Winding Down

WED, FEB 24 – SUN, FEB 28

I am feeling pretty burnt out from writing and have decided to do more pics and shorter stories. Also, I only have 3 weeks left here and want to finish all the TAFCOM-related writing projects I am working on. The strategic plan is almost complete and I am working on some school policies and a classroom management training piece.

The first 4-5 days after returning from Kili I was definitely not at full strength. My upper legs felt like one giant bruise. Lots of Bio Freeze and cold wraps helped tremendously.

Mussa stopped by for lunch and to pick up the rest of his equipment. We loaded his pictures to my computer and he added lots of info for my journal. It is fun going through the pictures and reliving the journey.

I had mentioned in a previous blog that there was a friend of Nie and Jonas’ with a shop near Arusha who wanted to sell the sanitary pads. She stopped by this week and took 37 pads. She also talked about possibly being able to help us find markets in Dar and Zanzibar. Nie and I see so much potential for this project and the possibilities just keep growing.

The tailoring women have completed 80 sanitary pads and their work is definitely improving.

Katherine, one of our tailoring teachers was in the area hospital for high blood pressure so we visited her one afternoon. Like education, the health care system here is also about 50 years behind the times. She was in a ward with 16 beds occupied by women and children. It is very institutional looking; the beds are about 4 feet apart and only had a sheet. Visiting hours are set around meal time as patients must provide their own food. It is a pretty depressing setting. Katherine is doing better, however, and should be discharged in a day.

I promised to take Jovin out for his birthday so on Thursday we all went to Deli Chez which is his favorite restaurant.

I finished out the week resting most of Saturday and going to watch part of the Kili marathon on Sunday with Nie and Jonas. Silly me had thought I might run. Of course this was a thought before the Kili climb!

MON, FEB 29 – SUN, MAR 6

Every Monday I am visited by Amina and 3 of her friends. I introduced them to roasted marshmallows this week. Typically we spend our time reading, playing Bingo games and coloring. I try to take a little time to look at their schoolwork. These girls are at the top of their class.                  

I have been spending more time in the preschool classroom. It is mostly enjoyable. It gets frustrating when I am searching online for ideas and see the colorful, stimulating pre-schools we have in the US. One of my Kili mantras “baby steps” has spilled over into the classroom.

A new volunteer, Sheila, from Ireland arrived on Wednesday. She is older (maybe even than me!) and traveled here with her daughter and granddaughter for a month. She is a former seamstress, working now as a massage therapist. She is bubbly and enthusiastic, and is the first volunteer with solid sewing skills to help out with the tailoring program. We may have hit the jack pot!

As part of each volunteer’s orientation they are taken around Pasua to visit with several families. Friday morning was spent on home visits. Sheila, Nie and I then went to Moshi and had lunch at Milan’s (favorite Indian restaurant). Sheila wants to teach the tailoring women how to make a simple shift dress. They also need covers for their sewing machines since the windows have no screens. A visit to our favorite fabric store produced plenty of material for several projects. Sheila’s idea of a plastic case for the sanitary pads was brilliant. We found a meter of plastic for $.75.

On Saturday we took Joan and Happy to La Fuentes (Mexican restaurant) to play on the playground for over 2 hours. I am sure they both slept well that night.

During my stay in 2014, I lived with Neema who was my cook. We became very close and have stayed in touch. Nie has also kept in contact with her and Sunday we traveled to Arusha to see her. This visit was a definite highlight of my trip. We planned a full day. Nie and Jovin, along with Dennis and Sabato, the drivers, made the trip. I have wanted to go to Snake Park for many years. Neema, Dennis and Sabato had never been either so after picking up Neema we headed out of town to the park. Neema looked great; she is pregnant and due mid-April. We reminisced with stories, jokes and sayings that became special for us during our time together.

Our guide through Snake Park was very knowledgeable. He did tell a few gruesome stories plus we got to hold a snake. Only Dennis and I held the snakes and Dennis had to be coerced.  The psrk also operates a health clinic for the area with specialists in snake bites.

My plan had been to take everyone to lunch but Neema and her sister had cooked a huge meal for all of us. We ended our day at her house with a delicious lunch of rice pilau and a vegetable salad. Neema holds a special place in my heart. She made my 2014 trip one of the best.