Here in Africa, one often encounters situations that are 'out of the norm' and the scenarios that run through a mind often resemble a multiple choice test question. Any given strange situation can be handled a number of ways.
Take our trip to Ghana over the Christmas break for instance...
What do you do when told by a grumpy power-tripping border guard that while your Togolese vehicle insurance is valid, you will not be allowed into Ghana because Togolese insurance is filled out differently than Ghanaian insurance. (Togolese insurance stays with the vehicle, not the owner. Even if the vehicle changes hands, the old insurance -- still under the old owner's name -- is valid for the new owner until it expires.)
A) Give up and try again tomorrow. It's already dark and it's been a frustrating hair-pulling experience just to get to the border anyways.
B) Reason with the official and explain that you would do insurance differently too, but you're not the one who makes the silly rules.
C) Burst into tears, tell the guard you just want to have the chance to see your family.
D) Demand to speak to his superior, as this guard is a serious piece of work. And you can see his boss blissfully eating dinner in the next room.
Check back on Wednesday to find out what happened!
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