Hello Everyone! Terribly sorry for the delay of my posting! It's been a very hectic first ten days, with schedules covering all day, a period of full occupancy and a passage from the hotel's Pastry (good EHL memories and burns... I'm not made for industrial Kitchens :) )
One thing you will rapidly notice in Djibouti is how everything is easy on paper! You have not received your Cargo yet? Pas de problème! Your room has not been cleaned yet? Pas de problème! You have not signed your contract or received your airplane ticket? Pas de problème!!! And indeed, the willingness of people to assist, help and be there for you is stunning! They will do EVERYTHING in their hands to help you, but in Djibouti time, that is when it will not be problematic for them (and a higher power) to help.
And indeed, this could be closely linked with the "Inch'Allah!" philosophy embraced by everyone here! "God Willing" is, indeed, a key requirement for anything, from appointments, to meetings, to going out, to actually receiving your Cargo. It is actually crucial that you add this little word at the end of any wishful sentence and, if by any way, you forget to say it, you will be corrected on the spot!
All this gives the people of Djibouti a quite admirable tranquillity and peace of mind, with people taking drastic actions with surprising peace of mind and confidence that something will come to their aid. Quite a culture shock and a difference from what we know, back in Europe, but an opportunity for all parties involved to finally relax :) .
A other, less positive aspect of the local culture is the addiction of local populations to Khat, a leaf that, when munched for 3-4 hours, releases a stimulant into the body and supposedly allows the people that consume it to gain extra awareness, remove their level of fatigue and increase sexual performance.
In practice, Khat has become the reason for working for a large part of the population: Work in the morning until 13:00 or 14:00, then spend the afternoon munching Khat so that in the early evening, the effects start showing up. Huge amounts of money are poured in it and cause a rather weird social situation: men work little and irregularly, buy and munch Khat. W work a lot, pay for the family's food and survival.
Who thought that women are smarter anywhere you go?
Take care! More news soon! My internet connection is solved now!
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