I have been thinking about my run-in with the corrupt customs officers at Faramoya who intimiadted me into giving them €30. I actually expected to have a few experiences along these lines. This was not completely unexpected. It is part of the adventure of travel in places that few venture to go. Still, it doesn't feel good to be intimidated out of €30 by corrupt officials. I'll probably not get any money back, though I am currently printing out a letter to send to the American Embassy. I will pursue this as reasonably as possible to combat such corruption on the part of Guinean customs officers at Faramoya and anywhere else.
But at least it makes a good story. An expensive story, but a good one. In some ways I look forward to another encounter like this where I know a little better how to fight against the corruption. They can't screw with me too bad. I am an American citizen, after all. My government protects the interests of Americans abroad. That is why all US citizens are required to pay US taxes even if they earn their money and live outside the United States (subject to an earned income expemtion and other treaties).
Except for the corrupt customs officials at Faramoya, Guinea has been a wonderful country and I would encourage anyone to come here and see it for themselves. Just be careful about showing your foreign currency to the corrupt customs officers at the Faramoya customs checkpoint.
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2 comments:
Haven't had a chance to read in any real detail, but this is an amazingly comprehensive blog, and well-written.
Don't even remember how I stumbled on, but wanted to give you props.
Cheers,
Jess
Thanks for the kind words. :-) I looked high and low for all this information before I started my trip, but it just doesn't seem to exist. So I figured somebody has to do it. I was dumb enough to actually bring my laptop with me, so I can be as detailed and long winded as I want. I hope that the long posts have enough surprises to keep the readers interested as they slog through all the detail.
Hopefully people contemplating such a trip can get an idea of what they in for.
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