Changes

Today I am noticing changes. I went out to do some grocery shopping and to the ATM to pay bills. Four years ago in Chimoio and Gondola, I had to carry money everywhere and wait in long lines at the electric, phone and other bills. I do not know about the rest of the country, but in Maputo they have now instituted bank cards that can pay bills directly by ATM. I remember in Chimoio and the rest of the country the banking systems were popping up everywhere so this could be available eslwhere soon. Long gone are the days of sending our maid to stand in line for hours to pay bills.

Of course this could be the difference in Maputo and the rest of the country. Afterall a friend once asked how life was in the capital city and wondered if the sand on the beach was air conditioned (not the case if anyone is wondering). What I have noticed is the city getting more and more packed with cars. We were in South Africa for the two months of January and February and the traffic has gotten noticeably worse. This is the downside, at least for us who want to get somewhere by car. Fortunately they repaved a bunch of roads, are updating the toll booth and working on some of the drainage systems. Also on the upside, I walked into the ATM at our nearest bank and as I entered my choices with the buttons, the machine flipped from screen to screen within a matter of seconds. It used to take 10-20 seconds as recently as last year for the system to move. Gone are the lines at the ATMs. I wonder if this is really a change in the banking systems for the better or if this will only last a mere several weeks. Let's hope for the best.