v4#3

Working cross-culturally, I think, is a bit like driving too fast in traffic. If you stop paying attention even for a second you may end up driving off the road, or end up in a big crash. Even if you do manage to stay in control, other drivers will look at you and ask,"What in the world is he doing?" Such is the nature of my work that I live with the constant possibility of a major faux pas, hoping to avoid it, but realizing the embarassing inevitability of it all.

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity and privilege to attend a meeting of a savings and loan group in Tanzania. The system that this group is using is called VICOBA short for VIllage COmmunity BAnk. Perhaps in another entry I will describe VICOBA in more detail, but suffice it to say that it is working very well, and generating considerable local interest. So much so, that this small community, with a mere 30 VICOBA members, took it upon themselves to invite the District Commisioner. There is no North American equivalent of DC, but he would be just one notch below Governer or Premier. He's important enough that when people walk in the room where he is present they will hold their hand to their heart and bow slightly. So having the DC attend was a surprise for me and a big deal for everyone. In the presence of such dignitaries I am a very minor character, so I was further surprised when I got invited to the head table. And so, in my moment of personal obliviousness, I moved to the next available seat at the head table which also happened to be the central seat, the place of highest honour, definitely intended for the DC, very definitely not intended for me. Worse, having plunked myself down, I had no graceful way to extract myself and had to endure the next 2 hours of my own folly. Luckily, everyone was very diplomatic and managed to pay proper homage to the DC while not causing further embarassment to me (at least not any more than I was already inflicting on myself).

I do have a photo documenting this error, but refuse to post it as I believe my soul may be trapped in there. Instead I am including a photo of a VICOBA member receiving congratulations from the DC himself.