Conversation with an Amusement Park Ride Operator

If you've ever spent time in Africa, the following conversation may sound familiar.

Cast:       Pete, a visitor to Gaborone's premier amusement park
               Mr. Ride Operator
               Three or four enthusiastic children
Setting:    An otherwise deserted ride


Pete:           Hello there! May we ride for a long time, seeing as how no one else is waiting in line?
Operator:    Yes.
Pete:           Great. Here we go. . .wheee!
after thirty seconds, the ride comes to a stop
Pete:           Wow, that was fun! Um, may we please go for another ride?
Operator:    Yes.
Pete:           Great, and this time if you wouldn't mind we'd like to go for a long time. Here we go. . . wheee!
after thirty seconds, the ride comes to a stop
Pete:           Ummmm. . .
Operator:    Now you must get off of the ride.
Kids:           But we want to keep riding! There is no one in line!
Operator:    No, you must leave the ride. Come back in ten minutes.

I looked back at our friendly operator as we walked to the pool, and he was just sitting at the controls, waiting for his next customers.  I wouldn't paint with such a broad brush as to say it's universal, but after a bit of time here you do start to notice a certain tendency toward rigidity in the minds of some people here. I chalk much of it up to the education system: rote memorization is the overwhelming standard, with little emphasis upon creativity or innovation.