Surprise for mum
Since my mum doesn't read this blog, I think it's okay to reveal the surprise here. For people who know my mum, this is a secret, okay? Don't say a word! It's her birthday on Sunday, Zita suggested to send her flowers. But none of her daughters are in Indonesia, let alone in Semarang. So here's the cunning plan. Zita's friend, Debbie is in Semarang. She's more like a family friend too coz I know her since she was a toddler. Zita had asked Debbie to get flowers on our behalf, and she'll give the money back on Saturday when Debbie visit her in Singapore. Good plan isn't it? Except for minor details. None of us had ever sent flowers to anyone in Semarang before, and we don't know the place nor how much it will cost. The place and flowers, we'll trust Debbie to choose. The cost.. well.. as Zita put it "We'll pay whatever the price!" *hihihi.. how confident*. I hope it'll be a nice surprise for my mum, and I'll update here on her reaction upon receiving the flowers :D
Now message for people who commented on my blog lately. I'm too lazy to write email to everyone :p
J - I said they were TINY tubes :P Thank God I didn't use the word "bottle" to describe them :p How often do you need spare parts? Plus, cows' lifetime is probably shorter than vehicles in Zimbabwe. Especially when people suddenly crave to eat steaks... *hmmm...*
Ammu - Grrr... where's your blog? Why have you stopped blogging in blogger? I know where your other blog is, but it's not the same and it's ORANGE!!! *eyes popping out*
Nagi - Yeah yeah.. AR Rahman. Whatever. Didn't I praise him? Stop complaining :P
Eric - I saw your photoalbum. Yay I'm finally in it. I thought I was nobody in Eric's life.. turns out I do play a part. *wipe tears from the corners of my eyes*. See you 2:30 on Saturday. Thank God I didn't have to dress up :D I hope I can get inside the garden with no problem. Otherwise I'll call you. I'll bring my bodyguard (read: Yovita) anyway (just in case).
Finally, thanks for everyone who had congratulated us on our anniversary. Shame on you who didn't. *hihihi :P*
Now message for people who commented on my blog lately. I'm too lazy to write email to everyone :p
J - I said they were TINY tubes :P Thank God I didn't use the word "bottle" to describe them :p How often do you need spare parts? Plus, cows' lifetime is probably shorter than vehicles in Zimbabwe. Especially when people suddenly crave to eat steaks... *hmmm...*
Ammu - Grrr... where's your blog? Why have you stopped blogging in blogger? I know where your other blog is, but it's not the same and it's ORANGE!!! *eyes popping out*
Nagi - Yeah yeah.. AR Rahman. Whatever. Didn't I praise him? Stop complaining :P
Eric - I saw your photoalbum. Yay I'm finally in it. I thought I was nobody in Eric's life.. turns out I do play a part. *wipe tears from the corners of my eyes*. See you 2:30 on Saturday. Thank God I didn't have to dress up :D I hope I can get inside the garden with no problem. Otherwise I'll call you. I'll bring my bodyguard (read: Yovita) anyway (just in case).
Finally, thanks for everyone who had congratulated us on our anniversary. Shame on you who didn't. *hihihi :P*
posted by Monica | 2:05 PM
2 Comments:
Okay - I'll bite, particularly as I'm bored fighting the battle between good and evil at the moment.
Thing is Zimbabwe isn't the most affluent country in the world. Hell, why else would UNICEF be involved? A normal car or truck wouldn't last a day based on the environment and the conditions of the roads (if you could call them that).
You need technology that fits a number of criteria (okay - this is only my opinion here):
1) It needs to be durable enough to survive
2) It needs to be fixable by anybody with a stick and a slightly pointed fruit
3) It mustn't be desirable to steal for spare parts
I think the latter is most critical. If you put a shiny new ambulance into the middle of Zimbabwe it would last about 30s before the government reclaimed it or it was stripped down.
Here's an economic profile of the country:
--- snip snip snip ---
Zimbabwe’s economy has struggled since 2000 when first reports indicated commercial farm land was to be seized by the government as part of a land reform initiative. The country was rated 145th on the Human Development Index in 2003, real output has dropped by one third and inflation topped 300% in mid 2003. Shortages of basic goods such as fuel and bread are often reported. These problems are exacerbated by the negative effects of HIV/AIDS.
The crisis is seen to be as a result of inappropriate economic polices, the maintenance of a fixed exchange rate and increased regulations and government intervention. These conditions have made conducting business very difficult, resulting in a huge drop in economic activity as well as chronic shortages of foreign exchange.
The economy is dependent on agricultural products such as tobacco, cotton and sugarcane and in 2002 agriculture accounted for 17.4% of GDP. GDP totaled US$8 billion in 2002 and exports have dropped by 35% since 2000.
Manufacturing is another important sector in the Zimbabwean economy and efforts are focused on textile and sugar production. Mining, primarily gold mining is also significant. Industry and services accounted for 23.8% and 58.8% of GDP respectively in 2002. The country’s tourism industry has suffered as a result of the economic and political conditions.
--- snip snip snip ---
As pictures go, it's not a pretty one, and about a gnats hair short of a civil war zone.
So personally, despite the first impression ludicrously
of living in the 21st century and distributing 14th century ambulances, I think in reality it makes a lot of sense. Particularly for a country stuck in the middle ages.
Oh one more thing, doesn't Interflora work in Semarang? Okay, stop killing yourself laughing; I did some checking you know.
I just wondered, not that having family and friends do such things isn't better and more personal, but as a general rule Interflora would pay some guy to ride on the back of a Zimbabwean ambulance if they had to!
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