And we're back in the game!

Ready, 1, 2, 3!

Today I went to take passport photos for when I go to HK to do my stuff. At the photo studio, the guy with the camera said "Ready", to which I replied "yes", expecting him to say "1,2,3" *Snap*. But, he took the photo right as I was saying "yes". This was the outcome...



And no joke, the guy put his camera down and literally pouted for 10 seconds. I couldn't believe it. I know, film costs more money, and I must have been wasting his time...cause if I wasn't there, he could have gone back to playing board games. So I said "I'll pay for two passport photos...just take another one." Everyone else in the store was laughing, but this dude was still pouting. Anyway, when someone says "Ready", you expect him to say "1,2,3" before snapping the photos. After this, I thought it was just the West that did that, but when I told the story to my coworker, he said that they also say "1,2,3" before they take the shot. So...I took one more picture and the outcome was much better...



Anyway, I know it can be a pain, but don't stand there throwing a temper tantrum in the middle of the store, especially in front of a customer. geez. Act your age. In any case, I think it would have been cool if I could have used the first photo for my visa.

*ps. My hair is so stankin long, I think if I donated 10 inches right now, my hair would still be at my shoulders. Maybe I could donate it to someone who wants to get her "fake hair" weaved. Some salon owner actually tried to get me to buy fake hair! Why would I want to buy fake hair!

Nothing but Nets

Why Rick Reilly is my favourite sports writer:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/rick_reilly/04/25/reilly0501/index.html

wwww.nothingbutnets.net

I'm a Victim of Fraud!

I never thought it would happen here in Malawi, but it is possible to be a victim of fraud in Africa! the culprit - the mysterious phone tapper. Mobile phones are pretty prevalent here in Malawi. In fact, it is more likely that someone will have a mobile over a house line. So, since this is the case, and the rate is cheaper for mobile to mobile (about 8MK/minute) over land line to mobile (about 100MK/minute), I have only used my house line once. Three weeks ago, my coworker came to me with my house phone bill, which was at 6,000MK! Hot diggity! I don't even use my phone and my bill is that much! Now, I know that $42 USD might not seem like much, but it is a huge amount when your salary is only $260 USD. My finance guy said that most likely, my security guards were using my house phone because I give them my house key once a week to put my clothes inside the house when they're done drying. That explanation I can accept - I was reckless, and shouldn't give my guard the key. And because of some weird budgeting quirk, I have to pay for my phone bill, while my water bill (which is mysteriously just as large) is covered under my housing line. Then today, I opened my new phone line, and my new bill for the last month is 18,000MK! Now, I know that there is no way my security guards could have made all those calls, because I stopped giving them the key weeks ago! Holy smokes! The finance director came to the conclusion that someone has been tapping into my phone line and calling from my number. So now we're going to call the phone company, the number of the international call that was made on my line (to South Africa!) and we're going to play detectives and catch the sucker. Then we're gonna send him to the police to be squeezed!!! There is definitely no way I'm paying the 18,000MK phone bill, especially when it's half my salary!

*ps. For your information, to be "squeezed" by the police is a euphamism for "a sound beating".

* I don't condone violence in any way, so y'all know.

Martyr's Day

Because I won't be in town on Monday, I want to give recognition to Martyr's Day that is coming up Monday March 5, 2007. I am not sure of the real reason why this holiday exists. Perhaps it is to remember all the Christian missionaries who were martyred here in Malawi for their faith. If that is the case, something to reflect on. On the other hand, others might view it as a day to celebrate the day when all the Christian missionaries were killed in Malawi. If that is the case...YIKES!

Either way, Monday is a national holiday, so there will be no work, and thus, I will be chilling at the lake.