Comments on: My first bribe http://www.the9to5alternative.com/blog/my-first-bribe travel, lifestyle design, entrepreneurship Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:40:11 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: February Survey Assignment: U.S. and North Africa | the 9 to 5 alternative http://www.the9to5alternative.com/blog/my-first-bribe/comment-page-1#comment-1332 February Survey Assignment: U.S. and North Africa | the 9 to 5 alternative Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:17:25 +0000 http://www.the9to5alternative.com/?p=316#comment-1332 [...] I’ll be traveling back to survey-land. Back to a world of bribes and border crossings, Embassy escapades and interesting transits. A world of pseudo-espionage, where [...] [...] I’ll be traveling back to survey-land. Back to a world of bribes and border crossings, Embassy escapades and interesting transits. A world of pseudo-espionage, where [...]

]]> By: 2009 Quarter 4 Update: A Year In Review | the 9 to 5 alternative http://www.the9to5alternative.com/blog/my-first-bribe/comment-page-1#comment-1301 2009 Quarter 4 Update: A Year In Review | the 9 to 5 alternative Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:57:44 +0000 http://www.the9to5alternative.com/?p=316#comment-1301 [...] My first bribe in Ibadan, Nigeria – Pringles, Red Bull and yogurt [...] [...] My first bribe in Ibadan, Nigeria – Pringles, Red Bull and yogurt [...]

]]> By: Astana, Kazakhstan: First Snow, Bayterek, and an Embassy Escapade | the 9 to 5 alternative http://www.the9to5alternative.com/blog/my-first-bribe/comment-page-1#comment-800 Astana, Kazakhstan: First Snow, Bayterek, and an Embassy Escapade | the 9 to 5 alternative Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:26:23 +0000 http://www.the9to5alternative.com/?p=316#comment-800 [...] Wrong. To make a long story short, the bureaucratic-blackhole-process took most of the day. The Embassy visa official, or Mr. Stick-In-The-Butt as I’d like to call him, was not the most gregarious of characters. Not only did he (purposefully?) withhold information from us, but somehow the price of the visa went from 8,000 KTZ (around $50) before lunch to 48,000 KZT ($320) after lunch. At one point I thought about a bribe, but the translator didn’t think it would have been a good idea. Hey, it worked in Nigeria! [...] [...] Wrong. To make a long story short, the bureaucratic-blackhole-process took most of the day. The Embassy visa official, or Mr. Stick-In-The-Butt as I’d like to call him, was not the most gregarious of characters. Not only did he (purposefully?) withhold information from us, but somehow the price of the visa went from 8,000 KTZ (around $50) before lunch to 48,000 KZT ($320) after lunch. At one point I thought about a bribe, but the translator didn’t think it would have been a good idea. Hey, it worked in Nigeria! [...]

]]> By: Zack http://www.the9to5alternative.com/blog/my-first-bribe/comment-page-1#comment-76 Zack Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:12:06 +0000 http://www.the9to5alternative.com/?p=316#comment-76 Okay, I hate to be that guy, especially since I was that guy about your iced latte in Abuja, but I would not consider that a bribe. I think it is a tip. I am not trying to be funny, but we don't say that we bribed our taxi driver for getting us to the airport on time. The way I see it, you wanted to walk around a small grocery store for a long time and write down prices without any intention of contributing to the owner's bottom line. You were asking him to open himself to you without recompense: you were asking him to perform a service for you. It might seem like I'm stretching the line, but I don't think that's true; you asked him to do something before you above and beyond the normal duty of a store owner, and he did. In America, we tip for all sorts of (shitty) service. Now, the owner/employees may have gone about their tip asking in a pretty obnoxious, non-subtle way. Their method may have been obtuse, but I see it more as a market transaction than anything else. Think of it more like your lunch with that "rebel fighter" in Kenya and not as "African corruption." Also, how much is vodka there? In Cameroon, I literally bought vodka in slurpable packets, and there was plenty of the cheap stuff too. Okay, I hate to be that guy, especially since I was that guy about your iced latte in Abuja, but I would not consider that a bribe. I think it is a tip.
I am not trying to be funny, but we don’t say that we bribed our taxi driver for getting us to the airport on time. The way I see it, you wanted to walk around a small grocery store for a long time and write down prices without any intention of contributing to the owner’s bottom line. You were asking him to open himself to you without recompense: you were asking him to perform a service for you. It might seem like I’m stretching the line, but I don’t think that’s true; you asked him to do something before you above and beyond the normal duty of a store owner, and he did. In America, we tip for all sorts of (shitty) service.
Now, the owner/employees may have gone about their tip asking in a pretty obnoxious, non-subtle way. Their method may have been obtuse, but I see it more as a market transaction than anything else. Think of it more like your lunch with that “rebel fighter” in Kenya and not as “African corruption.”
Also, how much is vodka there? In Cameroon, I literally bought vodka in slurpable packets, and there was plenty of the cheap stuff too.

]]> By: M. Chazin http://www.the9to5alternative.com/blog/my-first-bribe/comment-page-1#comment-74 M. Chazin Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:36:44 +0000 http://www.the9to5alternative.com/?p=316#comment-74 My first bribe was $20 to a cop in Vegas...I'm not going to say for what. My first bribe was $20 to a cop in Vegas…I’m not going to say for what.

]]> By: Alan http://www.the9to5alternative.com/blog/my-first-bribe/comment-page-1#comment-72 Alan Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:26:21 +0000 http://www.the9to5alternative.com/?p=316#comment-72 <strong>@jen</strong> Glad to have you aboard! TBEX is a great resource for fellow travelers. I dig your blog too, and yes, Red Bull is that powerful. <strong>@POPS</strong> You're the man. Will call you soon. <strong>@Ryan King</strong> Wait, the real Ryan King!? Hope you're doing well - have you made it back to China recently? <strong>@Josh White</strong> Sweet nectar of the gods indeed. Should be back in Nashville for USN graduation. Hope to see you then. Ibadan's got nothing on Athens of the South. <strong>@eliza</strong> Miss you wildly. Will call you when I get back to the States to catch up in a few weeks. Much love from Nigeria! <strong>@Meghan</strong> A shame I did not meet your friend in Addis Ababa. See you in 'wicked cold' Boston in a few weeks! Be safe. @jen Glad to have you aboard! TBEX is a great resource for fellow travelers. I dig your blog too, and yes, Red Bull is that powerful.

@POPS You’re the man. Will call you soon.

@Ryan King Wait, the real Ryan King!? Hope you’re doing well – have you made it back to China recently?

@Josh White Sweet nectar of the gods indeed. Should be back in Nashville for USN graduation. Hope to see you then. Ibadan’s got nothing on Athens of the South.

@eliza Miss you wildly. Will call you when I get back to the States to catch up in a few weeks. Much love from Nigeria!

@Meghan A shame I did not meet your friend in Addis Ababa. See you in ‘wicked cold’ Boston in a few weeks! Be safe.

]]> By: jen http://www.the9to5alternative.com/blog/my-first-bribe/comment-page-1#comment-70 jen Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:39:44 +0000 http://www.the9to5alternative.com/?p=316#comment-70 I would never have thought red bull was quite that powerful hehe. Hey, found your blog through TBEX (excellent site!) and I really love it! You write in amazing detail! jen x I would never have thought red bull was quite that powerful hehe.

Hey, found your blog through TBEX (excellent site!) and I really love it! You write in amazing detail! jen x

]]> By: Your POPS http://www.the9to5alternative.com/blog/my-first-bribe/comment-page-1#comment-69 Your POPS Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:05:24 +0000 http://www.the9to5alternative.com/?p=316#comment-69 Alan: Great blog piece, especially the part about your first bribe. I got a great laugh from that. Keep up the good work. As always, I'm proud of you and I'm impressed with your handling of the many local customs and people you have dealt with. Alan: Great blog piece, especially the part about your first bribe. I got a great laugh from that. Keep up the good work. As always, I’m proud of you and I’m impressed with your handling of the many local customs and people you have dealt with.

]]> By: Ryan King http://www.the9to5alternative.com/blog/my-first-bribe/comment-page-1#comment-68 Ryan King Wed, 18 Feb 2009 02:30:59 +0000 http://www.the9to5alternative.com/?p=316#comment-68 You have a true gift for travel writing my friend! Bravo! You have a true gift for travel writing my friend! Bravo!

]]> By: Josh White http://www.the9to5alternative.com/blog/my-first-bribe/comment-page-1#comment-67 Josh White Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:17:16 +0000 http://www.the9to5alternative.com/?p=316#comment-67 Red Bull=sweet nectar of the gods! sounds interesting. keep up the good work and give me a shout when you come back to nashville Red Bull=sweet nectar of the gods! sounds interesting. keep up the good work and give me a shout when you come back to nashville

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