Full circle
on Kev in Tanzania (Tanzania), 15/Oct/2009 10:19, 34 days ago
The end is nigh… at least for my Mpwapwa placement…So I have passed the year mark and been to meet my replacement. In these last few days, as I walk around the town I realise that I am going to miss this place and some of the people. My placement has been a rewarding and valuable experience.Here is the update from the last week.Tuesday 6th OctoberAt work Lubuva shared with me plans to run moodle workshops with the tutors from all the different departments to get them to put course information onto moodle. This was great news for two reasons; firstly getting every subject onto moodle would be fantastic as it is so easy to share resources and a central place for students to access them and secondly it was Lubuva’s idea and not mine. That means he is keen about moodle and there is a good chance that it will be used when I have left (Sustainable! One of VSO/developments many buzz words). We went through some ideas for topics and plan to even have a session where the tutors upload information while we are all together, so we can assist and encourage them. The sessions would start on Monday 12th of October and last 4 days.Wednesday 7th OctoberGot the bus to Dar to visit VSO, meet Claire (my replacement) and of course see Liz. Last time Liz visited she bought me an empty bag to fill and I bought this with me to Dar with some things I wanted her to take to Pemba. The bus trip was fine and I was keen to get to Dar.I checked in to Econolodge and had lunch at Chefs pride went to meet Liz after she finished work at VSO. She had been evacuated from Pemba as a safety precaution as it was voter registration time and there is often trouble then– trouble between the political parties not trouble for outsiders but VSO are careful and put our safety first.We went down to Slipway for some beers and then went to the Italian next door to where Stephan, Sara and Ellen used to live. The Italian was lovely we had a proper little date with good food and wine! We had missed each other since Zambia and it was so nice to be back together.Thursday 8th OctoberWe moved down to the YMCA (as it is cheaper) and Liz went to work at VSO. I went back to bed and after a lie in went to get some photos developed for Harune and Matayo, I also posted a parcel to Tess, so she can use at school and one for Mum and Dad. I caught the dala to VSO and met Liz at the IST (Health Clinic) I got my new batch of anti malarials and we went for Chipsi Mayai lunch. We went back to VSO for a little bit– I had a good chat with Doug and Keiran and then went down to Slipway again for some sunset beers. We saw Tom and Karrin and Frouke came down to meet us too.In the evening we went to the badminton institute for dinner, the reps did their pre-meeting chat, I chatted with Andy and we all had a lovely meal as usual.Friday 9th OctoberLiz was again working at VSO and today I went to Ubungo to get my bus ticket back to Mpwapwa. Whenever I try and catch the Ubungo dala at Posta (post office) I end up having to walk down near the port before I can get on… Anytime you go to the port people try and sell you boat tickets or talk to you. Today I was wearing my Zambezi rafting t-shirt and some guy came up and told me it was the 2nd longest river in Africa, I was suspicious so kept my eyes open and hands in pockets in case he was trying to distract me. I told him that he was wrong, the Nile is longest, then the Congo, then the Niger and the Zambezi is the 4th longest in Africa. He was surprise and asked where I was going, I told him to Ubungo and he told me I could catch the Kimara dala as well as the Ubungo ones so I thanked him and jumped onto the Kimara dala – we both learnt something in that conversation!!I bought my bus ticket and was waiting for the dala back– it was very crowded so when a taxi came by with the driver shouting “Moja, Elfu Moja!” (one for 1000) I decided to try my luck and jump into the taxi. I checked with the driver and as he had 3 other passengers he was happy to take me for 1000tsh – a bargain as it normally costs 5000-8000tsh depending on haggling skills!Back at the YMCA I got the dala with Andy to VSO to meet everyone for lunch. It nice seeing the new volunteers and I felt my placement was now complete– getting to meet Claire my replacement was nice and I remembered my in-country-training. We chatted a little as we ate and I signed my new contract for Pemba, I will be there until May 1st 2010.At the end of the day we all caught the bus to Dar Alive where we had a few beers by the sea. I chatted more with Claire here and tried to make her feel at ease about Mpwapwa, gave her some advice on what to bring and just chatted about things so far.For dinner we went to Chefs Pride which was busy late but the food was nice.Saturday 10th OctoberLiz and I were able to spend all day together which was great. We caught the Masaki dala (which goes to VSO) to Oyster Bay and went to look at the Tinga Tinga paintings (named After a guy called Tinga who first started the painting style) We both bought one and then walked over past the US embassy to Shoppers Plaza. Liz found a place that developed SLR film and we did a little shopping before having our usual picnic lunch (yeah I had a subway again…)We looked in the bookshop as it is one of the few‘real’ bookshops rather than pretending to be one and just selling education books and bibles.We went back to YMCA and later met Sandra and Renee at Posta and walked them to Econolodge. We met up with Frouke and then they caught a cab to Indian garden and we caught a cab there too but picked up Jo and Andy on the way. Indian garden is a new place and a bit out of town but we wanted to try it and the food was great again (I guess most food outside Mpwapwa is great…)After eating we walked around to the Aga Khan hall (I think) to watch some dancing– I thought it was going to be local or tribal dance but it was contemporary and really not my thing. It was a little annoy as beers were expensive too but Liz and I went into the lounge area and just spent the time listening to the music and chatting rather than watching the prancing about…We went back home after the dancing finished and had a beer and a few games of monopoly deal (Dutch version as Jo bought it along) before heading off to bed.Sunday 11th OctoberGot up at 4.30am (which is a crime!) so I could get ready and catch my taxi to Ubungo at 5am. Someone had locked the main at YMCA and we could not get out, eventually the receptionist came and let us out and after a sad goodbye with Liz I got in the taxi and was taken to Ubungo to return to Mpwapwa (possibly for the last time…)The trip was not the best– possibly because I was tired and missing Liz. But I got back in one piece, despite a dream of being in a bus crash…Managed to get my laptop from college but then power went off in the evening… Water is getting more reliable and power less…Monday 12th OctoberWent into college and was disappointed to hear that the moodle training is awaiting funds and approval. Once again (the problem happened with Peter) money for courses raises its ugly head, it is such a shame that people will not attended courses that will benefit them and their department unless they get money... Was a bit grumpy but the materials are all here to be used when we get the go ahead, I just hope I am here for that!Tuesday 13th OctoberPower went off at 8.45am so I went town and then did some washing. The timetable has now changed too and both of my classes seem to have disappeared.In the evening went for drink with Matayo and Thad. Thad had made some homemade fudge (from Cacao grown at college) it was very sweet and purple! But was nice! We played scrabble at Central Garden Bar and the Vice Principle was there and he helped Thad win!People were burning the hills around Mpwapwa again and although it is dangerous it did look beautiful at night with the stars and the milky way.Wednesday 14th OctoberWas a national holiday for Nyere, Tanzania’s first President. I had a lie in, and then went for lunch with Matayo and we played some scrabble. I gave my guard the night off and as I wondered around Mpwapwa took some photos to remind of the place.Cooked a nice curry in the evening and had to throw out my rice and lentils as there were bugs in them– yuck!Maybe only one or two posts left in Mpwapwa…Take care