July 31, 2009 - Our last full day in Tanzania

Today Dwight and I decided to start the day with some shopping in Karatu before heading to the office. First we took a stroll through the town and came across a market…mostly food. It was really interesting…dark, narrow aisles and tons of stalls. I was thinking today that I would love to have a videographer follow us around on the trip cause I don’t want to forget anything.

(Above) Me in the market

On the edge of the market there was a little tailor shop with lots of colourful Kengas (the wraps that women wear). A young girl, Anna, greeted us at the door and she and Mama Nema started showing us a bunch of different patterns. Anna told us the price, which was a couple dollars more for each than what we’d seen at other places. However, we were enjoying their banter and decided it was worth the extra cost. So we picked up four there. I posed for a picture with the girls and then we were on our way. In the town, along the main highway, we went into a large store that had tons of Kengas and Shukas (Masai Wraps). The prices they quoted were great so we picked up more there.

(Above) Dwight buying Kengas and Shukas and coffee

On the walk back, a woman with a baby in a Kenga on her back came up to us with some baskets. We weren’t planning to buy baskets but guess what…we bought a basket Then whoosh…we were descended upon by several other women selling baskets, It was difficult to say no, so guess who bought a bunch of baskets I know you’re supposed to haggle and that usually gets you a better price but we just aren’t that great at it, generally because we feel guilty…these folks likely aren’t all that well off.

We hung out at the office for awhile; Dwight had some work to do and I was posting the previous day’s blog and checking email. We’ve been spoiled here having wireless Internet access almost every day. After a delicious lunch, Liz, one of the girls in the office showed me how to tie a Kenga on my head. When she did it, it looked lovely but then I tried it myself and it was kind of lopsided…ha ha. I’m sure I will improve with practise now that I know the technique. One thing I’ve noticed here is that mirrors are set very high up so I find it a bit difficult to use them. Which may not be a bad thing. I’ve abandoned all vanity on this trip. Between the heat of Uganda and the dust of Tanzania, there’s no point worrying about how I look. Still glad I chopped the hair off although even this short it has a mind of its own and seems to curl in weird ways.

The dust here is incredible…red and fine. I’ve noticed when we get back from the field I have this nice rosy tan appearance but it all stays on the facecloth when I wash my face!

In the afternoon we drove out with Jean to Awet School, about an hour from Karatu. It is a secondary school that is one of the top (academic) performing schools in the District. With the assistance of donors from Canada, a new dormitory is being built that will house 48 girls who currently have to travel long distances to school everyday and are often harassed on their way. Although Primary school education is government funded, Secondary school is quite expensive so it is quite an achievement for many families to send their kids. Families pull together to raise the money for it…it sounds like common practise for older siblings, who are working, to support their younger ones through school. The extended family network here is very important.

Awet is the school where those nurses from Ottawa (Sherry, Sylvie, Dina, and Carolyn) are doing their after school health education program with a group of female students. They were there when we arrived, and clearly the girls love them. Each had a couple of girls with their arms wrapped around them as they walked towards us. More students than usual were milling around because there was a football (soccer) game between their teachers and those of another school planned. Before they dispersed, we got the chance to sing a couple for songs for them and that was fun. We were on a raised platform looking out over a sea of beautiful young smiling faces. We planned to sing only one song, but when we were done, a young girl called out “One more song!” That was so sweet…how could we refuse?!

(Above) Dina, Sherry, Carolyn, and Sylvie vamping with their girls

Back at the hotel, we picked up some sodas and sat out in front of our room, reflecting on the day as the sun set. Once it was dark (approx. 7pm) we headed over to the dining room for dinner. About halfway there, all the lights went out. In the dining room they brought us a candle and that worked out just fine. After dinner, we stopped at the front desk to pick up another bag of laundry we’d taken in yesterday morning and one of the women on the hotel staff walked us back to our room with a candle. Just as we got to our room, the power came back on. Thank goodness cause, although it was nice for dinner, I don’t think it would have been so great in the room. We unpacked our laundry bag and were disappointed to find the laundry was still quite wet. Not sure how that happened unless they didn’t do the laundry til this afternoon, because both yesterday and today would have been great line drying days. We hung everything up in the bathroom by an open window so hopefully it will dry overnight…I don’t like the idea of packing damp clothes. Anyway, that was the first glitch here at the hotel so it’s not that big a deal.