This is a funny story describing typical third world Africa bureaucracy.
Last week, Jan's Sunday School class at Heritage Hills sent us several packages loaded with goodies. Two of these packages contained vitamins.
Last week, Jan's Sunday School class at Heritage Hills sent us several packages loaded with goodies. Two of these packages contained vitamins.
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When our courier went to the post office, they would not release the package because it contained pills, heaven forbid. They sent him back with a card asking the strength of the pills and how they were to be taken. We sent back a message that they were daily vitamins. They then sent back word that a doctor would have to see the pills and release them. After waiting a few more days, we decided to go to the post office with our courier and see if we could help negotiate a release of the hostage pills. So, this morning we rode downtown to the post office and with the help of Sammy we tried again. Now they were saying the doctor had seen the pills and was requesting a letter from our doctor with a prescription stating what the pills were and how they were to be taken (Are you kidding, they’re daily vitamins!). We again stated that they were only vitamins and there was no prescription for them. She said sorry, it was out of her hands and we would have to go see the doctor to get it cleared up!
After pleading some more, the clerk finally took us to her supervisor. Jan brought a bottle from the house that contained exactly the same vitamins. She showed it to the supervisor and tried to explain that they were just vitamins. She agreed to send us to the custom's supervisor and let her decide. Once in the customs office, we opened one of the packages and showed her that the pills in the baggies matched the pills in the bottle. She said, “Oh they’re supplements”. We finally found the magic word. She wrote out a letter for each package and sent us back to the original supervisor. Now a value had to be assigned to each item in the packages. So, they sent us to another lady who emptied out both packages, wrote everything down, and assigned the value. Now it was quite obvious she was just pulling the values out of the air because she never used any reference material. Who cares, we’re finally making progress. We then took the slip she gave us to the custom's cashier in the post office. She then gave us yet another slip which must be taken to the bank to pay the customs fee. Kenya has to limit the number of people who handle money because it has a habit of not making it into the till. We walked several blocks through downtown traffic to the bank. Sammy stood in line and paid the fee and then we walked back to the post office with the receipt. We thought we would be done then but, noooooo, that would be way too simple. We had to stop at the custom's cashier again. We then went to the station to pick up the actual packages. Then we had to stop at another station to pay another fee. Who knows what that was for. Three stations later we were headed out. But wait, we had to stop at the exit so the guard could verify that our many slips matched the packages. Quick, run, we have our SUPPLEMENTS! We ended up visiting with 10 different people before we got out the door. It was a true adventure and really made us appreciate all Sammy does for us at the post office on a regular basis. The whole procedure, counting getting to and from downtown, took us almost three hours.
Jeff just keeps muttering something about how broken the system is and how this is just one example of why this country will stay a third world country for a long time to come.
After pleading some more, the clerk finally took us to her supervisor. Jan brought a bottle from the house that contained exactly the same vitamins. She showed it to the supervisor and tried to explain that they were just vitamins. She agreed to send us to the custom's supervisor and let her decide. Once in the customs office, we opened one of the packages and showed her that the pills in the baggies matched the pills in the bottle. She said, “Oh they’re supplements”. We finally found the magic word. She wrote out a letter for each package and sent us back to the original supervisor. Now a value had to be assigned to each item in the packages. So, they sent us to another lady who emptied out both packages, wrote everything down, and assigned the value. Now it was quite obvious she was just pulling the values out of the air because she never used any reference material. Who cares, we’re finally making progress. We then took the slip she gave us to the custom's cashier in the post office. She then gave us yet another slip which must be taken to the bank to pay the customs fee. Kenya has to limit the number of people who handle money because it has a habit of not making it into the till. We walked several blocks through downtown traffic to the bank. Sammy stood in line and paid the fee and then we walked back to the post office with the receipt. We thought we would be done then but, noooooo, that would be way too simple. We had to stop at the custom's cashier again. We then went to the station to pick up the actual packages. Then we had to stop at another station to pay another fee. Who knows what that was for. Three stations later we were headed out. But wait, we had to stop at the exit so the guard could verify that our many slips matched the packages. Quick, run, we have our SUPPLEMENTS! We ended up visiting with 10 different people before we got out the door. It was a true adventure and really made us appreciate all Sammy does for us at the post office on a regular basis. The whole procedure, counting getting to and from downtown, took us almost three hours.
Jeff just keeps muttering something about how broken the system is and how this is just one example of why this country will stay a third world country for a long time to come.
1 comment:
Speaking of packages....we mailed your Mother's Day package today! No vitamins-so don't worry about that! Not even in a box-just a large made-by-Jerm envelope. Hope it arrives soon. We'll mail the card tomorrow, Jerm forgot to include it.
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