I couldn't help but think of White Tiger earlier.
I have been so impressed by how the vast majority of drivers do not bomb around the roads. Sure, there is some random indiscipline and a few boy-racers but generally, in Maputo anyway, people stick to lanes but, moreover, go reasonably slowly.
One of the most interesting observations I have had about what I have seen of Mozambique compared to India is the lower density of people around. So perhaps that is a factor in the driving, the less honking etc.
But even in rural India, if there were less cars and less density, I can't imagine the vast majority of drivers would drive slowly around the streets.
I'd be interested to see the letter Balram Halwai would write to the President of Mozambique about it.
Sunday, 12 April 2009
From the rooftops shout it out...
... baby I'm ready to go. Remember the old Eircell ads for Pay As You Go when that first came out?
I have a PAYG phone here (I think all mCel phones are) but that's not what this post is about.
Brian and I had a really interesting experience when we came home and suddenly the electricity conked out. We realised we hadn't topped up the PAYG Electricity! So off we went to the store, handed over cash, got the 15 digit code or whatever, and came home... lo and behold, let there be light.
It left me feeling in a bit of a dichotomy. If it wasn't for direct debit, we (and most others) would have an awful credit rating as we would forget to pay our bills. Ergo, Direct Debit is a God-send.
BUT this pay as you go malarky has made me realise just how much more in control you are about how much money you spend.......
I know it seems there aren't enough hours in the day to look after all bills (for most people). But I wonder what removing Direct Debit could be useful advice for those wishing to really get a grip of their finances? Maybe I should submit this to the Debt Advice Bureau? (Or maybe they already suggest this?!)
I have a PAYG phone here (I think all mCel phones are) but that's not what this post is about.
Brian and I had a really interesting experience when we came home and suddenly the electricity conked out. We realised we hadn't topped up the PAYG Electricity! So off we went to the store, handed over cash, got the 15 digit code or whatever, and came home... lo and behold, let there be light.
It left me feeling in a bit of a dichotomy. If it wasn't for direct debit, we (and most others) would have an awful credit rating as we would forget to pay our bills. Ergo, Direct Debit is a God-send.
BUT this pay as you go malarky has made me realise just how much more in control you are about how much money you spend.......
I know it seems there aren't enough hours in the day to look after all bills (for most people). But I wonder what removing Direct Debit could be useful advice for those wishing to really get a grip of their finances? Maybe I should submit this to the Debt Advice Bureau? (Or maybe they already suggest this?!)
The Middle Classes
What a funny phrase that is...
In the UK, it is seen as the affluent to be Middle Class. Rugby is middle class. Football is working class.
In the US, during the election, Obama kept talking about America's middle classes. Doing a bit more digging, it's hard to understand exactly what level of society he exactly means. Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_middle_class
In India, there has been much revelrie in the growth of 200 million people in the middle classes.
I think of it as one thing I have been struck by has been the lack of a major middle class here in Moz, as I understand it to mean.
So the question arises: is that what developing countries should be striving for, as India has sucessfully done, to raise the educated stratum in society into a stronger middle class? Does that just mean a more powerful consumer? Are the middle classes really a larger Services Sector?!
I guess we need to think if that should really be the objective for development and if a 'larger' middle class just serves to stratify society even further.
In the UK, it is seen as the affluent to be Middle Class. Rugby is middle class. Football is working class.
In the US, during the election, Obama kept talking about America's middle classes. Doing a bit more digging, it's hard to understand exactly what level of society he exactly means. Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_middle_class
In India, there has been much revelrie in the growth of 200 million people in the middle classes.
I think of it as one thing I have been struck by has been the lack of a major middle class here in Moz, as I understand it to mean.
So the question arises: is that what developing countries should be striving for, as India has sucessfully done, to raise the educated stratum in society into a stronger middle class? Does that just mean a more powerful consumer? Are the middle classes really a larger Services Sector?!
I guess we need to think if that should really be the objective for development and if a 'larger' middle class just serves to stratify society even further.
Land battles
Why are humans so obssessed with owning land? Battles for independence for colonies... land-ownership is critical... just finished Obama's Dreams from My Father and I noted his grandfather's (Hussein's) steps taken around land ownership... even this frikkin credit crunch is all about land (aka property) ownership.
I would like to think more about how all this fits into the capitalism-communism continuum too... it was interesting to talk to the owners of Praia do Sol in Bilene (Val & Arnold) to hear about how the government makes it very difficult for land to be bought by, say, South Africans, who wanted a holiday home. This has kept prices even along the beautiful Indian Ocean coast (and Bilene lagoon) very contained.
12-24 months ago, this would have seemed preposterous, but now doesn't it actually seem quite sensible?
I would like to think more about how all this fits into the capitalism-communism continuum too... it was interesting to talk to the owners of Praia do Sol in Bilene (Val & Arnold) to hear about how the government makes it very difficult for land to be bought by, say, South Africans, who wanted a holiday home. This has kept prices even along the beautiful Indian Ocean coast (and Bilene lagoon) very contained.
12-24 months ago, this would have seemed preposterous, but now doesn't it actually seem quite sensible?
'Bon Trabalho'
What a great expression; have a great day at work & work well... nice!
"There is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task." - B. Obama 20/jan/09!
"There is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task." - B. Obama 20/jan/09!
Walk to work
I still enjoy the walk to work, every day. Of course, it helps that it has always so far been a glorious morning with warm weather. But more than that, the sights and sounds are the highlight really. Walking past the nice doormen / security guards (allegedly!), the grassy knoll near the Sheikh building is a funny one; full of litter and rubbish. It is really sad. Amidst the rubbish, literally, though, is an amazing sight; father and son with various magazines on the grass and for sale. There is something just unbelievably amazing about that. They are really nice too (he is very well-read, clearly, and insists on speaking English to me). The athletics stadium is next on the left, with the well-kept 400m track and 1 stand. Depending on when I go to work, sometimes the kids have arrived at the nursery and are singing/chanting some songs (no clue what they are!). Pass Pizza House and people enjoying their garoto and fresh pao... past the nice old man who polishes shoes (10 mets; one of the few things still not exorbitant in px here). Then left onto Salvador Allende, the tree-lined street; plenty of nice 4x4s driving up and down, as well as the odd Learner driver. Passed the General Hospital and the Medical School, with its tasty lunches; Clinton Office on the corner of Emilio Dausse. Still haven't found out who that is! It's a grid system, a la Manhattan, albeit with names of Communists and/or famous African leaders replacing Streets and Avenues. A few more 'blocks' to the MISAU (Ministerio de Saude), the massive and imposing building on the corner of Edouarde Mondlane. Really interesting and a great way to kick off the working day.
Hot water showers
Classic moment when I took hot water showers for 4 days in a row. I thought that I had to just deal with it, living in Mozambique, don't always have the luxury of hot water, and so I just got on with taking cold showers. Then flatmate Brian got back from his trip to Swaz and pointed out that I had forgotten to flick the switch to get hot water in the gaff.... nice... (or should that be nice to be an idiot perhaps?!)
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