Sonatel Updates: 2 & 3

Sonatel update # 2:  This morning before I left for the embassy I excitedly hooked up my computer to see if my internet would work.  I was pretty sure there'd be some problem or other, and of course I was right - it didn't work.  I didn't have time to deal with it because I had to leave to go deal with Visa paperwork.

Embassy update:  I have now completed all necessary paperwork for my visa and just have to wait - could take a week, could take a month.  In the meantime, I also took care of all of the paperwork to get my official MAGIC BADGE, which was minted for me today - fresh with a beautiful passport-esque (as crappy as my desperate Argentina one) photo on it.  With said MAGIC BADGE, I have serious power:  no more security scans and signing in and handing over all electronics in order to enter the building.  Nope - now I just flash my handy MAGIC BADGE, and all doors instantly open.  It's pretty amazing.  Suddenly I'm treated like a movie star.  Pretty sweet.  So I have hassle-free access to the embassy cafeteria (not bad - had grilled cheese and salad there today), the bank (not only good for getting cash, but for getting small change for the cash you have - people get really pissy here if you don't have small bills, and nobody wants to give away theirs to make change for you - 10,000 CFA bills here (= $20-ish) are pretty much useless at most places), the post office (WAH - no letters yet... HINT, HINT, HINT, HINT*), the computer lab, etc. 

When I was at the embassy, I met 3 other Fulbright students who were also there at the same time for the same reason - visa and badge stuff.  One girl is studying something to do with health care, the other one, I don't remember what she's studying, but I remember her husband is from Cameroon.  And the third one is my mate, my peep - Karima.  I can tell she and I are going to get along famously.  She's the only other person doing music-related research, and our interests overlap considerably.  She was awarded a prestigious Fulbright-MTV scholarship, and is doing research on how traditional Senegalese griot music is intersecting with hip hop today in Dakar.  She's very interested in FESMAN so of course was happy to hear about what I'm doing, and when she found out I did my master's thesis on the Festival of the Desert in Mali, she was psyched - she's always wanted to go.  We have discussed sharing a Wolof teacher together so it will be cheaper - this will be good for both of us because neither of us has gotten very far with it yet - we both got here the same day, Nov 2.  So, I'm happy to have met somebody today whom I know will become a good friend. 

Sonatel Update #3:  After I got back from the embassy, I decided that instead of heading straight to l'Endroit (internet cafe) like I normally do, I would go home and try to get online again.  It didn't work again, but then I looked at the installation DVD that came with my modem, and it occurred to me that I was probably supposed to do something with that before anything would work.  So I loaded that in and things started looking promising.  Even better, the DVD installation instructions were in English.  So I cruise through 'til I get to the page asking for my net ID and password.  I had already come up with a password, but I realized I didn't know what my net ID was - I checked through all of my Sonatel paperwork and where it said net ID, the line was blank.  Hm.  So I called the Sonatel helpline and the lady told me I was supposed to put in my phone number.  Ok, cool - so I go back and it looks like everything should work.  It let's me pass on to the next thing, so I think I'm golden.  Then, it looks like the only thing left is a last check-over to decide if you're worthy of service.  Well, all green lights until.... the last one - the internet still wouldn't connect.  WTF???    So I call Sonatel again and the person tells me that it takes 10 days for the ADSL connection to work.  This must have been what the person was telling me when I thought he was saying I'd have to wait up to 10 days for the installation guy.  Sigh.  So, bottom line - still no internet for a while...  if they count 10 days from when I subscribed, that'd be Nov 20.  But I don't know if they mean regular days or business days...  if the latter, I maybe won't have access 'til the 24th.  In which case, my November subscription will really only consist of a week of service.  Nevertheless, I've done everything I can and eventually it will work and then, YAY!

Now I have 3 hours until I meet Tabou here for a rehearsal (we're meeting here but going to her place which is a little ways away).  I tried practicing today and it was frustrating - horn not working well (it's still cranky about being here, apparently), nothing sliding through my fingers or ears as well as it was earlier this week...  So, that's it for now.

*  My address again:

Melissa Reiser
2130 Dakar Pl.
Dulles, VA  20189-2130

WRITE ME PLEASE! 
Also, I've heard reports that the diplomatic pouch HAS actually worked for people for sending stuff / small packages - people have received cookies, T-shirts, etc this way - but it isn't guaranteed, so it shouldn't be anything valuable obviously.  It's the same address as above.  Not that I'm asking for anything!  Just hearing from you would be great - via snail mail, email, etc...