TAN: Konstfack

Slept in until 7 a.m. Enjoyed another hot shower to wash away the last of the road grit. Headed over to DTP after breakfast. Spent the day trying to coax the Internet connection in the office to deliver what we asked. As seems to be the usual for our times in the office, the connection crapped out completely a couple of time and was painfully slow while it was up.

Headed over to the Royal Chef which was finally open again after a hiatus for Ramadan and remodeling. The meal started off promisingly with a fancy new menu and attentive staff. It soon went awry when our mixed vegetable and matoke arrived with a big helping of little inch-long fish swimming in their own oil alongside the veggies. Chantal and I were none to thrilled and the waiter took the plates back. We were served the same items sans the fish on new plates. At this point I was not interested in trying to explain the finer points of my diet and my ideas about customer service. I gave wide berth to the bits of fish oil that clung to the sides of the vegetables and matoke.
We spent the rest of the afternoon in the same fashion as the morning. Our slow progress was pleasantly interrupted by the arrival of Sofia and Line, two of the ladies from Sweden doing a study of graphic design in Tanzania. They were at the Pixel Corps to do a presentation about the school they had both recently graduated from, the Konstfack University College of Arts Crafts and Design.
After some technical difficulties and some OS issues, the ladies got their presentation underway. They had examples of some really good work in Illustration and Motion Graphics. A couple of friends of theirs showed up after the presentation and we got a call from Vlad. We all agreed to go out for a bite to eat. Addis in Dar was chosen as the spot to go even though we had just been there the night before. Vlad and Julia, a Fox helper newly arrived to help on the train, were long in coming so the rest of us headed out. The two friends of the Swedes turned out to be professional photographers. The had complaints similar to Mwanga about the nature of clients in Tanzania. It seems that folks do not value the craftsmanship required to do really good work. One of the gentlemen said that often the clients will arbitrarily decide how much they think his services are and put that amount in their budget without consulting him to find out what his fees are. Most photographers will take whatever they are offered knowing that if they refuse there will be someone out there willing to work for the amount offered.
Vlad and Julia finally showed up just as the two photographers were leaving. The remaining group of us enjoyed another delicious Ethiopian meal. Vlad and Julia came back with us to Hanif’s. They are in Dar to get everything in order for the train departure in two days time.

Sophia and Line making their presentation at Pixel Corps. Working on Vlad’s camera at Addis in Dar.