30 November – Bureaucracy, the Bursar and a beaten brow.

I had an interesting meeting with the Deputy Principal this morning. I asked for leave to go to Dar and then take a holiday. He looked perplexed, which perplexed me, because no-one is actually doing any work here anyway at the moment. When I explained that I was to attend a conference and make some visits, his brow uncreased and he said, “No problem.” It was the word ‘holiday’ which seemed to furrow his brow.

Next, I asked when I would be paid. At this, he smiled and said, “No problem.”  I pressed him and asked, “Well, when?”

He said he would ask the Principal.

“When will the Principal be back,?” I asked

“Probably next week.”

OK, I thought. Let’s press on.

Next, I asked if the College would buy a fridge for the house, if I agreed to pay a monthly rent. His brow furrowed at this again and said he would discuss it with the Bursar. “Oh good,” I thought.

“When will the Bursar be back?” I asked

“Not later than the middle of January”, he said.

I love it, that by saying “not later than..”, he manages to make me feel that this is quite soon.

Quite a successful meeting, I thought

Today I was concerned that our passports had gone missing in the post on their way to Dar to have Visas extended. One advantage of an over-staffed, heavily bureaucratic organisation is that it relies entirely on procedures; and when those procedures work, it’s a joy to behold. So it was, as our registered package was traced to Dar. The passports are important not least because I have not been paid yet.

I have been told that I could be paid ‘properly’ by cheque; but I have also been told that I will be paid in cash. The trouble is that neither option is actually possible at the moment. Option 1 – being paid by cheque, would require the Ministry to make the payment and for me to have a bank account. For me to open a bank account, I need a work permit. To get a work permit, I obviously need a passport. None of that is going to happen before mid January.  Option 2 – being paid in cash requires the Bursar to be present; that’s the same Bursar who took me to watch Arsenal the other week, has gone to Dar to be married and will not be back here before the middle of January.