wow, it is crazy to think I have been away for over 7 weeks last Thursday - no idea where the time has gone.
Our week in Kidia was so incredible - we upgraded from massive tents to a two storey concrete building which was very comfortable and provided the perfect setting for many a game of murder in the dark - some of the boys are a little too good at that game.
The first day on project saw us beginning to work in pairs on the construction of our desks, and the girl I was paired with and myself were machines, we got it finished quite quickly and had a great time doing it. We kept on working on our desks until wednesday, when two of the boys and myself had finished and were offered a chance to teach a lesson. We snapped that up immediately and taught that morning as well as the next morning, teaching synonyms like big/large , little/small
it was sooooo much fun!
As well as working on the desks and teaching, we worked with the mamas in the tree nursery, packing dirt into plastic cylinders and putting clippings in to be sold on, for a mere 100 shillings (like, 10 cents australian)
We also had the opportunity to visit some of the Chugga mamas at their homes, and cook with them and pick coffee beans etc which was a fantastic experience. All the guys and a few of the game girls also played in a soccer match with the local school children - there were so many that wanted to play, they all split themselves up into 3 teams of 11 and after about half an hour would swap and let the others have a go - we were absolutely exhausted but it was gtreat! - Kidia was just amazing!
coming back to Moshi, we returned to our home sweet home via the most amazing truck ride ever, as our original transportation had broken down so the truck that usually takes all the equipment is what took us back down the mountain - the air we got on the seats, fantastic!!
this week just past I have been doing a lot of teaching and poster making for the staff as well as painting a diagram on a school wall with some of the other girls, so now I have my name on a school wall which is really cool to have something like that to contribute. Apart from that, the project site of the dining hall is looking amazing, the floor is not being cemented with about half of it done - I think we have done a very impressive job and our fundi, Jimmy, is more than happy with our work.
I have met up with Tess as well and had a fantastic catch up with her as well as meeting up with my friends with whom I shall be staying once my placement is finished. Safari is quickly closing in as well as our trip to Zanziar - and as excited as I am , getting to those activities means coming to the end of my time in Tanzania - not sure if I am yet ready to leave - I could easily see myself living here.
Anywho, that's just a brief update from me, hope all is well back home with whatever you may all be doing!
Annie!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
HALFWAY THROUGH MY TIME IN TANZANIA! where is it all going??
It is a good and safe rule to sojourn in every place as if you meant to spend your life there, never omitting an opportunity of doing a kindness, or speaking a true word, or making a friend. - John Ruskin
my mum posted this on facebook and it got me thinking a lot, especially during the last few weeks in Tanzania and the fact that it has now been over six weeks since my adventure began - the good things wizz by so quickly, you need to enjoy every minute and take every chance to have a good time.My week has been pretty awesome, living in Kidia and working in the local school, teaching english to the children and cooking and spending time with the Chuga mamas
it's been an incredible week, won't write more now as I don't really feel like it (sorry) and I am chatting with my mum :) but will update very soon!
Annie
Saturday, July 10, 2010
5 weeks, it's going so fast!!
well, it has been more than a week since my last post, as last Saturday saw a complete power outage in the town and then the server went down on monday - just wasn't a good few days for internet. So I now have a lot and a lot and a lot to catch you all up on. So here goes:
we have been working very hard on our project - building a stage, meshing our window frames now and still cementing - sigh, pillars are the worst. last week was filled with pranking the newbies and having pranks played on us by the boys, all good fun. Unfortunately, our 3 month group lost a member after one girl became really ill and in the end had to return home. She is greatly missed.
I met up with the St Paul's group, joining them on their waterfall work which brought back many memories, and also enjoyed chilling with the teachers and with Tess and Em at our favourite, El Rancho (the italian restaurant with a mexican name in an African country - love it :P)
But the week that has just been has been one of the best weeks - EVER! on Tuesday morning we left for Ndarakwai, which is a concervation ranch and is possibly one of the most beautiful places on earth. We arrived and had our briefing and went out on a walk that afternoon, on foot, coming close to zebra and giraffes, elands and baboons - I was in heaven.
The next day, we had our breakfast and headed off to work on the furrows that lead to the waterhole. It was quite cool which was nice and always was windy so even when the sun, ever so rarely for us, popped out, we stayed at a nice temperature. But the most annoying thing of that day would have to have been the ticks - we were viciously attacked, my tick count for that morning was something like 78 on my clothes - they were everywhere and we were all rocking the pants-tucked-into-socks look - it was really good fun!!! after coming back for lunch to our camp (the walk to and from takes about 30 minutes of walking through beautiful landscape) we got down and dirty making some elephant dung paper which on friday we made into little books - adorable!! it was heaps of fun, especially when you literally stuck your hand into a pile of boiled dung and washed it and washed it, and then chased after people with dungy hands - hilarious!
Thursday saw us working on the waterhole itself and many blisters later and falling into the waterhol or course, and being covered in mud, we had made quite impressive progress and our leader, Fabion, was very happy with our work - yay!! we then went into the treehouse to watch the animals, as we had quite the audience while we worked. Unfortunately, a jeep scared them all off, so we headed back and that afternoon we went out walking, and it was really good fun!!
Friday morning we made our way out to a masai boma and we learned about their way of life and then i was paired with a young wife who helped me make a necklace and a bracelet - even though we couldn't understand each other, we were still able to laugh and have a fantastic time - it was amazing! Then they danced for us and we did the hokey pokey for them! That afternoon, we made our elephant dung paper books and broke camp and headed home - bumpiest trip ever!!!
Tomorrow, we leave for Kidia, to live with the Chuga for the week, so I am really looking forward to it!!
Until my next update - who knows when, hahaah!!!
Annie
we have been working very hard on our project - building a stage, meshing our window frames now and still cementing - sigh, pillars are the worst. last week was filled with pranking the newbies and having pranks played on us by the boys, all good fun. Unfortunately, our 3 month group lost a member after one girl became really ill and in the end had to return home. She is greatly missed.
I met up with the St Paul's group, joining them on their waterfall work which brought back many memories, and also enjoyed chilling with the teachers and with Tess and Em at our favourite, El Rancho (the italian restaurant with a mexican name in an African country - love it :P)
But the week that has just been has been one of the best weeks - EVER! on Tuesday morning we left for Ndarakwai, which is a concervation ranch and is possibly one of the most beautiful places on earth. We arrived and had our briefing and went out on a walk that afternoon, on foot, coming close to zebra and giraffes, elands and baboons - I was in heaven.
The next day, we had our breakfast and headed off to work on the furrows that lead to the waterhole. It was quite cool which was nice and always was windy so even when the sun, ever so rarely for us, popped out, we stayed at a nice temperature. But the most annoying thing of that day would have to have been the ticks - we were viciously attacked, my tick count for that morning was something like 78 on my clothes - they were everywhere and we were all rocking the pants-tucked-into-socks look - it was really good fun!!! after coming back for lunch to our camp (the walk to and from takes about 30 minutes of walking through beautiful landscape) we got down and dirty making some elephant dung paper which on friday we made into little books - adorable!! it was heaps of fun, especially when you literally stuck your hand into a pile of boiled dung and washed it and washed it, and then chased after people with dungy hands - hilarious!
Thursday saw us working on the waterhole itself and many blisters later and falling into the waterhol or course, and being covered in mud, we had made quite impressive progress and our leader, Fabion, was very happy with our work - yay!! we then went into the treehouse to watch the animals, as we had quite the audience while we worked. Unfortunately, a jeep scared them all off, so we headed back and that afternoon we went out walking, and it was really good fun!!
Friday morning we made our way out to a masai boma and we learned about their way of life and then i was paired with a young wife who helped me make a necklace and a bracelet - even though we couldn't understand each other, we were still able to laugh and have a fantastic time - it was amazing! Then they danced for us and we did the hokey pokey for them! That afternoon, we made our elephant dung paper books and broke camp and headed home - bumpiest trip ever!!!
Tomorrow, we leave for Kidia, to live with the Chuga for the week, so I am really looking forward to it!!
Until my next update - who knows when, hahaah!!!
Annie
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