What was that for exactly?

So I have been running around today, this and that. Got the two MOU's together and signed. I'm coming back with two pieces of paper to show donors that we've got partnerships to work with. I went to negotiate with the money changers, shady characters... Then on to the police. I of course need to get a copy of the police report. They have been telling me to come back everyday since Tuesday, but there are no more days now. I leave tomorrow for Freetown.

Of course this doesn't necessarily matter as they have no power so they have to go to a private party to type the report. I told them I could do it. They said they need to follow protocal and I can't type it. But it would help if I paid to get it typed, 5-10,000 Le. I gave him 5, and he said come back in two hours. Hmmm...

So what are the odds that I just paid a filing fee for a typed report (non-standard here), or that I just paid a bribe?? They really have no computers, and an hour at the internet costs 6,000Le. No matter, in my heart it felt more like it coulda been a facilitation fee at the time, but as I write this, it certainly feels more like a bribe now... We'll see in a few minutes when I go back to pick it up!!

Break...

Bribe. So I got back there and he was gone and had just handwriten what he wanted me to type. I stood in front of him with 23,000 Le and told him I had this much to get to Freetown and Lungi and eat. So he took 5 in stead of 10. Coward.

So from there I had to go to the chairman's house, get the generator turned on, type what the policmen wrote and then take it back to him. He wasn't there, and then there was an issue with the name I was given as signatur. So I had to run back to Eric's, a kilometer maybe, and change the name, then run back to the police station with the new print outs. Of course he was still not there. But the other people (less power, much nicer) where there to help. They know my sob story, and when I told them about the 5000 he wanted,they were genuinely concerned about me getting to the airport safely.

They kept working for me though, and got the document in front of the actual head of the Makeni Police. He of course said the other one was absolute crap and he'd redo it. I of course then had to type it. So I had to run back to the chairman's house, fire-up the old generator, and... Whoops... No fuel. So they send a little kid to get some more. Once it's running it his not running smoothly, every hickup turns the computer off!! (insert four letter words of your choice) Eventually I get it typed and printed, and get to running back to the police station... The locals must have thought I was nuts by then, running back and forth!! But this time was it, the supervisor had waited just for me. He read it and signed!! Yes!! Until I get out the door and realize, he didn't stamp it!! Back in, get it stamped... Sigh... Long day...

From there off to Apex to meet with my expat crew. Dave and Gary, and now Ray again. He's been recovering from malaria and typhoid, so not much around. Also my new white knight Kate. When I was a mess yesterday watching bad movies at Wusum she sat down and helped me out, bought me dinner, and was really just there. Thanks!!

But the day wasn't over. Off to meet Yapo!! No money and no hardrive from Kaps. He is just playing me. That 450,000 Le was just blood money to keep his ass out of jail. I'm fuming at this point. He won't answer the phone and isn't gonna pay me for bringing the drives, never mind the stolen money. Fine, get up early, go to police. Enough. But... Of course I talk further to Yapo (the chairman is away). He says, Tim, there are other ways. We don't have to deal with the police, but we can just make it difficult for him. All his projects go through the council. Nothing needs to come of him and his kids, but he has to work with us...

And all I keep coming back to is, Eric learned his politics in Moscow... So it is on this note I head to bed... Up and outta Makeni in the morning!! Be on a plane in less than 48 hours. Gonna miss a lot of things here, but not more than I want to be home right now!!