More of the tales of moi

Jambo guys, once again, I find myself in the cosy Internet cafe I frequent after another amazing week in Tanzania, ready to tell you of my happenings, so please feel free to pull up a bean bag or something comfy and listen to my tales.

This week has been much like the last - we have fallen into a rhythmic pattern of life which I adore, the walk to project, chilling with the kids in the school while we work, mostly ending up in them laughing at our poor Swahili, returning for lunch and siesta and the once again at the project site in the afternoon, minus the children and we find ourselves quite content to be in each others company, often singing on the scaffolding on which we work to famous Disney tunes (of which, "I just can't wait to be King" is a favourite.) I am becoming quite adept in a majority of different tasks on project, including plastering, carpentry, cementing etc (Ruya, I am still waiting on a theme song :P). Of the jobs, plastering is by far my favourite, followed closely by carpentry. Plastering is smooth and rhythmic and very relaxing, and I feel like saying 'wax on wax off' nearly all the time. Cementing is in it's own league, it is (hands down) the most frustrating job. you pick the cement up on your trowel, hurl it at the wall praying as it flicks through the air, it will stick on the wall, while other people around you do the same and you find yourself coated in cement. Then, you continue, until, say, your pillar, that you have been working on all morning, nearing completion, decides that the last lot of cement you threw was jsut too hard or in the wrong spot and you watch as all your work comes tumbling down in a rather unflattering sound. The last and perhaps greatest insult is that it 99.99% of the time will fall smack into your face, making you a better choice for a wall that the wall you were meant to be cementing. Such is life. But it is all good fun!

We visited the local markets on wednesday to, as our fearless leader Tommie says, 'Go African' by picking out local fabrics and visiting the local mamas to have dresses and shorts etc made for us (which I am actually picking up this afternoon) The market and towns are so vibrant and alive, it's exactly what one would think of when imagining a Tanzanian market.

The Aussie girls have essentially begun a prank war with the boys which could potentially last the duration of the 3 months (it could get ugly :P) but hey, we are all getting along well, joking, having quiz nights, fighting over which gender is better at lighting fires (all the usual stuff)

The boys have also converted me to the World Cup and I frequently sit and watch some of the games (Australia's loss to Germany was embarrassing - many comforting pats on the shoulder from the blokes)

I am currently organising a trip to Arusha for the 3-monthers that will take place on Monday (ROAD TRIP!) we're all very excited. It will hopefully take us to the ICTR and to some other Arusha attractions.

That's about all for me for now, I am still alive and loving Tanzanian life and living the moments :)

hope you're all well, God bless and peace out!

Annie