First week in pemba
on Kev in Tanzania (Tanzania), 16/Nov/2009 06:45, 34 days ago
So I have been in Wete for over a week now and here is what I have been up to…Thursday 5th NovemberJuanito and I got up early this morning and caught a cab down to the port to catch our ferry to Pemba. Immigration was nice and smooth again, I felt much better only having 2 bags to look after, my big bag went into the hold and the other bag with my laptop in stayed with me. I sat in first class with Juanito and there was the latest Rambo film on the TV, it had no sound and the subtitles were wrong but it did not matter as it was Rambo– who cares about the dialogue! It was pretty violent and the kids on the boat did not seem to mind…Boat trip got a little rough mid way between Zanzibar and Pemba and hearing people be sick is never much fun. I put my Mp3 player on to drown out the sounds. We saw some flying fish which was a treat but no dolphins.Liz met us at the port and we were able to get our bags, after paying the porters (and prob getting ripped off) we caught the dala from Mkoani to Wete. Dala as usual was packed and our bags were stashed on the top.We stopped at Liz (and my) house and then got a cow and cart for Juanito so we could take his stuff down to his house (Mickey’s old house). We had a late lunch of beans and rice (tsh 1,000 a bargain!). In the evening Liz and I went for some beers at the mess (police mess, only place in Wete you can get beer!) and on the way home we went to check on Juanito as he was a little nervous about new place.Friday 6th NovemberAlthough I officially was due to start on Monday I went down to the college to meet the staff and have a tour. It is a much smaller college– 100 students and maybe 10 staff. I met the principle – Mr Bosi – fantastic name! Liz then took me out for some dough balls and fresh juice (tsh 250 for 3 balls and a glass of juice – around 20p!). College closes at 11am on Friday which is the Sabbath so we went to see Juanito and met his boss, Mr Mmunga. He gave me his book to sign – that is 4 booked signed now – still need to do Mr Bosi’s guest book though. The signatures a Principle gets the more important he is!We went home for lunch which was rolls (called buffalo) and I did some well needed washing after all my travelling from Mpwapwa to Pemba (via Dar and Zanzibar) there was no chance to wash clothes properly then. Late in the afternoon once it had cooled down a little Liz and I went for a walk on the Kisimbani road.In the evening we went to get Juanito and met Whitey at the mess for some beers and dinner (chips and mishkaki– yum!). I was tired from the walking and the heat and was starting to fall asleep, I still need to acclimatise a little here but it wont take long (I hope!)Saturday 7th NovemberLiz and I went down to the market and met Juanito. We caught a dala to Chake Chake so we could do some shopping and use the internet. Unfortunately there was no internet connection but we did get some nice things for the house. We went up to Pemba Island hotel and ordered our lunch (posh– well posh for Pemba…). We then went down to the hardware store to buy Juanito a gas stove. We had a soda and then met up for lunch – I had pilau kuku (chicken pilau) and it was gorgeous, twice the price of Hafun’s in Mpwapwa but well worth it.We caught a dala back to Wete at around 3pm and for the rest of the afternoon relaxed at home. In the evening I cooked a potato curry which was yummy and Mr Daudi from the college popped over to chat with us. After Daudi left we watched‘The Jackal’ and then some episodes of ‘Flight of the conchords’ a New Zealand comedy which is entertaining.Sunday 8th NovemberFelt very hot today! I went out early to get breakfast of eggs and bread and we both tidied the house up a little. We played a game of scrabble and I lost. Had leftovers for lunch and late in the afternoon we went on a 2 hour walk.We went down to see Juanito and to watch the sunset and giant bats which leave their roost as the sun goes down– it is beautiful, I must try and get a photo.For dinner we had chips, eggs and chapattis and as there was no power I had an early night.Monday 9th NovemberWe walked down to work. I had 2 lessons today, both were doubles and the classes were of between 6 and 8. There are 3 computers in my classroom so the student would be working in pairs or threes. In the lessons we created folders for work and we made some pictures using paint. This is so that the students get more confident using the mouse (most have never used a computer before…) it takes them a little while to get used to holding it correctly and using the buttons. Both lessons went well and I was happy with the student’s enthusiasm and that we had power!For lunch we went to get rice and beans again (sure I will get sick of them eventually… but then I have been in Tanzania over a year and it has not happened yet…) College closes at 2pm and the caretaker likes everyone out just after that so we left and called into some shops on the way home for supplies.Power went off just after we got home and Liz went for walk as I relaxed at home. It feels hotter than Mpwapwa and it is def much more humid– I had heat rash on my thighs and stomach so need to make more effort to drink more.In the evening Liz cooked and we were able to have some homemade garlic bread which is a nice treat but still needs perfecting! We watched the‘Lion King’ and some more ‘Flight of the conchords’ topped off a pretty good day.Tuesday 10th NovemberNo power today and as a result no students. I had one lesson due but they do not turn up if no power. This is because they come to ICT from other lessons so when there is no power they can return to their lessons. I did wonder about asking them to come anyway and doing some theory with them but will need to check with their other teachers.Started to decorate the classroom with posters and keywords to make the place look nice and give the students things to look up on the walls. Did not make too many posters though as Liz told me there will be many non-power days and it is good to have things to keep you busy!The classroom is hot without the a/c and fan on and I went with Liz for some dough balls and juice again. We went past the post office and I posted some postcards.Did another walk and Liz cooked dinner again– this time fake meat and pasta – her speciality! We played scrabble and this time I kicked ass!Wednesday 11th NovemberPower again today at the college and I was able to teach my two lessons. In the Internet room, where there are 4 computers, an American guy had visited and‘donated’ as he quotes $6 million worth of ebooks – he also filled up the hard drives of 2 of the computers so they are slow and gave us over 100 viruses which have left the 2 computers crippled and not working… I was able to protect the other 2 computers by installing Avria anti-virus, firefox and creating restore points.Went for lunch at usual place (must find the name) and had pilau beans. In the late afternoon did a walk again with Liz and we went along the Wete road for maybe 4 miles and then back. We had chips and baked beans for dinner with some yummy flat bread, it is a bit like a naan/pancake combo.Scrabble again but this time I was beaten, we watched 2 episodes of‘Flights of the conchords’. I am currently reading ‘Fatboy and the dancing ladies’ which is the sequel to ‘Last orders at Harrods’ both are by Michael Holman and are very entertaining. They are about a fictitious country in East Africa and how the locals, government and aid workers allinteract – they are satirical and a good read!Thursday 12th NovemberIn the morning I got a copy of Windows XP so I could reformat the 2 computers. The only problem is there is no serial for it… Frustrating, I figured it would be safer for the computers in the internet room if I installed Ubuntu on them (less prone to viruses) but as I was downloading it power went… Grrrr more frustration but at least the computers in my classroom work and it is good that they are not connected to internet… A bit worried they will get burrowed and put into the internet room…As there was no power for the rest of the day I decided to decorate the room a bit more and write some more postcards.In the evening (still with no power) I tried making a potato and cabbage curry but did not cook the potatoes long enough– the rest of it tasted fine though.Friday 13th NovemberNo classes today so I took my laptop to work to keep it up to date. Was thinking about trying to clone the computers but power went before I had the chance to experiment or try downloading Ubuntu for them.We had a relaxing afternoon, Matayo rang and it was nice to hear from him, we are trying to find a way for him to come and visit us on Pemba though it will be expensive for him– it might be better to meet him in Dar.Juanito came over for dinner. Liz tried making some falafels but it was unsuccessful so we went to get chips and chapattis and cooked some veg so we could make wraps.We had some beers and I was falling asleep as we watched‘Mr and Mrs Smith’ I must be getting old if Angelina Jolie can’t keep me awake! Juanito stayed over as it’s a bit of a walk to his house and it was late.Saturday 14th NovemberWent out and got eggs and bread for breakfast. Tidying day today and did my washing– it is much nicer washing clothes here as Liz has a 1,000 litre tank and running water most days all day! In Mpwapwa I would always be worried about running out of water.Liz went for a walk and I stayed at home updating my blog so that I can update a bit quicker.We went to the mess in the evening for beers and Chipsi Mayai. We played monopoly card game and Liz beat me 6 times in a row– just a little embaressing…We got home and watched Shawshank but I fell asleep– I keep falling asleep! Wake up early too but getting used to life here and I am happy!Sunday 15th NovemberLazy morning, lots of reading and using the laptop as power. Had a sweet pineapple for breakfast and noodles for lunch.In the afternoon we met Juanito and did a nice long walk along the Gando road (around 2 hours) saw lots of wild life and Juanito was enjoying the plantlife.Got back and had egg fried rice for dinner, a few beers and watched some more TV shows.Sure Monday will bring challenges with power and the dilapidated ICT equipment...Take care