Day 53: The Other (Grand)Father, The Sequel

          Today we went back to see babu David and get the stories from him that Baba had missed last time.
          Tanzania is a very interesting place.  One of the interesting things about it is the way people value money.  Everyone, of course, wants more of it, and will do what ever it takes to get it from others.  But it's not a simple as that.  Probably the best way to explain what I mean is with the following experience.  Shepard Isankiya came by to pick us up and take us back to babu David's.  Along the way he stopped for gas.  When we went to pay for the gas, we discovered that we had left all our money back at Shangazi Eli-aremisa's.  The bill was for 64,000/= Tish.
          So we were trapped right?  I mean, there's no way the gas attendant was just going to let us drive off with a bill that size, right?  Actually, he did.  Isankiya promised, of course, to come back latter that evening and settle accounts.  He didn't even have to leave his id or some other asset behind as insurance.  So just what does money mean to Tanzanians?  I'll let you know when I find out.
          From the gas station we drove to Usa River to go to the bank.  That was when we discovered that we'd also left our bank cards at Eli-aremisa's as well.  So no money.  Since we were already over half way to babu David's we decided to just go to his place and worry about the money afterwords.  Along the way we stopped for the obligatory tea and sugar, and Isankiya covered the bill for us.
          Babu David was very happy to see us, and he talked to Baba for a long time, telling him all kinds of stories while Baba took notes.  The highlight was the story of David and the Lion, which Baba translated for me.  Babu David has an extraordinarily keen mind and an excellent sense of time.  Though possessing no watch, he knew exactly how long he had been talking, and when we needed to leave to get back at a reasonable time.  I speak from personal experience when I say that this is an invaluable asset to anyone who posses this talent.  No one in our family does, save my sister Anande.  We are also rarely ever on time.
          Leaving Babu Davids, we drove back home to Shangzi Eli-aremisa's, where I ran in and grabbed the money for Isankiya.  A word of advice: when traveling, always keep plenty of money with you, but not all in the same place.


E’ya! - Tate


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