Hair & Economics in Juba

Pretty awesome for 20 SSP! (About 2 bucks)

Just a trim if you don't mind please.....just a little off the top!

Holy Whoa!!!! stop now - STOP NOW!!!!! Perfect!

I started my Saturday morning with a hair appointment with Farouk. After 20 minutes the masterpiece was complete. I was a little unprepared for the wash afterwards which entails rubbing generous amounts of foamy soap into the little amount of hair that remained and then removing the foam residue with toilet paper. Not quite finished - an alcohol rub that was as brisk and refreshing as it was effective at ensuring nothing "untoward" was left in this potential nest. Voila! Even more fun than the haircut was the conversation with the men sitting in on my hair cutting experience. A few good laughs about the differences in culture and life generally. South Sundanese are happy and easy to engage in conversation. Always a smile at the ready - they are hospitable and generous with their time. 

My hair cutting experience reminds me of the 4 year old boy who lives next door to me in Nairobi. A bit of a "Dennis the Menace type" I found him hanging off my front gate one morning while I played guitar in the sun. I'd taken off my shirt enjoying the feel of the sun and relaxing with a little music when I noticed him "hanging around". Thinking the young boy was impressed with my awe-inspiring guitar talents, I invited him into the yard. 

When I finished the song I asked if he liked the guitar. "not really" he said frankly.... "I just can't believe how hairy you are mister". I smiled and said defensively - well I'm certainly not THAT hairy... "You sure are" he says  "it's every where even on your hands. Is it on your back too?" he asked  - I assured him that it definitely was not. He ran around behind me and exclaimed with confidence - "it sure is - it's all over back here too" Time to go little man - your Mom's calling....

The economics of money in a war zone....

I won't tread too deeply into the watery abyss of Economics (despite a degree in the subject) because I really don't understand it. I pretend that I do - but don't. 

But here's what I want to share and think I understand - if you exchange your money at the bank - for $100 dollars you get ~340 South Sudanese pounds.

If you quasi-legally exchange that $100 on the street (side on the road/cafe etc) - for $100 you get 1400 SSP.

So the fuel station owner (paid in SSP by locals as above) is afraid to sell because the value of the SSP is falling so quickly. Accordingly - he can't risk buying the bulk fuel as the wholesaler demands USD and the value of that vis a vis the SSP becomes more expensive daily. He may as well not buy fuel and just wait it out. Voila - a fuel shortage......Super interesting hey!!!!


So if we take this a little farther - what about the customer exchanging his money (USD) at the official rate and then purchasing the item in SSP. Let's say its a $50 Coffeemaker.... The SSP cost was 170 SSP but now has risen to 700 SSP... the customer (using the official Exchange rate) now pays a whopping $205 USD for the coffee maker that is still valued at $50 USD....so where did the $155 go to.....?

Thanks for reading my Blog/ Kuwashukura kwa kusoma blog yangu

 

 

Layne.......