This is Africa, lovingly referred to as TIA, is a phrase and running joke amongst nearly everyone who travels through eastern and southern African countries. It explains everything from the impractical, ridiculous and just plain confusing things that happen on that part of the continent - Even our guides would shrug their shoulders, laugh and say TIA to many of the inexplicable circumstances we experienced - Here's just a short list and my fellow travelers can jump on in with so many others that I missed! :)
- When a downpour hits your camp site and the rain knocks the wifi out. Why? Because TIA.
- When you try to buy a certain visa at a land crossing between two countries and get denied. Then the 5th person behind you buys the exact same visa you just got denied from the same agent. Why? TIA!
- When you are driving down a massively pot-holed road while looking at a brand new paved highway that is blocked off from cars. Why? TIA!
- When you get off the ferry on the island of Zanzibar, walk through a security scanner, set off all the alarms and flashing lights, yet get waved through without a second glance by the security officer. Why bother screening people? TIA!
- When you break down on the way to the Nairobi airport and your driver shrugs, slowly reaching for his cellphone, while your panic sets in. He tells you, "This is Africa!" as if that will make you feel better about missing your flight...(Thankfully, I eventually made my flight.)
- When a downpour hits your camp site and the rain knocks the wifi out. Why? Because TIA.
- When you try to buy a certain visa at a land crossing between two countries and get denied. Then the 5th person behind you buys the exact same visa you just got denied from the same agent. Why? TIA!
- When you are driving down a massively pot-holed road while looking at a brand new paved highway that is blocked off from cars. Why? TIA!
- When you get off the ferry on the island of Zanzibar, walk through a security scanner, set off all the alarms and flashing lights, yet get waved through without a second glance by the security officer. Why bother screening people? TIA!
- When you break down on the way to the Nairobi airport and your driver shrugs, slowly reaching for his cellphone, while your panic sets in. He tells you, "This is Africa!" as if that will make you feel better about missing your flight...(Thankfully, I eventually made my flight.)
No comments:
Post a Comment