more confusion.

Well, I've got my residence permit.  Six months after applying, I have a work permit and a residence permit which allows me to work on my work permit.  My case is unusual, but at the same time not so crazy that it should have taken six months.  The bottom line is I had a valid residence permit already which technically didn't allow me to work - but I had a work permit on paper which overruled that.  So the immigration office saw no rush in giving me a fresh one - and to some extent, I didn't either.

The mechanic has just reported that our car is running fine, except for some small vibrations in the engine.  He still wants to find a new head for the car and replace it - but he's bringing the car back to me today.  He'll want to take it back once he finds a new head.  I'm thinking - what's a vibration when we don't know whether we'll be here after another year or so?  It's chivalrous of the guy not to charge me before the work's complete, but I'd like my debt with him to be settled so we can be back in control of the car - then give it back to him if need be and pay him for whatever work arises after that.

Also, we have been making plans to go on a "cruise" boat trip in the Volta Region next weekend.  That's a two-hour drive each way and I do want to make sure the car's up for that.  If not we'd have to look for public transportation.  It's very hard to make plans when you're not sure they'll be possible.  If the car shouldn't be driving for two hours straight on this warped head, I want to know that, and I don't know if I trust this mechanic's word one way or the other.

Anyway, I do have my residence permit, which is a huge burden off of my shoulders.  And we might have a working car again.

Photo Post: Senegal, Days 1-3

to Senegal!  Jens went to Nigeria on the second week of our visit, and Dakar the third week.  I'm not ready for Nigeria, but Senegal sounded lovely - and it was.  Day 1 was spent lounging at the pool; Day 2 saw me wandering around being guided by some man who I managed to communicate with in English and French. Day 3 was a ferry trip with Googlers; more on that below.

Sunrise from the 10th-floor hotel room

mask

wood carver

these buses go everywhere

guard at the Presidential Palace

on day 3, I went to the Ile Goree with two visiting Googlers and their families, while Jens was in conferences. We walked to the port to catch the ferry, buying oranges on the way...

and came across a dead fish...

presumably for sale.

Googler one: Thierry with girlfriend Shika

playing on the ferry

first view!

beach football

Here's a bright little fish, marinating in the salt of evaporated water on the pier.

There's me in front of a memorial to I don't know what!

art made from reused garbage

monument to freedom

In the evening, we clambered into buses like the one I showed above, took an hour-long ride to the beach, and got to another island on boats like this:

We ate grilled fish and were treated to local dancing with drums.  

Even the obronis got in on it!

After a long day, we went home.

Tomorrow I'll post day 4, but for now I have to scoot around in a taxi!  Pick up our stuff from Bridgette's, bring back the key to the office, then drop the stuff in the apartment before cleaning that up so they can show it to someone... Life, here I come!