We had an amazing time in Joburg.  Some say this World Cup is the best ever and in my unbiased opinion, I would have to agree.  After our short stay there, we headed to Mwanza in Tanzania to visit Jen and Duncan.  Duncan is starting up a children’s HIV clinic while Jen is working with a woman’s rights organization.  They had given us early warning of some of the “differences” we could experience in Tanzania, including the airline service.  Our flight from Dar Es Salaam to Mwanza was originally scheduled for 6:00am, however we received notice that it had been moved to the 11:00am slot. 

We arrive at the airport and the woman at the counter takes our confirmation and we wait.  She spends a long time pressing buttons into her computer, looking perplexed and consulting others.

Jon - Is there a problem?
Woman - Yes, there is a problem.
Jon - What is it?
Woman - You are not showing up on this flight at 11:00am
Jon - Oh.  Here is the confirmation I received from you guys.  It says 11:00am.
Woman - Ok. I will go outside and talk to our ticketing group.

15 minutes later…

Woman - Ok, you were supposed to be on the 6:00am flight.  You missed your flight.
Jon - But your company told us our flight was changed to 11:00am.  See our confirmation?
Woman - Yes, but the change was not made in this system.  You must pay an additional fee.
Jon - I don’t understand, Why do we have to pay?  This is not our fault.
Woman - If it is not your fault.  Who is at fault?
Jon - Uh… your system is at fault?
Woman pauses to think - No.

In an effort to make our flight, Jon complies and runs outside of the airport to pay the additional fees and have tickets issued for the 11:00am flight.  Rushing up to the front, 15 minutes later, he presents the woman with our newly issued tickets.  She presses more buttons and sighs.

Woman - Ok, there is a problem. The flight is full.
Jon (about to lose it) - Excuse me?  How can the flight be full, your ticket agent just sold us 2 seats on that plane.
Woman - Yes, something must be wrong with her system… 

A businessman behind us erupts in anger, demanding that something be done.  We realize that a handful of customers are also victims of an overbooked plane.  We have no choice but to wait for the next flight.  We receive breakfast vouchers for a coffee at the airport and note we are in a different place. This is Africa.

- joyce