I know it’s dangerous to write posts when one is
‘emotionally unstable’ (in other words a bit angry/annoyed/frustrated, as I am right now) but I will
give it a try anyways. I was told that blogs are about expressing the real
experience, not a sugar-coated version of it, even if it implies that one has
to be a little less objective while describing a particular situation. At the
end of this not so pleasantly written post however, I will express a glimpse of
hope that keeps me holding on to seeing the cup as half full and the present
challenges. So here I go...
It’s not easy to be here by
myself. Although I am affiliated with an NGO, they are not in charge of my
legal status or overlooking the progress of my study. As such, I am an 'independent unit', having to swim through the raging seas of American and
Zambian immigration and scholastic administration alone. Sometimes, I hit a
rock. And sometimes I keep hitting it.
I will be honest with you and tell you that when people back
home ask me about my trip, I will not talk about Zambia, or at least Lusaka,
with the wild optimism characteristic of lots of globally
engaged young student souls. My experience so far has been rough in terms of
trying to solve issues that urgently need solving, and it is making me aware of
many downsides in the local work ethic. But hey, I've been learning that in Slovakia for the past 22 years. So I guess it's just the surprise that I found a similar system here.
I am halfway done with my study on rural-urban migration,
but I am still missing the UNC Internal Research Board’s approval that would
enable me to legally conduct my research. I am hence violating the IRB’s
regulations (which makes this a quite bold public confession that I hope will not
be read by anyone from the actual Board). The reason for this is that I cannot receive a simple, half-a-page recommendation from a Zambian faculty
member which would validate to UNC that my study is ethically okay in Zambian
standards (i.e. not offensive or disturbing to the local population). I have tried
it through various channels where I was sometimes asked to pay exorbitant sums
to have my approval reviewed, or referred to this or that other faculty member
who is usually too busy to reply to his missed calls, let alone write and
sign a letter. But to sympathize with him, they've been having a crazy schedule publishing semester exam results.
Another, and perhaps the most annoying issue I am dealing
with, is the impasse at the immigration. I paid 4 mostly useless visits to the
downtown regional office in hopes of having my business visa extended until
August. The first time I went there was a month ago, shortly before my visa
expired. From then on I’ve been trying to put my documents together, get the
payment ready ($300 for an NGO temporary employment permit makes it almost $400
when I consider the first visa fee I paid before traveling to Z) and wait and wait and wait for them to pick up my
application and actually work on it. I waste time, money and energy calling the
office, traveling downtown and missing work again and again, but especially
dealing with the officers’
attitude. At first I thought it was only one worker but after having the
privilege of cruising through different offices I concluded that the whole
department must have an issue with dealing with people politely. Asking
questions and demanding an explanation are obviously not welcomed, judging from their arrogant replies and indifferent looks. It
raises my pulse each time I think of the Pensions House (where the immigration
dept is found).
With faith and prayers, I am going to the Immigration again tomorrow to
finally pick up my employment permit. Hopefully, I will also receive the study
recommendation from a Dean at the University of Zambia later in the day. I
would be very happy to have all of this done before I leave for Mpika on Sunday
where I will be staying for a week. But even if not, I know that these things
are teaching me a life lesson, and that although ‘all discipline seems
painful at the moment’, one day I will be able to say that in the realms of bureaucracy
I have grown since this summer.
So wish me good luck tomorrow :)
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