Right, apologies for the long silence.... I have been trying to find my feet, my project, my money, my favourite beer and also the sun. This might be a consolation to you - it's freezing here. No sun (seen it maybe three times), heavy clouds, quite a bit of rain.... ok, yes, it's winter here but still, this is taking the mickey. I bet you'll all be tanned and full of sunshine and I will have to come home to get some warmth. Apparently it's the coldest ever anyone has Tanzania known to be at this time of year. But, hey-ho, it's still great and actually, when the sun shines it gets so humid that I quietly prefer it to be a bit on the cooler side.
Tsk, enuff of the weather. I think it has now decided that I'd be placed with the project I was originally assigned to (which is nice) and also with the orphanage. So, 3 days a week I;ll be doing some vocational training in the newly renovated coffee shop (many happy hours spent in there painting, cleaning, scrubbing ect), i.e. hygiene, food preparation, customer skills ect, and 3 days a week I'll be entertaining the kids at the orphanage. Which sometimes is very amusing but at other times nerve recking. Some of them are rough, bullies, pushy and a few of the older boys will try to feel us up. Which in it self is a bit strage but even more so as they look like 9 yr olds but are actually 14. But, hey, a stern look and a sharp 'hapana' (no) usually does the trick. It's sports day today, that should be fun...
In terms of settling in - usually it's really exciting. The smells, the views, the things, the food (grilled goat - wow, never thought I like it but it's fantastic!) - it's amazing. I've met a few Tanzanians (through couchsurfing and a friend) and being with them is just very nice and relaxed and good fun. And they will look after their mzungu (white) friends. Which, sadly, is necessary. No-one walks even the shortest distance after sun down. Massai guys will use their machete on anyone who not willingly parts with their goods. Or just because. So, you grab a taxi. And you negotiate the price FIRST. Because, being a stupid mzungu, you might as well pay the mzungu tax - at least double the price. Yesterday on a dala-dala they tried to charge us just that. Everyone else paid 300 but he wanted 600 from us. Because the prices had gone up since last time. That's an hour ago. Fucking inflation, ey? We argued it and refused and got finally the correct change back but it's annoying. And being shouted at is annoying. 'Mzungu, mzungu!' Oh, really, I am white? I am so greatful having that pointed out to me 100 times a day.... Ah, I had a bad day yesterday. But, ok, I was hungover. Still, it's fucking annoying, yes, so it is. But, hey, this is not home and it's an eye-opener.
And - a circumcision is GBP 2.50, 250 pounds feed 42 children for a month in secondary school, 1.25 pays for a month's education ... that's an eye opener as well. It's hair raising and humbling. So, for the cost of 1 pint I could send two children to school here. Brrr. I might just try and keep that in mind and only drink every other day. And the lack of organisation and support is infuriating. There is money in the country, of course, but guess where that lingers.... a friend tried to change her visa and the 'fee' went up from 400 to 600 USD from one day to the next. A-ha.
Anyway, I'm off to enjoy my sports day with the kids now. Oh, and I'll try to change my ticket to come back 1 August. Yup, I'd lurve to stay on.
And tomorrow I'm off to Lake Natron, Flamingo watching and avoiding being rained on by lava.
So, watch this space and I'll be back for more stories (I hope)
