payed fees, they gave me a receipt and said thank you I could pick my card up in two weeks. 

This was not right.

So I talked to a woman in the office and she told me that I did my steps backwards.

She came out and translated to my cab driver where I needed to go.

I went to the next place.

The woman told me, yes I have received your emails.

Do you think that she ever emailed me back? 

No.

So then she scolded me for not having come in the morning and for not having my proper paperwork.

She said what am I supposed to do with you now?

Well what the hell do I know?!

Just tell me what to do!

Of course I just pulled the, "I'm so sorry I just do not know what I am doing, I am here and willing to learn card".

She gave me the forms to fill out and said I needed my transcripts sent.

Awesome.

I'm sure getting my transcripts sent right over will be no problem....not.

Well I emailed every single person in the office of registrar at William Jewell.

In the subject line was "emergency transcript request."

I plead my case.

They said I needed to print the form and fax or scan it back and they would be willing to send me an email form of my transcripts.

Oh yes I will print and scan that right back.....not.

The printer here is broken and there is no scanner.

Well I plead my case, filled the form out online, and got clever (at least I thought I was a genius) and wrote my signature on a piece of paper, took a picture with my iphone and sent it via email.

Thank God for the people working at WJC and their mercy on me!!

She said it would work and they would send me the email with my transcripts by the end of the day.

I cannot believe my luck. 

So I am supposed to go back to the office with my paperwork on Monday morning and hopefully things can get squared away and I can be on my way by Tuesday morning.

We shall see how annoyed the woman is with me on Monday.

Cross your fingers that it goes well!

So now it is the weekend and there is nothing I can do. 

I plan to go into town in the morning and check out the market place.

I sat at the bar tonight and a man told me many white women end up marrying African men.

Was this a marriage proposal?

Well he bought my drink, which was a double, double.

I was kind of joking that I normally fill the glass half full of rum (you all know I actually do).

Well this really excited everyone at the bar and they were all watching him pour my drink.

I felt slightly judged.

But hey, it was free and all I needed was one drink for the night.

Another guy (much younger) told me tomorrow he is going to teach me to play a game.

He also told me to find him in the market place tomorrow and was telling me about a concert.

I know that culture is very different here, especially with men towards women.

I will be going very cautious with being too friendly toward men.

I do not want to give the wrong impression and then offend them.

I am planning on attending a soccer game on Sunday, since I will have nothing to do.

It should be an interesting experience. 

I am going to try to take more pictures, I will not be so stressed this weekend and will try to remember!

Well I am off to shower and get in my super comfortable in my suffocating mosquito net.

Tomorrow will be a better day!

And I am happy that I am safe, and have been helped by so many kind people!

The babies are so cute in the way they seem to know to put their butt in the bottom of the sling and their feet up.
Most of them are sleeping while their mother's carry them. I think I have only heard one baby crying.

After I took this picture I realized that child was naked, I love it! This was on the walk to town they were bathing (I assume and doing laundry).

While I sat and waited at the wrong place.

Typical roadside stand. I was pissed that I missed taking a picture of all the dead chickens hanging from the bike.
That will be my goal tomorrow.