Abbreviated versions

September 9, 2008
8:38 PM

I realize by this point that my posts perhaps "slightly" on the long side. And while I think its great for me to have a record of my travels, I can't imagine other people have the time, energy and interest to read the pages and pages of notes I am writing. So this one will be abbreviated.

The trip to Arusha today was quite uneventful. I am getting used to the scenery along the road and have equated these trips to those back home between Barrie and Toronto - a need for planning the driving time, but more or less manageable almost anytime.

This morning I followed Jane to the municipal community development office where I sat in on a brief meeting in Swahili and learned that the city is unimpressed with Mkombozi lately. This is a result of the UK organization Consortium for Street Children intervening with issues relating to street children in Arusha upon reading reports from Mkombozi. Long story short (as that is my aim today), some UK MPs stuck their noses into Arusha politics and Mkombozi is dealing with the fall out.

From there we went to a Ward office in the city, which turned out to be a small building behind a built up area that was on a dirt bumpy "road" surrounded by very warn out little houses and shops. I learned that in this area 80% of the people live on one meal per day or $1 equivalent. It is very poor and Mkombozi's community engagement team has worked with members of the community in the training area, I believe regarding child protection policies and education. Oddly enough, barely 2 blocks away I discovered my first Woolworth's in Tanzania (loved their tanks in South Africa) and a giant Shoprite.

Sidenote- either it is raining outside or there is a giraffe trying to get in my roof and windows all at once.

For lunch in Arusha we ate rice with vegetables and chunks of meat. I think I drew some attention when I placed the little piece of intestines to the side. Not quite ready to try that yet. And a small dessert was slices of papaya, very tasty.

The afternoon was very unproductive for me. Jane and William were in meetings or doing work with other members of the Arusha office, so I was placed at a computer with the social workers and proceeded to productively check my email, facebook, email, blog, CBC news website and some other interesting sites until we were ready to start the journey back to Moshi. Also during this internet time I learned that it is easier to communicate with some of the social workers if we all speak French than in Swahili or English. Kind of fun too, but when I blank on a French word I feel pretty silly considering they are all at least trilingual to an extent! We had some good laughs though.

This evening I was beat from the driving etc. so I ordered some chips masala, watched Al Jezeera news (no mention of Canada, still bad weather reporting) and observed the two new Swedish volunteers giggle through their own ordering of dinner. Someone amusing for me was that they speak to each other in Swedish and to the staff here in English, but I didn't hear any Swahili. I'm going to assume that will change the longer they are here.

Last point before bed: I had finally beat my fear of the shower and was really excited about how hot the temperature got this evening. I even had to turn the cold on slightly. Nice hot shower. Then I looked down. Crawling out of one of the holes by the taps was what I am assuming was a cockroach. Ok so maybe I imagined it. I am on Larium and seriously would prefer to be hallucinating large insects in my shower than actually seeing them. After taking control of my gag reflect I shot the hot water at it and it disappeared down one of the holes. I then carefully placed plugs on top of the wholes and quickly finished rinsing my hair.

I know in Canada finding these critters in your rental is grounds for huge complaint, but I am unsure of the system here. I am starting to think that this whole "Use of Self" experience is designed for me to overcome my fear of insects rather than growing as a person and social worker. Input from others is appreciated.

Randoms:

I drove by a place today that was a beauty parlor/internet café - good concept to adopt at home
Did my first "load" of laundry yesterday. Hopefully I washed the soap out all the way, that might be interesting!
Think that the guys that run the bar/dining area (Isaac and Cuthbert) have told Dennis to leave me alone, they say things to him in Swahili when he comes by then he disappears or goes and sits somewhere else. I feel a little bad, but he makes some weird noises while I'm trying to eat (throat clearing/choking) and sometimes picks his nose.
Also a theme I am noticing. Many people pick their nose here, out in the open, like while walking down the street, my germophobic issues are not helping my current fear of showering