836 FCFA/litre (Approximately $US2)!
Thats the pump price I paid for gas this morning in Dakar, Senegal. And it is increasing!
Last week, I paid $US40 to fill up a gas tank in North America. I would pay twice that amount to fill up the same car in Senegal.
Ok, my amazement hit the roof tops as I drove out of the gas station. I always ask for a receipt (not a usual occurence in Senegal) when I buy gas. I guess I never often paid attention to the pump price. I was keeping the receipts just for accounting purposes. Today, I looked and I was literally stunned, dazed out of my bones as it hit me that I pay more for gas in Senegal than I do in the US!
The price of everything has literally hit the tops and it sees no limits as sky rocketing costs has become the order of the day - gas included.
I pay between $400-500/2 months for electricity. I do not have the same appliances my good friend Sonnie has living in Indianapolis, US. In fact, I have far too little appliances to compare to a third of what Sonnie has in his luxurious and beautiful home. However, I pay twice what he pays for his electricity bills per month.
My day to day subsistence in Senegal has gone way through the roof. I can no longer afford the little luxuries of treating myself to a self rewarding weekend meal at a restaurant for a hard days week work, or pay for my golf club subscription (luxurious), afford gym payments (a necessity) or even insurance for my car, house and life! Not to talk about affording little indulgences such as dessert after a wonderful home cooked meal which is suppose to be far less expensive than some mass produced restaurant made equivalent.
I can't afford to buy a house in Senegal because it a cash based society for an expat with no surety or collateral for a home loan. And houses are not cheap - renting or building one!
So, I wonder, what do I live for, in my region or country, where I am suppose to find the solace of family, and the comfort of easily affordable lifestyle, such as would make me not seek to hit the high seas on some rickety piroque in search of fools gold in the shores of some European village which I have only imagined exist?
If the cost of daily necessities are more affordable for me, a professional, in North America, why would I not jump in an aluminum piroque along with other professionals for fools gold in other shores?
Same difference, just that I may be able to afford the new lifestyle, flipping burger or 'red-eyeing' at Walmart. The only difference is the means by which we got there. I may have been able to afford the fare for an aluminum piroque. My friends could not.
Last week, I paid $US40 to fill up a gas tank in North America. I would pay twice that amount to fill up the same car in Senegal.
Ok, my amazement hit the roof tops as I drove out of the gas station. I always ask for a receipt (not a usual occurence in Senegal) when I buy gas. I guess I never often paid attention to the pump price. I was keeping the receipts just for accounting purposes. Today, I looked and I was literally stunned, dazed out of my bones as it hit me that I pay more for gas in Senegal than I do in the US!
The price of everything has literally hit the tops and it sees no limits as sky rocketing costs has become the order of the day - gas included.
I pay between $400-500/2 months for electricity. I do not have the same appliances my good friend Sonnie has living in Indianapolis, US. In fact, I have far too little appliances to compare to a third of what Sonnie has in his luxurious and beautiful home. However, I pay twice what he pays for his electricity bills per month.
My day to day subsistence in Senegal has gone way through the roof. I can no longer afford the little luxuries of treating myself to a self rewarding weekend meal at a restaurant for a hard days week work, or pay for my golf club subscription (luxurious), afford gym payments (a necessity) or even insurance for my car, house and life! Not to talk about affording little indulgences such as dessert after a wonderful home cooked meal which is suppose to be far less expensive than some mass produced restaurant made equivalent.
I can't afford to buy a house in Senegal because it a cash based society for an expat with no surety or collateral for a home loan. And houses are not cheap - renting or building one!
So, I wonder, what do I live for, in my region or country, where I am suppose to find the solace of family, and the comfort of easily affordable lifestyle, such as would make me not seek to hit the high seas on some rickety piroque in search of fools gold in the shores of some European village which I have only imagined exist?
If the cost of daily necessities are more affordable for me, a professional, in North America, why would I not jump in an aluminum piroque along with other professionals for fools gold in other shores?
Same difference, just that I may be able to afford the new lifestyle, flipping burger or 'red-eyeing' at Walmart. The only difference is the means by which we got there. I may have been able to afford the fare for an aluminum piroque. My friends could not.
posted by Ben Akoh at 2:11 PM
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