thursday, 27th january 2022

–––Torpignattara / Bangladesh / Kumasi

{where we speak about money transfers between continents and other things we take for granted but are not}

°3 p.m._We talk to Va-Bene about the payment. We suggest a bank transfer, but Va-Bene tells us that it would take many days, and sHit needs the money fast to have the poster printed. So we try with Mobile Money, since online payments are faster, but it doesn't work. We try again with MTN Mobile, with no results, and then with Western Union online. Still nothing.
°4:30 p.m._ We go down the street looking for a Western Union point, and we get to the one in Torpignattara. The guy who runs the place, Sarwar, is incredibly knowledgeable: while handling our case, he simultaneously assists other people with online services, transfers and phone assistance in Italian, speaking on the phone for those who need to change their phone plan but don't know the language well. Sarwar advises us against Western Union, their fees are higher than others. He suggests Ria Money, but it doesn't work. We eventually find the right service, MoneyGram. Silvia tries making the transfer in her name, but it fails. Sarwar tells us that money transfers from Italy to Ghana don't work if the sender is an Italian citizen.  We try again, with no results. Sarwar proposes a solution: for a few euros, he tries calling a Ghanaian friend who could provide his personal details for the transfer. He cannot find him – so we end up transferring the money to him, who will then send it to Va-Bene. It works, from Bangladesh to Ghana. Sarwar is a problem-solving champion, and by spending an hour there we begin to understand the madness that he and people who migrated without stable conditions – of citizenships or bank accounts, which are connected – have to face to carry out even the simplest procedures. A huge amount of time and energy. While we wait, Sarwar tells us that in Bangladesh he used to work at the Ministry for Culture.
°5:48 p.m._ It looks like everything turned out okay; we say goodbye to Sarwar and go home.
°6:30 p.m. [Italy time]_ Whatsapp video-call with Va-Bene: sHit is arriving at the bank; it took an hour and a half to get across the city. Va-Bene gets to the office, but it's closed.
sHit tries again the following day, even during the preparations for LOVE fEAST. Once sHit gets to the bank, sHit finds out she can't withdraw the whole amount, because it exceeds a withdrawal limit. sHit goes to another office – here they don't know Va-Bene, and they make a fuss about the name on the documents and sHits identity; after all, this is only one of the endless tedious problems trans people face daily.
We phone Sarwar – he made a mistake while typing. He's home now, though, and will only open the office later. We are despairing in Rome, Va-Bene is despairing in Kumasi: eventually, Sarwar tries to do it from home, and he solves everything.
We're left with the invoice he gave us – it's ripped in half, because there are his details on the left side.