duped!

Wednesday

10:20am- Jill (my co-worker who works across the room from me) goes into a meeting in the next building.

10:30am- I start burning a CD on her computer, which she left on her desk. Am planning on delivering this to one of our partner NGOs later in the morning. Forget about CD and keep working.

11:15am- 2 men come in, who stopped by last Friday (holiday in the office complex because Thanksgiving; I was the only person in the office so I told them if they really wanted they could come back next week). Still trying to sell paper. Tell them head of office out, and we don't need paper. Assume paper salesmen are going to leave.

11:20am- Shorter of paper salesemen (with what is apparently called "squid eyes" in Zambia-- eyes that look is opposite outer directions-- walleyed?) asks for a glass of water. Walk to water cooler in hallway to get him water.

11:21am- Bringing water back to office where squid eyes is waiting. Intercepted halfway back by his taller counterpart who chugs the cup of water on the spot and then power walks away. Perplexed by sudden chugging but decide perhaps he was really thirsty.

11:21 and 30 seconds- Not sure if each wanted a glass of water so walk back to my office before getting another glass to double check-- don't want to waste water. Salesmen gone. Think, "Wow they left fast." Relieved paper salesmen gone so I can continue with work.

11:35am- Pluswell (CHAI driver) comes back from running an errand (ironically, buying computer paper which we had in fact run out of), and I ask him to deliver this CD which I was burning earlier. Look over to Jill's desk-- computer (and CD) gone. Odd. Assume Jill must have taken computer to meeting at some point and I didn't notice, as power cord and mouse still in office.

11:45am- Jill gets back from meeting. Asks, "Where's my computer?"

Paper salesmen??! I was totally hoodwinked!!


I have a great resolution to start updating this blog in a meaningful way (that actually informs about what I'm doing in Zambia), but things have been pretty crazy and obviously have not done this in the past 2 months. This weekend though, have high hopes.