Minister of education visists and a nice trip to Dodoma
on Kev in Tanzania (Tanzania), 24/Mar/2009 05:08, 34 days ago
It’s been a long time since I last posted - have been busy entertaining guests again!!Here is the update from the 9th - 16th MarchMonday 9th MarchSo the education minister visited! I decided to go smart and wear a tie for the big occasion. He kept us all waiting until around 1pm, when he arrived with his entourage which include several police with AK-47s (probably in case I complain about my lack of wages...). He was taken on a tour of the TTC which included ICT. As a Mzungu I got to introduce myself. He was a typical well off Tanzanian, large, well dressed and very articulate. We impressed him with our ICT as we had the webcams working and Allan was able to demonstrate some theory over 2 class rooms. The minister stated that we would be getting our internet through fibre optics in 2010 which is exciting news for the college.After the tour we went into the hall - every student was crammed into it to hear the Minister’s speech. It was very hot and they sung the Tanzanian anthem. In his speech the minister told the students that they must learn and use more English (he told them in Kiswahili...) He gave the students and staff the chance to ask questions and one female member of staff asked why she had not been paid - that made me feel good to know I am not alone! All the speeches were done by 5.30 and I was starving as we missed our lunch while waiting for the minister to arrive. I was about to sneak off home for some food when Lubuva told me that the college was providing dinner - result! The foodwas very good and in order to impress the minister there was also lots of it! I even got one of the mamas to get me some extra maharage (beans) from the top table for me!Tuesday 10th MarchToday was a National holiday, I got up early so I could fill up my water buckets and watered my poor plants (they look pretty pathetic but there are some tomatoes growing...)I went down to Hafunes for lunch and was able to watch some Champion’s League footie on the telly, it was a great treat. Had an easy afternoon, enjoying being able to take it easy.Wednesday 11th MarchThe A/C has now been installed (the deceit worked…) and I was able to teach an ICT lesson. We looked at using 'Impress' which is the Open Office version of PowerPoint. It was a good lesson and the students would love to use this program - if only they had decent computers in the schools where they will be working.I went to see the bursar about my wages but still no sign of them. She was not that helpful as she would only talk to me in Kiswahili… VSO have sent me the money to keep me going up to April but it is not the point the ministry really need to pay their employees!! 4 months with no pay back home would never happen right!?!Thursday 12th MarchHad no lessons and as grumpy with lack of pay situation decided to take the day off to do chores and home and buy my bus ticket for the weekend (planned to visit Dodoma as Clare was leaving this weekend). Bought my ticket for 12.15 so I could have a lie in before travelling. I also decided to buy a crate of beer as Liz was going to visit next week. Get Ben to come with me to get the beers and we used Thad's bike to transport them. They cost tsh22,500 for 20 which is about tsh1000 each or 52p! We were trying to drink a beer whilst pushing the loaded bike when it fell over... Luckily we only broke one bottle and blamed each other - it was funny for the onlookers!In the evening Ben and I went to see Peter who has been having a hard time at work. He works with terminally ill AIDS patients and is in charge of making sure the local 'volunteers' who look after the patients are doing their job properly. Often they are neglecting them especially the women, they often do not visit at all and take the food meant for the patients. Peter’s boss is also corrupt as hell and he and Peter obviously do not see eye to eye. We helped him drown his sorrows and 2 bottles of wine later with no dinner I stumbled home and slept.Friday 13th MarchWoke up slightly disorientated at 6am, I had a niggling feeling something was wrong… I remembered what it was – I bought my bus ticket for 12.15 Kiswahili time! That means it leaves at 6.15am! Damn I had to rush, pack and run to the end of the road but managed to get on just in time – phew!!In Dodoma now with lots of time to spare as Liz was not arriving until 5pm (she can remember the difference between English and Kiswahili time!) So I checked my e-mail, tried to use my home bank card but it would not let me take any cash out– bummer… I went to the Cana Lodge to ask about a room for me and Liz. Did wonder about trying the CCT (like I did with Peter) but as it’s a church hostel and was not sure if we would be allowed to share rooms! Had a quick Chipsi Mayai for lunch which for some reason had veg and pineapple on it – and for another unknown reason I put chilli sauce on the pineapple and it tasted good…Cana Lodge was very nice– room was tsh20000 per night (£10) for a double with HOT (yes HOT) shower, balcony, TV, fan and breakfast – bargain! Had a little afternoon nap to test the bed and then went down to the bus depot to meet Liz. In the evening we went to the New Dodoma hotel and this time we had a curry, it rained as we were in there and there was a power cut for a little bit but the food was lovely as usual. Stopped off for a few beers on the way back to the Cana LodgeSaturday 14th MarchSaturday was a day of treats - for breakfast we went to the New Dodoma (again but its so good!). I took Liz to Aladdins for ice creams, we bought our bus tickets for Mpwapwa and in the evening before going to meet Clare on her last night in Dodoma we had a Chinese for dinner!Clare’s farewell was at Anna’s house and is on the other side of Dodoma. We decided to walk there and using my dodgy navigation (ie ignoring the first right and taking the third rather than second as instructed!) proceeded to get us lost… We eventually found our way to Anna’s and had some nicedrinks and chats before walking back home.Sunday 15th MarchThis morning we had our free breakfast at Cana Lodge– it was so good for the price. We met up with Thad and Nelson before the bus left. I bought some luxuries (Pringles, wine, hob nobs and bisto… as you do…) After ice cream at a new place we said farewell to Nelson and caught the bus with Thad back to Mpwapwa. It was nice having 2 companions for the journey.Back at the house, my porch had been overrun by 5 dogs! But they skulked away when we came up the steps. As we were drinking on the porch the dogs chased a kid– all 5 of them! He should not have run but he did – very fast and yelling. Don’t know if they caught him or not. Luckily not been chased yet…Next part will follow soon - but we are about to lose power for the rest of the day...