I’m trying to tell people this. But some don’t listen and some they don’t read.
But listen, things are very relative here in Tanzania.
Every week I get questions from people who are planning to move to or travel in Tanzania. A lot have taken their time to read what I or others have already written, and they ask qualified and substantial questions, which I do enjoy to give feedback to.
Others don’t.
The funny thing is that the majority of these have found my blog via www.expat-blog.com and InterNations, and maybe that explains. That people first and foremost see themselves as expats. Both forums are communicating intensively to its members trying to make them 'ambassadors' and 'guides', either by writing articles and guides to the respective country one is an expat in (for free, obviously, while they scoop the advertising fees.)
Let me emphasise, that I do not mind giving advice to people who have taken their time to do a little research, write more than one sentence and who comprise a greeting and an introduction. But I do not wanna spend my time writing travel and country analysises for free, and it is honestly a waste of time, when people ask me questions like these:
Is it expensive living in Dar Es Salaam?
Dar Es Salaam is a relatively pricy affair if you crave a 4-bedroom house with a sea view and swimming pool (2500-3500$ per month), easy access to the International School and the Yacht Club, organic Muesli, Danish rye bread, Norwegian salmon and French red wine. On the other hand, it depends on your income and expectation, right?!
- What is the best place to live in Dar Es Salaam?
The wazungu who have jobs in the diplomacy and higher end of the international NGO sector tend to cluster in the Peninsula along with the richer part of the Tanzanian population (if you are keen on my opinion in this regard, read it here). The middle-class Tanzanian and mzungu, like me, tend to live in the northern suburbs like Ada or Regent Estate, Mbezi and Mikocheni (and many other places) The inhabitants of Indian/Arabic origin tend to populate Upanga and central Dar Es Salaam. The poorest part of the population live in the far outskirts of town, in crowded settlements where security, access to water, electricity and proper sewage is a daily problem. Personally, if I were to choose my own place, I'd probably consider Upanga or Kigamboni.
- What does it take to get a job in Tanzania?
I really don't know how to answer that. It all depends on you, your experience and education. And if you've got that right, you most certainly wouldn't ask me that question. You'd rephrase it, explain a bit more about yourself etc. I usually answer back to the latter what I did, but that there happens to be thousands ways of doing it.
- Is it safe?
Again depends on your own gut feeling. On where you lived before. On your own limitations. I managed 26 months along and across the Ugandan border to Southern Sudan, which partly explains why Dar Es Salaam to me mainly appears as a picnic, and if anyone complains about the limitations of this place I think they should take the first flight back home. Check my lists on the blog: TRAVEL, WORK AND LIVE IN AFRICA and WHAT'S UP TANZANIA.
- Best place to stay in Zanzibar?
See my list here on the blog: GOOD PLACES TO GO. I add places I've enjoyed staying in.
Finally:
There is no reason for me to google stuff, when you can do it yourself, your connection is most likely better than mine. Besides, get used to the fact that things aren’t obvious. You have to ask and do your own research, and you have to spend hours doing so. Besides, we are different - that's where the relativity again comes into the picture- and what I like, you might not.
My advice is that you turn it into an interest. It’ll make it much more fun.
The top most stupid question I have ever received was when a Danish tourist called MS Uganda’s Country Office, where I happened to be passing through, and asked:
‘Do you think that the Lord’s Resistance Army would kill someone like me?!’
I answered him politely, as I try to do in most of these cases, though it was a tough one.
Hence, the last advice from me: Always write back and say thanks.
