Student graduation and two trips to Dar
on Kev in Tanzania (Tanzania), 20/May/2009 15:47, 34 days ago
Ok so lots has happened since my last post at the end of April...On the 30th of April it was the day of the student graduation, the district comissioner (I think it was her anyway...) came to visit and was given a tour of the ICT facilities - this seems to happen when anybody (who is somebody) visits.We then went down to the graduation ceremony which was held outside and included all the prominent figures from around Mpwapwa. The ceremony seemed more like a celebration of the college than the students but it was great to them so excited and some were dressed in gowns! (there is one gown for Tanzania unlike in the UK where there is a gown for each university).The ceremony was very long, it included lots of singing and dancing children. There were some very long speeches from all the important people and I took that oppurtunity to disappear for a little bit (my Kiswahili is not good enough to follow all speeches unless are saying hello or shopping...)After the speechs food was provided which was tasty as usual and the caterers know me by now, I did not even need to ask for a beer and was also given some nice wine! Thad had a guest who came to watch the ceremony, she was based near Tanga and we had somenice chats.In the evening there was a disco for students which I was going to go to. I rang Marina as it was her 30th birthday today and we had a nice chat - she got a little emotional but it was so good to chat again. After the call I went to buy some credit for my mobile as I was going to Dar the next morning and I wanted to be able to contact Liz. This was when I got the terrible news about Saskia and I decided to skip the disco and talk to Liz about it. I was obviously very upset.From Friday to Sunday I went to Dar to meet up with Liz, we stayed in the YWCA which is very cheap at£4 per night, for a room, for 2! Beds are small and walls are cardboard thin with holes in but it is so central and cheap you cannot go wrong!We ate out in some nice places especially the Red Onion and we found some new cheap bars to drink in. I also took Liz to shoppers plaza - a small shopping mall in the ex-pat part of Dar - it took us a while to find as we took the wrong daladala (bus). We bought some luxuries and even had a subway! There was no McDonalds I must admit I do miss a burger!My feelings for Dar are growing, when I first arrived I was wary of the place and the hustle and bustle now I am more confident, though still wary at times. I like the Hindu/Asian district with the Hindu Mandals/Temples, they are very busy and freindly areas which also have some great places for food.I went back to Mpwapwa on Sunday 3rd of May. The next week Allan and Lubuva were away on courses and holidays. Thad and myself were busy sorting out the resources for the students for their exams. I have also been experimenting with cooking - trying to make a nice Pilau but the rice is always a little stoodgy...I have been getting into prison break - the TV show as I bought the first series on dodgy DVD and it is very addictive. That takes up lots of my time in the evening (not that there is much else to do...)On Friday 8th May decided to have a movie session with Liz - she was on Pemba and I was in Mpwapwa but we both watched the same films and had some drinks and texted each other - it is Cheesy but it was like a distance date. We are going to do one again soon...News from Peter and his placement was looking better on Tuesday 12th May, Thad and I met Ben in Hafunes for some breakfast and spirits were high.Since I came back from Dar there had been no Internet because there is a problem with the satellite link. So life in Mpwapwa was becoming more African! No Internet and no running water...I decided to go to Dar again on the weekend and bought my ticket on Wednesday. Saw Carla and Tony from Peace Corps who are going home soon. During the week as no students Thad and I were being a little geeky and did some network gaming - thats not so African!On the 15th May travelled to Dar again to see Liz and also Sara who was going home on the 17th May. We all went to Addis in Dar - an Ethiopian restaurant for Sara's leaving do. Stephan and Sandra were also there.On the 16th Liz and I went to Tazara which is the big railway station that has trains go down to Zambia - they cost around tsh70000 (which is around£35) for the 1000km trip - good value. We want to try and see Victoria Falls! In the evening we tried to find some places that Ben recommended but his directions were rubbish so ended up back at the Red Onion.On the 17th May it was Liz's birthday and we went to shoppers plaza and got some nice food, had a picnic by a fountain and a coffee in the good bookshop. In the evening we went to Patels in the Hindu district with Stephan, Sandra, Mickey, 2 Dutch volunteers and Sympho - who used to work in the VSO office. We had a lovely curry and chatted lots - it was nice catching up with them all again - us VSO volunteers are terrible gossips!Thats it for the update now - not so much about work, I know, but there are some suprises to put one here soon...Take care