BWTK: Burundi, should I go?

[delete_me_kthxbai]

So work came back to me about the opportunity to work in Africa for a bit.
It will be the same pay as I get here, same job, just there they deploy for the entire job, not just for 4-5 weeks.

Location - Gitega, Burundi.
7000 line kilometer job. Approx. 5-7 weeks.
Local languages - Kirundi (wtf?), French or Swahili. < I dont speak ANY of these>

Benefits... working overseas, crew leading/project managing experience. Work then pays for my airfare to Africa, and will finish me up in Johannesburg for my family/holiday stuff. I can also then have my per diem (food n booze) allowance paid to my Grandparents in Sth.Africa. which would be the equivilent of thier weekly pension, each day.

Risks... i could get shot, severly sick, bored, or stuck in a pub without anyone else speaking English.

I'm very split on this decision. This morning i was ready to just write off the opportunity because the boss was taking too long, pay the whole airfare myself and be done with it.

What do folks think?

[XSorXpire]

Do it.
What an experience.
Remember bullets go in a straight line so they wont hit you in the head if you duck unless they were aimed at your balls.

Good luck.

[Aphex]

Local languages - Kirundi (wtf?), French or Swahili. < I dont speak ANY of these>

Take a few bottles of Bundy. You'll be proficient in Swahili quicker than you think.

[Taylor]

Sorry to be pedantic mate but when you say same pay but you'll be deployed full time, does that mean you earn the same as being here but don't get the time off or you earn the same, per day in the field, out there as you do here?

[delete_me_kthxbai]

We get paid by the day, even here.
So, same rate there. Contractor.

[Captain Starfish]

Bah, do it. Take camera. Send home photos of exit wounds (they'll be in your chest coz you're running away).

Another way of looking at it - for absolutely no loss in income, you get a better earning stretch in a new environment, good experience at work and in life. As a bonus you get someone else paying the most expensive part of a trip you were going to do anyway?

Sis! My China, just do it, hey.

[Stephan]

For how long? If you are looking at the pay side of things, make sure it`s longer than 90 days. Then it`s tax free, well, you pay the local tax as far as I know, which is probably sfa...experiance wise it would look good on your resumee in the future. Meaning better jobs and more money...DO IT!

[Barfridge]

Remember that if you're out of the country for 91 days, you do not pay income tax on what you earn. But 5-7 weeks isn't long enough for that to count.

To me it sounds like they're not offering much extra except a (possibly dangerous) experience. I'd be wanting a little extra to compensate for the living conditions, isolation and lack of time off (if any).

[XSorXpire]

YOu mean a dangerous experience is not enough?

[dugy]

Sounds like an interesting opportunity.

Ask your boss or the accountant at your company what the tax situation is over there.
The company might have to pay tax on your wage to the Burundi government, which will entitle you to a tax credit here.

Eg: Zambia charges a flat 35% to all workers (and you think OZ is bad).
However, for pay and tax purposes over here, I am treated as a contractor and my company pays the tax on my behalf.
So if I stay out of OZ for 91 days, happy days, I don't have to pay the tax dept anything.
If I am out for less than 91 days, the tax paid here, gets treated as a tax credit in OZ, and unless your earnings take you about the OZ 35% tax bracket, you still essentially won't pay and tax, if you do, you just make up the difference.

So either way you'll be in front, not counting the reduced expenses.

Also, say you worked over there for 60 days, then spent 31 days with your folks, you'll still qualify for the 90days.

Don't take my word on it, look it up on the ATO website.

Does your company regularly send people over there?
If they do they should have all this organised.
Along with all the immunisations you need.
Hmmm, ask your boss if you need to get some jabs for yellow fever. You do. But if he doesn't know the answer you'd wanna question if they know what they are doing.

[goof]

Where's dugy? He decided yes a few months ago and is a week away from coming home. His insight would help you.

For my vote, do it! But I would expect better pay compared to doing the same thing here.


edit: Red headed step son, etc, etc.

[Stephan]

Where's dugy? He decided yes a few months ago and is a week away from coming home. His insight would help you.

For my vote, do it! But I would expect better pay compared to doing the same thing here.


edit: Red headed step son, etc, etc.

Hahaha....Gold....!!!

[Scoundrel]

When I think of Burundi, I think of Yes Minister and the fact that they were always pulling the piss out of that poor little country.

[dugy]

Where's dugy? He decided yes a few months ago and is a week away from coming home. His insight would help you.

8 sleeps to go and I'm coming home!

I'm no seasoned traveller, and I know SFA about Burundi, but if you got any other general questions feel free to PM me and I'll give ya my email addy.

[delete_me_kthxbai]

Cheers everyone for their responses so far.
Our boss here in Oz... may not know what needs doing. However, I would actually be working for the South African branch of the company, who I hope do, as that is their area of operations.
I would be insisting on being paid here, even if there is no tax benefit for me, simply because we get paid more than the South Africans do. LOL

Wont go for the 90 day stretch. just about went nuts after 6 weeks straight.

[dugy]

FYI: Travel Advice for Burundi - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
However they seem to think everywhere in the world is dangerous and would probably advise against going to Northbridge.

[g0zer]

Burundi is a FUCKING bad place

i spent a month near the lake victoria border between burundi rwanda kenya and tanzania a couple of years back. if anyone asked me to go back there i would hand in my resignation effective immediately.

pay should be upwards of $2000/day to even seriously consider it- then what measures do they have in place to ensure your safety? what is in place if the job is BS and you need to exit? all meals, accomodation and associated travel to be charged back to client.

btw visa isnt going to get you out of the shit in places like that, if you need to travel you are going ot need cash.

simple rule of working in the SHIT HOLES of the world, dont travel anywhere that you have to carry more cash than your life is worth.

Bah, do it. Take camera.

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES point a camera at anyone in Burundi who is armed. This includes soldiers, police, militia groups and members of the general population.

DO NOT POINT A CAMERA at anything that is sensitive such as airports, police stations, military barracks, road block/checkpoints or poor people or dead people.

Just leave the fucking camera at home. You can get arrested for any of the above which will be a great opportunity for some corrupt local officialdom to screw your family for everything they are worth to get you released.

[delete_me_kthxbai]

Oh yeah, if the job was up near the Congo/Rwanda borders it would be a flat 'no thank you!'
The job is a bit further south, from Gitega. Work have 'International SOS' cover for all of us, and we have our own helicopter if shit gets bad.
How is the rest of the country compared to say Zambia/Tanzania/Kenya?

[g0zer]

Oh yeah, if the job was up near the Congo/Rwanda borders it would be a flat 'no thank you!'
The job is a bit further south, from Gitega. Work have 'International SOS' cover for all of us, and we have our own helicopter if shit gets bad.
How is the rest of the country compared to say Zambia/Tanzania/Kenya?

...

i have no knowledge of zambia.

you cannot compare burundi to tanzania or kenya- these countries have law and order- not by our standards but law and order nonetheless.

burundi, congo or rwanda they are the same. without effective govt then what kind of law and order do you have?

your employer isnt even offering you more money... omfg

imho your employer is trying to take advantage of your ignorance of this place, and keeping you ignorant compromises your safety. I would start looking for another job immediately.

[delete_me_kthxbai]

Thanks for the info g0zer.
The local ops manager here would be the weak link in the chain of info.
I now have some very direct questions that will need to be answered if I am to consider it.
Security/accommodation/payment arrangements, etc.

Got an opinion on carrying a sidearm?