Day 53: Guesthouse shenannigans

So I had to take some time out to tell y'all about some of the foolishness going down at the guestouse we're staying at. So waaay back when I first got here I explained how they were trying to raise the price on us even after we were already paying higher than a Ugandan would. So ok....we resolved that.... so I thought everything was all good. But...no....little things have been happening that just make me so anxious to go back to my house with my own room and my own bed etc. Here they are (in no particularly foolish order):


1. I know I need to just suck it up but the random bugs and other creatures are so f'n disgusting. Now this isn't really the guesthouse's fault...and it is Africa...but we all have something in life that we're afraid of or especially makes our skin crawl. Bugs are it for me. (See Day 29) So last week I was so scared when we came home and found some nasty little creatures that I will refer to as roid roaches from now on. I will call them such because they had clearly been fed some type of steroids to be that damn big. I mean look at this pic and tell me them jawns aint on some eat-me-on-the-fear- factor-show type mess....Ugh....

Roid Roaches...cold chillin in my room

2. Things have been stolen from our room. Ok now nothing too major like my phone or laptop (y'all woulda seen me on CNN for killing everyone in this house if that were the case) but little stuff that really makes me suspicious of the people here. So at first it was these candies that we had sitting out on the side table. We would slowly see them disappear and then even the wrappers on the floor. Then one day I noticed that about 4-5 of the mangoes I had bought were gone and only one was left. It was pretty blatant and it was the principle of the matter that I was mad. The mangoes didnt cost that much (See Day 47) but to know someone was taking things without asking pissed me off. So I talked to the two guys that work here and they said they didnt do it, but the young guy that cleans the bathroom must have. They seemed pretty upset about it so I just kinda chalked it up. But then maybe a week later, the other fellow's converter went missing. It was in the powerstrip they gave us and when they took it back that's when the converter just disappeared. They say they don't have it but what the hell else happened to it? It didn't grow legs and walk away. We searched the whole room (i mean it aint that big) and it was nowhere to be found. So now we are careful to put away our valuables whenever we leave and check all our belongings to see if anything else gets taken.



3. I'm still kinda mad about how much they are charging us. So we recently told another TASO member about how much we pay and he was very shocked and even asked what services they were giving us. We said they give us breakfast 4 days a week and clean the room. He said thats rediculous. That we should def get breakfast everyday and even dinner for that price. Now I know I'm from the US and the cost is not much in our terms but I am a student who's working here for free and has no job waitin on me when I get back. I mean I'll get over it but its still annoying. And this leads me to number 4....



4. The fact that they think I am made of money and moreover they should get a piece of my "fortune". So two quick stories. One time one of the guys at the guesthouse was walking me to the local market in town. On the way back I asked him does he have an address so I can (and I quote) "send him something" when I get back home (i.e. a letter or a card). This man had the nerve to say well we have Western Unions in town. Slow ur roll homie.....I aint sendin u no money (this is what I was thinking). And these guys are living very nice here in Uganda...they are not struggling by ANY strecth of the word. Story number 2: So this weekend he comes into the room to change our sheets. I had a lot of stuff on the bed so I began to move my things. He sees my Palm Treo cell phone and here is the conversation that ensues:



Him: "What is that?" (As he picks it up)

Me: "It's a cell phone" After I notice him eyeing it a lil too long, "But you can't use it here in Uganda, it doesn't use a sim card"

Him: "Oh there's people that can break the code on it" (Continues to look at it and starts pressing buttons)

Me "Oh really?" (Not really caring...just kinda making conversation)

Him: "Yeah, how about you leave this one for me and you buy another one at home?"

Me: (nervous laughter) "Um.. no"

Him: "It is powerful!"

Me: "Yeah" (Reach over and slowly take phone away from him)....

This dude had the nerve to tell me to leave him my $600 (I didnt pay that much for it ...but still thats how much its worth) phone. Are u F'n kidding me?! What do you need a palm for? He literally sits in the guesthouse all day watching TV...maybe changing the sheets every few days. And what makes u think I can afford to be giving phones away all will nilly? You are not family or a needy person (he has a cell phone). You take my money for me to live in your guesthouse...thats the basis of our relationship...why the heck would I give u my phone??

Ok sorry I had to go off there for a bit....but that ish ticked me off. So that is a snapshot of what I'm dealin with here...LOL

Response to Comments:
Wendy: Wow @ the phone proposition and Yeah Ted told me :-/
Tina: Its crazy how rich they really think I am. I am a broke grad student that desperately needs a job when I get back....it def all evens out