I haven't really blogged much since coming to Kenya and I'm not sure why! I'm just as busy but somehow I don't seem to have much to say- not a normal state of affairs for me!
Its been a busy and chaotic 3 weeks- cant believe that I'm nearly half way through already! Things at the group are starting to look up significantly, mainly due to the kindness of those at home who have donated money. It means so much to these people to be able to work and feed themselves and their children.
But sometimes they frustrate the hell out of me too! We had a general meeting today which began well, but degenerated fast. Its a long story and I won't go into it but there was a woman there who has been bad mouthing our members who got very angry about it. All fine and fair enough but it ended up in a physical fist fight in the middle of the street, headed by our chairman. It was incredibly violent not to mention shameful. I called the committee together after the meeting and told them very sternly that if I ever saw such a thing happen again I would be removing myself from the group. They were all incredibly shamefaced and apologetic- Africans are so childish at times!
Anyway, its all interesting stuff! The language here is different to Tanzania- still Swahili but mixed more with English. A Kenyan will start a sentence in English and finish it in Swahili. They also speak a lot of Sheng- a kind of street slang that is a combination of different languages.
Oh and I'm here to report that tribalism is alive and well in Kenya. It came as a shock to me because there is no such thing in Tanzania. Here, the main tribes are Kikuyu, Luo and another which I can't remember! No one likes the Kikuyu and regards them as cold and not worthy of interest. However they are the most powerful and abundant in the country which may account for some of it. It was mainly Kikuyu that were killed in the post election riots at the beginning of the year and this fact hangs over the country like a fog.
People with HIV are interesting too- that sounds like an mad scientist experimenting on folks but thats not what I mean. The ARV's and the disease itself can attack the brain and make them very forgetful. They also have less control over their temper- hence the debacle today. Its very distressing for people who realise what is happening to them. And it can happen to the kids as well, which affects their performance in school and so on. Kids also have very little chance of living to any age- once someone starts ARV's the body begins to work and resist them. Eventually everybody on ARV's will need a new strain. Obviously if you are 50 you wont need to go through this very often but if you are 2 years old when you start taking them the chances are that you will use all types of ARV then run out of options. Then you die.
This disease is a killer and a fucking nightmare- more has to be done to help eradicate it.
Anyway enough of the depressing stuff. Not too much else to report. I live with the local pastor who is called Margaret. She has a house girl, Maggie, who I share a room with. She does all the cooking and cleaning and is always delighted to have volunteers. She is about 20 and is keen to wait on me hand and foot. I won't let her do my washing and if I'm quick I can usually get away with doing some of the washing up. Otherwise she beats me to it every time! They are pleasant folk and Margaret is very involved in the project, so she understands how difficult it can be.
So thats all for now. Moving through Africa, a little tired of being the object of curiosity, being called mzungu and so on. But it has to be admitted, I love Africa and its true what Karen Blixen says " The hardest part of Africa is the leaving it". I can appreciate the sentiment.
Till next time.
Saturday, 24 May 2008
Friday, 9 May 2008
The joys of Nairobi
Well it may have to be a very quick post as its getting late and I have to be back in the house by 6 pm. Nairobi is a lot more dangerous than Tanzania- I really must stop comparing!!- so we are advised to be home by 6. It is very restricting and its one of the things I dont like about here. Add to that the traffic, the noise, the not so friendly people and so on and I'm not as happy here as I was in TZ!
Anyway, there are some good bits. At the weekends I can go swimming although it means a trip into town. Easy getting there a complete nightmare getting back. It took me 3 hours the other day just because I was waiting on a bus. I'm hoping to get a bike but even then its not safe to take it into town as the drivers are just nuts. The matatu drivers are the worst (Nairobi version of the dala dala) and they dont care who they kill! I can also walk a fair bit, there is a cinema and a great coffee house about 40 mins walk away, and a number of things to do at the weekends. I haven't arranged any of them yet but give me time!
I also like the work, and when I'm sitting listening to someone's AIDS story or trying to figure out how to get more food for the members I'm utterly happy. Its in between times that I get a bit restless. The group members are very unsettled and suspicious which is no surprise given their experiences. My only saving grace is that I'm female. Also I'm mzungu and am considered to be an expert in all things for some reason- talk about pressure!!
I do feel isolated at times especially when I want to get things off my chest. However, I'm aware that its a bad time of year for me just now and that I'm still Tanzania sick, so I'm sticking with it as best I can. The weekend is here- although I work Saturday mornings- so I'm looking forward to doing some nice stuff! I'm constantly shattered but that is just a reaction to the heat. Its much hotter here although this is the cold season! Its 90 degrees for fucks sake!!
I do have a few more things to add but the sun is about to set and if I'm not in by 6 Margaret begins to worry. Sigh- I'm 35 and still being babied.....
More next time- farewell!!
Anyway, there are some good bits. At the weekends I can go swimming although it means a trip into town. Easy getting there a complete nightmare getting back. It took me 3 hours the other day just because I was waiting on a bus. I'm hoping to get a bike but even then its not safe to take it into town as the drivers are just nuts. The matatu drivers are the worst (Nairobi version of the dala dala) and they dont care who they kill! I can also walk a fair bit, there is a cinema and a great coffee house about 40 mins walk away, and a number of things to do at the weekends. I haven't arranged any of them yet but give me time!
I also like the work, and when I'm sitting listening to someone's AIDS story or trying to figure out how to get more food for the members I'm utterly happy. Its in between times that I get a bit restless. The group members are very unsettled and suspicious which is no surprise given their experiences. My only saving grace is that I'm female. Also I'm mzungu and am considered to be an expert in all things for some reason- talk about pressure!!
I do feel isolated at times especially when I want to get things off my chest. However, I'm aware that its a bad time of year for me just now and that I'm still Tanzania sick, so I'm sticking with it as best I can. The weekend is here- although I work Saturday mornings- so I'm looking forward to doing some nice stuff! I'm constantly shattered but that is just a reaction to the heat. Its much hotter here although this is the cold season! Its 90 degrees for fucks sake!!
I do have a few more things to add but the sun is about to set and if I'm not in by 6 Margaret begins to worry. Sigh- I'm 35 and still being babied.....
More next time- farewell!!
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Leaving Tanzania
My heart is breaking- I'm leaving beautiful Tanzania. This is my last day and tomorrow I go to Nairobi. That will also be a wonderful experience I'm sure but at the moment I want to stay here forever!
There are so many things that I don't want to forget from here and its impossible to mention them all but heres just a few....
Insects. Being a girl and a wuss I'm terrified of them and had prepped myself for many creepy crawlies. Actually there has only been 2 incidents. The first was when a kind of earwig thing crawled into my inhaler and I used it. Fortunately I was able to cough the thing up but not too nice! Then there was the spider who decided that my trainer was a cosy place to sleep but didn't tell me till I had put it on and it crawled out of the hole in the top- I think the locals thought I was doing the Highland Fling!
Collecting water with the kids- everybody here thinks I'm nuts but I think that the kids have to work far too hard. So when they go for water I go with them to help. Its actually great fun cos thats when you see everybody as they walk past. I developed the habit of walking to the drinking water tap every day just so that I can speak to the kids as they are coming out of school and say hi to all the villagers.
The family- all heart broken as I left them. I've promised to try and visit. They called me last night to tell me that they missed me- I'd been gone for 4 hours.
Elinamay- a subject in the email so wont go on for too long. But one of my best friends, who also fancies himself in love with me. He's 17!! In Africa it would be perfectly acceptable for us to be a couple, but I think I would feel like a cradle snatcher! Anyway one of my everlasting images of Oldonyosambu is him sitting on the step of his house, watching me leave and nearly crying. Its nice to think that you'll be missed, but I hate when people are so upset!
Things to remember about Tanzania:
The continual fascination with the white person. I'm curious to know how long I would have to live here before it wore off.
The friendliness of the people. Everybody says hello and greets you- not just to be polite but because they want to know how you are.
The Masai- it occurs to me that I've not really mentioned them. Thats probably because they are just one of many tribes here and are not considered anything out of the ordinary. The Masai here are slightly scorned as they are not "true"- they are not nomadic and have settled with crops and so on. There are hundreds of tribes in Africa but here are mainly Masai, Chagga and Pada- all with their own languages and customs.
The colours and sounds- in Old its beautifully peaceful and you can see the stars at night with no pollution from electricity- breathtaking. And the women wear bright colours cos the dirt doesn't show so much but they look beautiful.
The way everybody helps everybody else. In Tanzania children can travel hundreds of miles by dala dala and no one will hurt them. The conductors will make sure that they are going in the right direction and they can usually sit on someones knee if its crowded- as it invariably is. The dala dala conductors act tough but they are kind hearted and will also help you if you have a lot of baggage to carry on market day. Can you see LRT drivers doing the same?! Other passengers will also help you if you are overloaded.
The beautiful beautiful country side. I will carry it in my memory wherever I go.
Well, my computer time is running out so I have to finish. Everything else will have to be committed to memory.
Farewell Tanzania!!
There are so many things that I don't want to forget from here and its impossible to mention them all but heres just a few....
Insects. Being a girl and a wuss I'm terrified of them and had prepped myself for many creepy crawlies. Actually there has only been 2 incidents. The first was when a kind of earwig thing crawled into my inhaler and I used it. Fortunately I was able to cough the thing up but not too nice! Then there was the spider who decided that my trainer was a cosy place to sleep but didn't tell me till I had put it on and it crawled out of the hole in the top- I think the locals thought I was doing the Highland Fling!
Collecting water with the kids- everybody here thinks I'm nuts but I think that the kids have to work far too hard. So when they go for water I go with them to help. Its actually great fun cos thats when you see everybody as they walk past. I developed the habit of walking to the drinking water tap every day just so that I can speak to the kids as they are coming out of school and say hi to all the villagers.
The family- all heart broken as I left them. I've promised to try and visit. They called me last night to tell me that they missed me- I'd been gone for 4 hours.
Elinamay- a subject in the email so wont go on for too long. But one of my best friends, who also fancies himself in love with me. He's 17!! In Africa it would be perfectly acceptable for us to be a couple, but I think I would feel like a cradle snatcher! Anyway one of my everlasting images of Oldonyosambu is him sitting on the step of his house, watching me leave and nearly crying. Its nice to think that you'll be missed, but I hate when people are so upset!
Things to remember about Tanzania:
The continual fascination with the white person. I'm curious to know how long I would have to live here before it wore off.
The friendliness of the people. Everybody says hello and greets you- not just to be polite but because they want to know how you are.
The Masai- it occurs to me that I've not really mentioned them. Thats probably because they are just one of many tribes here and are not considered anything out of the ordinary. The Masai here are slightly scorned as they are not "true"- they are not nomadic and have settled with crops and so on. There are hundreds of tribes in Africa but here are mainly Masai, Chagga and Pada- all with their own languages and customs.
The colours and sounds- in Old its beautifully peaceful and you can see the stars at night with no pollution from electricity- breathtaking. And the women wear bright colours cos the dirt doesn't show so much but they look beautiful.
The way everybody helps everybody else. In Tanzania children can travel hundreds of miles by dala dala and no one will hurt them. The conductors will make sure that they are going in the right direction and they can usually sit on someones knee if its crowded- as it invariably is. The dala dala conductors act tough but they are kind hearted and will also help you if you have a lot of baggage to carry on market day. Can you see LRT drivers doing the same?! Other passengers will also help you if you are overloaded.
The beautiful beautiful country side. I will carry it in my memory wherever I go.
Well, my computer time is running out so I have to finish. Everything else will have to be committed to memory.
Farewell Tanzania!!
Friday, 18 April 2008
Second bloody attempt- grrr!
Well, I spent 40 mins last week updating the blog for all of my adoring readers- ok 2!- then at the last possible minute the internet crashed and all was lost. I was devastated! So I will try to recreate.....
Zanzibar. Loved it. Fab. Recommend it to anyone. Hot and exotic. Did much shopping and went on the Spice Tour which was a fascinating look at the spice plantations which provide many exports. Fresh growing cardomom, vanilla pods, chilli, and many more. Then went for dinner with some folks that I met to the world famous Fodorhani Gardens. Fab street food, lobster, shark and felafel plus so much more- yum!!
The rest of Tanzania. Still loving it although getting tired of being called mzungu constantly. I explained to the family last week that I don't object to being described as mzungu- cos I am!!!- but object to it as a permanent name. I'm fairly sure that if they came to the UK and I called them mafrika all the time (black) it would be offensive and a massive human rights issue to boot!
Teaching. Its hard and tiring but its all worthwhile when they finally get it! The secondary school is easier as the kids have more English and are more willing to learn. There is a definite resistance to learning English and Swahili here as the kids want only to speak their tribal language which is all they speak till they come to school at 5 years. So they don't want to speak anything else till they get older and realise how much of an advantage it can be to speak English!
Quick word on Swahili. It continues to be difficult for me although I am starting to pick up a lot more since I am living in a constantly Swahili speaking household. There is about 100 different ways to say hello- and thats not an exaggeration! If you are greeting someone older than you you must say "Shikamoo" and the elder responds "Marahaba". I have to respond to this as school as all the kids use it but I must use it to the Director of Education or to a grandmother on the street. its also common to say "Shikamoo bibi" (greetings grandmother) whether its your grandmother or not- same goes for father (baba) Mother (mama) sister (dada) or brother (kaka). Then if you are greeting someone your own age you say "Mambo" and the response is "Poa". A generic greeting is "Habari?"- hows things- but you can also say" Habari gani'- whats the news, "Habari za leo"- how is it today- "Habira za suburi"- good morning and so on. You can reply with nzuri- good, saffee-clean, poa- cool and so on. Confused? Yeah try living here for a while!
No idea whats next for me. It was supposed to be Nairobi but the company has collapsed, I'm assuming due to the riots etc. And they have 700 quid of my cash and I've booked my flight- grrr! I'm off to do a walking safari then who knows. Maybe Egypt for a bit and kill time till South Africa.
Still rainy season here. Must recount a quick story. A few weekends ago we decided that we were going out drinking and dancing. Started out to get the dala dala to Arusha when the rain came on. Torrential and I kid you not! The street rapidly turned into a river and we had to turn back. We had left the key to the house at Mama Gladness' house (thats Brightsons mother, she cooks all our meals and is a sweetheart) so we went to collect it. The tiny path to her house was quickly knee deep in water and Emma and I rapidly lost our shoes to the mud and the swift current. We had to walk 2k in barefeet, up to our knees in water and who knows what else! Thankfully theres not too much broken glass around here! Only in Africa!!!!
I'm sure that theres a million other things I should be recording but I forget them all. Oh my 17 year old suitor Emme, who fancies himself madly in love with the mzungu and wants to marry her! Its tough being irresistable! And the 5th form boy who said to me "I live in (some village or other!) and there is a mzungu living there. Her name is Sharon. You must know her right?!" Yeah cos all the mzungu know each other personally......!
Caroline tell Robert that I've not seen any lions yet and the only crocs have been at the game sanctuary. Still you never know...!
Thats all for now. Chins up, chists oot, give em hell!!!
Zanzibar. Loved it. Fab. Recommend it to anyone. Hot and exotic. Did much shopping and went on the Spice Tour which was a fascinating look at the spice plantations which provide many exports. Fresh growing cardomom, vanilla pods, chilli, and many more. Then went for dinner with some folks that I met to the world famous Fodorhani Gardens. Fab street food, lobster, shark and felafel plus so much more- yum!!
The rest of Tanzania. Still loving it although getting tired of being called mzungu constantly. I explained to the family last week that I don't object to being described as mzungu- cos I am!!!- but object to it as a permanent name. I'm fairly sure that if they came to the UK and I called them mafrika all the time (black) it would be offensive and a massive human rights issue to boot!
Teaching. Its hard and tiring but its all worthwhile when they finally get it! The secondary school is easier as the kids have more English and are more willing to learn. There is a definite resistance to learning English and Swahili here as the kids want only to speak their tribal language which is all they speak till they come to school at 5 years. So they don't want to speak anything else till they get older and realise how much of an advantage it can be to speak English!
Quick word on Swahili. It continues to be difficult for me although I am starting to pick up a lot more since I am living in a constantly Swahili speaking household. There is about 100 different ways to say hello- and thats not an exaggeration! If you are greeting someone older than you you must say "Shikamoo" and the elder responds "Marahaba". I have to respond to this as school as all the kids use it but I must use it to the Director of Education or to a grandmother on the street. its also common to say "Shikamoo bibi" (greetings grandmother) whether its your grandmother or not- same goes for father (baba) Mother (mama) sister (dada) or brother (kaka). Then if you are greeting someone your own age you say "Mambo" and the response is "Poa". A generic greeting is "Habari?"- hows things- but you can also say" Habari gani'- whats the news, "Habari za leo"- how is it today- "Habira za suburi"- good morning and so on. You can reply with nzuri- good, saffee-clean, poa- cool and so on. Confused? Yeah try living here for a while!
No idea whats next for me. It was supposed to be Nairobi but the company has collapsed, I'm assuming due to the riots etc. And they have 700 quid of my cash and I've booked my flight- grrr! I'm off to do a walking safari then who knows. Maybe Egypt for a bit and kill time till South Africa.
Still rainy season here. Must recount a quick story. A few weekends ago we decided that we were going out drinking and dancing. Started out to get the dala dala to Arusha when the rain came on. Torrential and I kid you not! The street rapidly turned into a river and we had to turn back. We had left the key to the house at Mama Gladness' house (thats Brightsons mother, she cooks all our meals and is a sweetheart) so we went to collect it. The tiny path to her house was quickly knee deep in water and Emma and I rapidly lost our shoes to the mud and the swift current. We had to walk 2k in barefeet, up to our knees in water and who knows what else! Thankfully theres not too much broken glass around here! Only in Africa!!!!
I'm sure that theres a million other things I should be recording but I forget them all. Oh my 17 year old suitor Emme, who fancies himself madly in love with the mzungu and wants to marry her! Its tough being irresistable! And the 5th form boy who said to me "I live in (some village or other!) and there is a mzungu living there. Her name is Sharon. You must know her right?!" Yeah cos all the mzungu know each other personally......!
Caroline tell Robert that I've not seen any lions yet and the only crocs have been at the game sanctuary. Still you never know...!
Thats all for now. Chins up, chists oot, give em hell!!!
Saturday, 22 March 2008
ugali ugali ugali
Ok I lied just time for a very quick post on the blog. See email for ugali references!!
Things to remember:
African sunrise and sunset.
Being helped off the dala dala last week by Oomba, a Masai gentleman who insisted on walking home with me! No language between the two of us but still managed to communicate.
the maize- its every where and whispers constantly.
Laughs and jokes with the family during the week- so warm and welcoming and loving- they want me to stay forever.
The fact that one of my Primary 5 pupils finally was able to say what his name was and how old he is- I nearly burst with pride!!
Off to Zanzibar on Monday- no hotel booked as yet but what the hell, I'll just turn up!
Missing home on occasion but managing to enjoy anyway. Only 4 weeks left till moving on to Nairobi- doesn't time fly when you're having fun!!
Things to remember:
African sunrise and sunset.
Being helped off the dala dala last week by Oomba, a Masai gentleman who insisted on walking home with me! No language between the two of us but still managed to communicate.
the maize- its every where and whispers constantly.
Laughs and jokes with the family during the week- so warm and welcoming and loving- they want me to stay forever.
The fact that one of my Primary 5 pupils finally was able to say what his name was and how old he is- I nearly burst with pride!!
Off to Zanzibar on Monday- no hotel booked as yet but what the hell, I'll just turn up!
Missing home on occasion but managing to enjoy anyway. Only 4 weeks left till moving on to Nairobi- doesn't time fly when you're having fun!!
Saturday, 15 March 2008
End of 2nd week
Yep not an original title but all that I can think of at the mo!
Been working at the Masai village this week and for the next 6. I say village but its enormous, must be easily more than 3000 people there, its just that they are all scattered. I'm not actually staying with the Masai which is a disappointment but am with the headmaster and his family. His wife Mama Last (all women here are called Mama, mother or sister- including me!) is the kindest, hardest working woman I've ever met in my life. She waits on me hand and foot, does all my cooking and washing and is horrifed if I offer to assist.
The school is basic and poor although most of the kids have exercise books and pens so call it a bonus. I'm teaching Standard 5 and 6 and Form 2 at the secondary school. The younger kids are incredibly shy of the mzungu but the older ones are bolder and ask a ton of questions- not all English related either!
Life is tough for the kids- some of them must walk 7 or 8 miles to get to school. They must be there for 7 am and then they have to clean the pupil and teacher toilets (squat toilets- yuck!), sweep and wash all the floors of the classrooms and offices and be ready to line up at 7.30. Then they have to sing the 2 Tanzanian national songs go to class. Most of them do this on an empty stomach. They must wear uniform or stay at home. If their family can't afford it, then they dont go to school. If they step out of line at all they are whipped with a switch which I must confess that I can't bear to see.
It feels as though I've been away from home for much longer than 2 weeks! So much has happened and so much to take in. School is in session for one more week then we have the Easter holiday for one week. I was going to visit Zanzibar but Cosmas said that we would all go to visit his parents in Kilimanjaro so I cancelled. Now he's decided that we are not going and its too late to get a reasonable flight to Z- grrrr! However, I have been invited to one of the teacher's wedding on the 29th so I'm really looking forward to that!
I must mention the food! Before coming to Oldonyosambu I was warned not to expect any decent food as it would all be meat based, so I prepared myself to starve. No such thing! We leave for school at 7 so eat breakfast at 6.30. Its usually eggs or bread or chapati. 10am break is chai and andazi- a kind of doughnut thing without the sugar. 12noon break is the same. School finishes at 2.30pm and then its home for lunch- usually rice with green veggies or ugali (very solid maize porridge- incredibly bland and only edible with something else. Its a staple here and the Tanzanians love it) Then 8 pm its dinner and Mama Last creates something wonderful with beans or lentils- often makandi, made with red beans and maize or plaitain stew- all wonderful. The calories in the chai alone are horrific. Sometimes its black tea with a ton of brown sugar, sometimes white tea with sugar and sometimes milk with brown sugar. No wonder Africans have bad teeth! And I'm starting to look pregnant!
This weekend I'm back in Tengeru. The Irish are leaving tomorrow so open fire and sing song and many beers tonight. Then back to Old tomorrow and another week of work. Ain't life tough!!
Been working at the Masai village this week and for the next 6. I say village but its enormous, must be easily more than 3000 people there, its just that they are all scattered. I'm not actually staying with the Masai which is a disappointment but am with the headmaster and his family. His wife Mama Last (all women here are called Mama, mother or sister- including me!) is the kindest, hardest working woman I've ever met in my life. She waits on me hand and foot, does all my cooking and washing and is horrifed if I offer to assist.
The school is basic and poor although most of the kids have exercise books and pens so call it a bonus. I'm teaching Standard 5 and 6 and Form 2 at the secondary school. The younger kids are incredibly shy of the mzungu but the older ones are bolder and ask a ton of questions- not all English related either!
Life is tough for the kids- some of them must walk 7 or 8 miles to get to school. They must be there for 7 am and then they have to clean the pupil and teacher toilets (squat toilets- yuck!), sweep and wash all the floors of the classrooms and offices and be ready to line up at 7.30. Then they have to sing the 2 Tanzanian national songs go to class. Most of them do this on an empty stomach. They must wear uniform or stay at home. If their family can't afford it, then they dont go to school. If they step out of line at all they are whipped with a switch which I must confess that I can't bear to see.
It feels as though I've been away from home for much longer than 2 weeks! So much has happened and so much to take in. School is in session for one more week then we have the Easter holiday for one week. I was going to visit Zanzibar but Cosmas said that we would all go to visit his parents in Kilimanjaro so I cancelled. Now he's decided that we are not going and its too late to get a reasonable flight to Z- grrrr! However, I have been invited to one of the teacher's wedding on the 29th so I'm really looking forward to that!
I must mention the food! Before coming to Oldonyosambu I was warned not to expect any decent food as it would all be meat based, so I prepared myself to starve. No such thing! We leave for school at 7 so eat breakfast at 6.30. Its usually eggs or bread or chapati. 10am break is chai and andazi- a kind of doughnut thing without the sugar. 12noon break is the same. School finishes at 2.30pm and then its home for lunch- usually rice with green veggies or ugali (very solid maize porridge- incredibly bland and only edible with something else. Its a staple here and the Tanzanians love it) Then 8 pm its dinner and Mama Last creates something wonderful with beans or lentils- often makandi, made with red beans and maize or plaitain stew- all wonderful. The calories in the chai alone are horrific. Sometimes its black tea with a ton of brown sugar, sometimes white tea with sugar and sometimes milk with brown sugar. No wonder Africans have bad teeth! And I'm starting to look pregnant!
This weekend I'm back in Tengeru. The Irish are leaving tomorrow so open fire and sing song and many beers tonight. Then back to Old tomorrow and another week of work. Ain't life tough!!
Friday, 7 March 2008
First post- currrent location, Arusha Tanzania
At last I have a few minutes to write up this damn diary- I think it may have been easier to keep a written one! And I only have 5 minutes left on my internet time so I'd better be quick!
So. Tanzania. Its hot and beautiful although we have just entered the rainy season (fecking typical, I come from Scotland to Africa and I get the rain!). However it really only rains at night and then its like a monsoon. Never seen anything like it. Not even in Edinburgh.
I've been working at the orphanage this week. 32 kids under 2. No running water and no disposable nappies. Can you imagine! Its been really good fun though and the kids are wonderful. As are my fellow volunteers the fighting Irish, Deirdre, Anna Marie and Siobhan. And the American nutcase, Cynthia. All great fun.
Going up to the Masai on Sunday to begin work on Monday. No electricity, running water or English speakers. AAAAHHH! You may never hear from me again.....................................
So. Tanzania. Its hot and beautiful although we have just entered the rainy season (fecking typical, I come from Scotland to Africa and I get the rain!). However it really only rains at night and then its like a monsoon. Never seen anything like it. Not even in Edinburgh.
I've been working at the orphanage this week. 32 kids under 2. No running water and no disposable nappies. Can you imagine! Its been really good fun though and the kids are wonderful. As are my fellow volunteers the fighting Irish, Deirdre, Anna Marie and Siobhan. And the American nutcase, Cynthia. All great fun.
Going up to the Masai on Sunday to begin work on Monday. No electricity, running water or English speakers. AAAAHHH! You may never hear from me again.....................................
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