Random Meeting in a Parking Lot
It was getting dark in Dar. A friend and I have just finished a jog and wanted to take walk to cool off and enjoy the African stars. However, walking alone in the dark is not recommended for women, regardless of how safe and friendly a city seems to be. With options limited by the setting sun, we took a not-so-thrilling route with a nice stroll around a large parking lot.
It was safe, with plenty of security guards around, and of course, surrounded by the cool night air.
As we were reaching a corner, a woman with an American accent approached us and asked if we knew of a good Indian restaurant in town. Indian is one of my favorite foods in Africa, where the spices are rich and a combination of great cooking and fresh ingredients make for are delectable meal.
So I gave her directions to my favorite Indian restaurant. We spoke a bit and I learned that she is a Wharton MBA grad from Pennsylvania who wanted to make a fresh start in Tanzania. Intrigued by the similarities in our background and encouraged by a growling stomach, I asked if I could join her for the Indian dinner. She gave a happy Yes and off we went.
During our dinner, we talked about my favorite subject since I arrived in Africa - solar panels and the challenge of bringing solar energy to the villages. She was intrigued, wanted to learn more, and expressed interested in opening an assembly site for us near the village where she was buying a farm. We have been meeting a few times since then and the next step is for us to meet up in her village. As she has many ideas, I’m looking forward to the next time I meet her, perhaps this time bringing John Keane or one of my team members for SolarAid with me.
Anyway, the reason why I’m writing this is because I want to emphasize the importance of these random meetings in Tanzania. Sometimes, not having a car, and being forced to walk in a parking lot as oppose to going to a faraway gym can lead to a great meeting that can have a significant outcome. And I find this type of impactful random events throughout my stay here - with simple conversations, random dinners, and unplanned introductions leading to potentially interesting collaborations.
I find that openness, the anything is possible attitude, a willingness to learn, and just a natural spontaneity in loving what you are doing are intangible factors that can make or break one’s experience in a country like Tanzania.
These intangible factors can transform a random meeting in a parking into a seed of impact.