Day 16 ~ Expat Rage

There comes a time in every Expat’s life when he or she goes into a rage about being “cheated” out of an unthinkably small amount of money. I caught myself today – just in time - before doing just that. The amount in question was 800RWF or about CA$1.34

During my lunch break from SFH I had to make a quick run to my Son’s school to pay for his Karate and soccer clothes.

I flagged a moto taxi down and made arrangements with him to go to Green Hills Academy and back to my office. I made these arrangements using my very best sign and body language communication skills. He said (or rather typed on his phone) 800.

Again I clarified that I wanted to go THERE and BACK.

One more time - 800 to go there AND back???

Yes yes yes, he says. We head off.

It’s about a 7-minute ride to the school from my office. He waited outside for me while I met with the principal. This took longer than I expected – maybe 10 minutes.

I thought to myself – I should tip him 200RWF for waiting for me for so long.

We arrive back at SFH, I oh so graciously hand him 1000RWF with a big smile and get ready to tell him not to bother making change. He glances at the note – then back at me with a hesitating look. I realise what’s coming – I’ve been here before…

My moto taxi engages the SFH security guard – who quickly explains to me that I owe him 600RWF more.

I attempt to diplomatically explain to the guard the fast-one that the moto driver is trying to pull. The guard misunderstands my explanation and begins explaining to me veeeerry slowly:

The bill you are holding is 1000RWF.

To make 1600RWF you must pay 600RWF more.

I’ve not been in Rwanda long – but I’ve been here long enough to know that 1600RWF for the trip we just took is waaaay too much. 400RFW each way is fair.

Here I stand – on the street – feeling like a targeted foreigner. Knowing that the moto driver knows what he did, but the guard and all the SFH employees watching do not.

If I make a fuss, I’m an ungracious foreigner. If I pay, then I reinforce the perception that foreigners are both rich and stupid and should be ‘taken for a ride’.

I pay the moto driver.

He responds by short-changing me 200RWF.

Yep. Perception successfully reinforced.

Faaaan-tastic.

May 13, 2015