Working my way through it all

The previous post I should have explained was another volunteer's experience.  I was not trying to donate 1400 books.  Everything revolves around getting three copies signed with a purple stamp.  It's tempting to get one made up.  I think I previously mentioned how awkward it was borrowing a tape measure from the store to use.  Well the list goes on:  A paint brush for the day I decided the ICT lab needed a sprucing up; a folder and pens to complete an audit, floppy disks to repair machines, dust covers to be cleaned.  You name it everything is signed over.  I've finally arranged a procedure for replacing broken parts to fix computers.  A new part can be bought (instead of the usual practise of replacing an entire PC) by the office involved signing out the new part, replacing working for broken and then returning the broken item to the store!

 

So without a budget or understanding of how to purchase goods here, I have managed to create a list of desired materials.  Ringing shops in the area proved pointless as they either did not have, did not answer or the tiniest of shop refused to sell less than 30 of anything.  Without boring every inch of you, more than I have done myself I will try to explain what I have had to do this week regards work.  [Although I believe there is a feeling going around that I am not working.]

 

Travelled to Mekelle.  Visited shops and showed them the list of items to see what they sold and how "with it" they were.  Returned to provide them with a purple stamped version.  Returned to pick up closed completed lists with prices.  Returned to Abi Adi.  Read completed lists (only after signing closed envelope and every sheet inside).  Completed table highlighting cheapest option for each item.  Two days later, returned to Mekelle.  Returned to every shop with questions about specifications of listed items and re-wrote list explaining why cheapest is not always the best option.   This could well be my biggest challenge here.

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