Issues

Yesterday we were at the govt office that our NGO is partnering with and needed to do something in Arabic on the computer. After trying every other computer in the office and none of them working our friend says this:

'I guess we'll just have to wait for Ahmed, he's not at his desk'
'How long do you think he will be?'
'Maybe after one hour'
'So Ahmed left the office?
'No. He's here. He's sleeping'
'...hmmm...he's sleeping?'
'yes, but maybe he will wake up after one hour. We can wake him up if we need to but he won't be very helpful if we do.'
'um, no thanks. We wouldn't want to interrupt Ahmed's nap. We'll just come back another day'

Then we were at the bank this morning. We got there at 9am when they open and we went in at 9:30 when they actually opened. There are no lines but there is an actual rule where women get to go to the front. (I mean, how would it be possible to push your way to the front when men and women are NOT allowed to touch). However around here women don't do any of this kind of stuff for themselves so I don't think they've ever actually used that rule. After we finally pushed our way up to the front of the line to get our transfer it was 10:30 and the guys says:

'we don't have any money'
'you...don't have any money?'
'nope'
'but this is the bank, right?'
'yes, the bank'
'so if the bank doesn't have any money, what do they do?'
'we wait, maybe after one hour we will have some'
'...oh...okay'
So we waited and they brought it after about an hour. Again, people wonder how I can manage to be busy all day long and never get anything accomplished. It's things like this!

Just a few pictures. The one on top is of a typical house in the village we're working in. People sit outside all day under they shaded area and they also sleep out there. Kind of makes you wonder what's the use having the cement part of the house...at least I wonder.
Then this is the latest dust storm. We've been having about 3 a week and no rain. This one was cool b/c it came right at sunset from behind the mountains. All the storm clouds behind it were beautiful and pink (like the little one at the top) until the storm covered it up.
And these are the women we visited with today in the village. It's interesting b/c underneath their tobes (the 4 meters of material that they wrap and wrap around themselves) they MIGHT have a skirt on but they definitely do not have anything on top. Normally they just sit around with their heads covered and everything else just hanging out, even when there are men around!! When we come in they all cover their faces but still are just hanging out topless. Then when I go asked to take a picture they uncovered their faces but made sure the rest was covered? I just don't understand these cultural rules and I don't know that I will EVER be willing to fit in!!