I've just arrived back home after what was considered a fantastical method of learning the African language of negotiation.
This morning Eric, (the other American missionary), and I woke up knowing we would have to get the oil changed on my new/used Nissan. The first place said it would take two hours to see the car, so our escort thought it might be a good idea to go to another
place that he knew well; a place Pastor João had used on previous occasions.
When we arrived, the mechanic, a boy name Manuelito, no older than 17, got to it. He began pulling out my air filters and dumped out my oil--right on the dirt below us.
Manuelito said, "Trinta minutos", meaning we would only need 30mins until the oil change was done. Eric and I went to window shop at the grocery store across the street. When we returned, the oil was completely gone out of my car and the removed parts, already sliding around in a greasy bag.
Manuelito let me know we would have to walk to the store to buy the new parts we needed so he could complete the oil change.
We walk through the dirt, grime and trash. The outdoor mechanic shop is no place for flip-flops. My first recognizable mistake.
We arrive to the "store" which is a small shack filled with car parts of all shapes and sizes. They begin measuring my oil filters and run from shop to shop to locate what it is I need.
An hour passes.
Finally, when all of the parts arrive, we add up the tab and he tells me it's going to be 3950 Meticais, (the Mozambican currency). I began reaching for my wallet, counting out the money, when the conversion hits me like a 10K bag of rice.
They want to charge me $133 for the supplies for an oil change.
This can't be right. I continually do the math in my head and tell them that this price is ridiculous. Never in my life have I paid over $40 for an oil change, (and $40 was a rip-off, really). They proceed to drop the price until I finally get my wits about me and call Eric, to call Pastor João and ask him how much a friggin' oil change costs here.
We wait and wait. Pastor João's recommendation is to 'take all of the parts back, don't buy anything, what the are we doing at that place(!?), get in the car and drive away!'
We now have no oil.
So, this other shop owner tells me, "don't worry, I can give you what you want to pay. Only 1500 MTN, ($50), for everything."
DEAL! Please just get me out of this so we can get out of here and ensure that we get all of the right things we need.
Manuelito had already put the old filters back on. He then proceeded to remove them, yet again, so we could measure each of the filters, yet again.
It takes another hour+ to locate all of the parts at the new car parts shop. I realize he purchased the air filter from the store that just tried to dupe me.
His new price, 1800 MTN, ($60).
WHAT!?!?!?!
Pastor João is already on his way to rescue us.
DANGIT, I didn't want to worry him.
He arrives. Still no oil change. No new parts. No new oil.
We go into the "real store" (a corporate gas station), to buy oil that we "can trust".
Seven quarts of oil, one filter and $80 later, we have oil and one of the filters we need.
Eric and I sipped on our Coca-Cola after the longest 5-hour negotiating period and concluded, with a, "what could we have done? We didn't know any better". An entire day lost and my oil still hasn't gotten much cleaner.
Oh, but did I learn. Of course I did.
Each of the photos are of the area that we decided to get our oil changed; the shops, the area, and the people we talked to.
This includes Uche, a native-Nigerian who studied PoliSci for 2-years and now works selling car parts so he can make enough money to go back to school. He wants to use his intellectual capacity to contribute to society. He's extremely articulate and has an acute knowledge for African politics. I hope he continues to follow his dreams. He wants to one day travel to America to follow so he can have the means to give back to society, while his goal is to help Africa politically.
The red car is actually the mechanic's tool shop. As an added bonus, it offers free loud music (BYOCoca-Cola).
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