The G Factor

The G Factor is what is not often factored in when you plan to do this or that here in West Africa.  Some colleagues of mine use the expression, "West Africa Wins Again" (WAWA).  But I like the G Factor, because it refers more specifically to circumstances unique to this W. African nation I'm working in.

Let's see.  What is a good example of the G Factor.

Oh, I know.  We plan to do a well-drilling project in a remote village.  They guys get down 17 meters--heading toward 20 or more meters.  Then their bit gets stuck in the mud below.  They can't pull it out, no matter how hard they try.

They had originally had in mind to get the well done in five days, but they forgot to factor in the G Factor.

Another example?

I plan on heading into our local market town (Kissi-ville) to get some groceries, talk to two pastors, plan for a well project, buy well drilling materials.  I head out of the village at 12 noon.  I forgot to take into account the G Factor.  There's no mathematical way I could do all those things on the list--taking the G Factor into account.

And on it goes.  I suppose over there in America, you would call it Murphy's Law or something like that.  If you plan to do thus and so, you need to take it into account.  Need to remodel your bathroom?  Better take it into account, cause chances are you are going to come up against it.

It just seems a little more magnified over here when your little remote village house is located like 14 hours from the capital city.  And then when you come here to the capital city, you realize that the G Factor is in effect here too.  You have a simple trip downtown to get some groceries, but you need to factor in the G Factor.  Figure you will be stopped by at least two police officers--mainly because of the color of your skin or the cleanliness of your vehicle.

Nowadays, I just often figure it in.  It's a more peaceful life if you do.  The other day, when we went to town, I just said it out loud.  We're going to drive around downtown til we get stopped by the police.  And sure enough, according to plan, they were there--asking for bribes because I apparently did something illegal--like going the wrong way down a certain street at 1:30 p.m. that apparently switched over to a one way street going the other way at 1 p.m.  I politely pointed out the the officers that I wondered why so many other people were going the same direction as me on this very street at this very time.

The officer said, "Oh, they probably have special permission to go that direction.  Like, maybe those cars have mission orders to go see the president, for instance.  I tried to hold the laughter in as I continued to see more and more cars going down that same street in the same direction I was driving.  I so want to respect the police authorities here, but they haven't made it easy.  Another time, I was told I couldn't transport people and baggage in the same vehicle.  Another time, I was told I couldn't park where they were selling fuel for vehicles.  The G factor...it is alive and well here, and you might as well learn to live with it.

Oh sure, I make my big lists still, but I don't actually believe I will achieve all that is on that list.  Always incorporate the G Factor into everything you do here in G, W.A.