Chickens, rain and my first guests in Mpwapwa!!
on Kev in Tanzania (Tanzania), 11/Feb/2009 05:33, 34 days ago
I am letting my blogging standards slip, it has been over a week since my last post... But then I have had guests staying as my excuse!Here is the update from the last weekTuesday 3rd FebruaryWas my first day back teaching and I had 2 lessons, I took the students through the practical exam. Reinforcing how to make tables and insert pictures in a word processor. I was really pleased to be back in the class sharing my skills with the students.After work I planted Mchica (Spinach), Sunflowers, sweetcorn and more Maharage (beans) in the garden. I was a little worried about the lettuce and others I planted when I came back after Christmas as they had not grown yet, I wanted rain!Wednesday 4th FebruaryMy chickens were delivered, Harune bought them in a sack! He bought me 5 with one more to follow later. In the coup they have perches but no nest boxes for eggs yet… I decided to put a curtain on the door so while I am inside and the door is open they will not run out. Harune told me that they will eat almost anything so I fed them my fruit and veg waste. Trying to come up with names for them…Thursday 5th FebruaryMpwapwa was dry and I woke up to no running water. Time to hope for rain…At the TTC I got a reply from Computer Aid International who told me they can send PCs to Dar Es Salaam and that 50 would could£3260, So I am going to write to some donors/embassies and ask for a grant for the computers.Friday 6th FebruaryDry again and still no running water. Harune bought the last chicken and I asked him to arrange some water to be bought to me. Finally got some mail, it was from Emma who sent me some postcards from Stiges and some chocolate– thanks Em!Saturday 7th FebruaryWe had rain in the night so I did lots of work on the garden, planting peas and digging up worms for the chickens to eat. I tidied up the house as was having 3 friends come to stay from Sunday to Tuesday.Sunday 8th FebruaryFound a little baby dog on my porch and I offered it some biscuits and milk but it was not interested, looked very sad. Left for my monthly meeting with Peter and the PCV (peace corp volunteers) at 9.30 we had our chat and I got home just as Andy, Jo and Liz arrived. They got off outside the TTC and I went down to meet them.It was good to see them again and had lots of catching up to do. They looked the look of Mpwapwa and Liz bought me some Pringles, wine and couscous from Dar! Poor Jo was feeling a little under the weather but was still having fun, they taught me to play a new card but I cannot remember the name…We went out in the evening to Hafunes for dinner and then met up with the PCVs, Peter and Matayo at the central garden for some beers. I don’t think Mpwapwa has ever seen so many Wazunugu (white people) in the place!!Got back home and opened some wine… Played some more cards and I enjoyed having my first set of company!Monday 9th FebruaryHarune came over in the morning and cooked us breakfast and lunch. He also washed some of Liz’s clothes (for some extra money!) He made us a kind of pasta curry which was really nice.I decided to take the day off work as not teaching so we had a lazy day. We watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail and later the new James Bond, Quantum Solace (which being a dodgy copy went into Chinese now and then…)We were going to go and meet Peter for a coffee but as it was raining we stayed in, we did have plenty of games and treats to amuse ourselves while it poured.Tuesday 10th FebruaryI had to get up at 6.30 today as I had 2 lessons and wanted to start showing the students how to use spreadsheets. I left the key with the guys and went to work, they went into town to bus their bus tickets and some breakfast.When my lesson finished at 9am I walked home to meet them and saw some chickens outside, I was tired and wandered if my neighbour had bought some too… Then I realised they were mine! They had pushed the chicken wire up and got underneath! But it was ok they were just wandering around munching on things and when I threw some food in the coup for the others inside they went in for the food as well and I was able to close the door.The guys made us breakfast (chapattis and ommlettes) and I sat with them for a bit before I had to go back to TTC for my 12.30 lesson. Andy and Jo went to Dodoma at 1pm and Liz stayed as she was going to back to Dar tomorrow at 6am! I showed Liz were I work and she told me the ICT VSO guy on Pemba where she works would be jealous!It rained most of the afternoon again and I collect some in buckets to replace the water my guests had been using. In the evening Liz and I went to Silver restaurant and had some food and then back to central garden for a couple of beers, the people in Mpwapwa are not used to Wazungu women and Liz got a few stares. In the bar we were approached by a drunk guy a few times but the staff were great and chucked him out!Wednesday 11th FebruaryThe dogs were really noisy last night, sounded like there were hundreds outside fighting!Got up early to take Liz down to catch the 6am bus, then I went to work and taught a great spreadsheet lesson! There is no more teaching this week and next week I am off to Morogoro for my intermediate language training, going to miss it but get to catch up with some more friends!Have a nice weekTake care