Mwewe for dinner
We have been traveling a lot over the past month. We were in Morogoro for a week helping to plan the new training for the incoming education PCTs, then went to Dar to pick them up, escorted them to Morogoro where we stayed with them for a week answering all of their questions and reassuring them that yes, they were in Africa.
The new group is a great bunch of excited PCTs (Peace Corps Trainees - they don't get the official title of Volunteer until after they complete the "hardcore/exhausting/rewarding training) and I was happy to get to know them. They joined right in dancing at their welcoming presentation. It was tiring being away from our site for three straight weeks but nothing was stolen when we got home - hurray! The only downside is that we have a lot of laundry to do...
We have one and a half months left at site...it's such a short amount of time. Our mango trees have started producing this year as the rains were plentiful back in "fall" (February-April). However I don't think we'll have the chance to try them as we will leave before the mangoes mature.
Just this morning, after making breakfast, I heard a noise in our front yard. I walked outside to see a young man throwing rocks at an injured hawk, mwewe. I asked him why he was doing that and he said that the hawk ate his chicks. I couldn't disagree with him there...I've heard about hawks eating chicks before and I've even seen one swoop down and grab one. It is interesting that when a hawk is in the sky all the chickens run for cover under trees or inside houses as if the sky was falling. They know the threat of hawks, as do their owners. Anyway, I asked the man what he was going to do with the hawk and he said that he was going to eat it for dinner.
Russ and I have printed out address cards to give away to people. As the time nears to say goodbye we still want to keep in contact with people and have been giving everyone who asks an address card. Asha, my primary school girl friend, just stopped by the house the other day and I told her I was leaving soon. She began to cry. I was shocked by this. Asha comes around the house every once in a while and we talk and she helps out with whatever we happen to be doing that day. But I didn't feel like she cared that much. After I gave her a hug and told her that we're still here for another month, and that she is welcome at our house at any time, I realized that perhaps I have made more of an impact in Tanzania than I originally thought.
The new group is a great bunch of excited PCTs (Peace Corps Trainees - they don't get the official title of Volunteer until after they complete the "hardcore/exhausting/rewarding training) and I was happy to get to know them. They joined right in dancing at their welcoming presentation. It was tiring being away from our site for three straight weeks but nothing was stolen when we got home - hurray! The only downside is that we have a lot of laundry to do...
We have one and a half months left at site...it's such a short amount of time. Our mango trees have started producing this year as the rains were plentiful back in "fall" (February-April). However I don't think we'll have the chance to try them as we will leave before the mangoes mature.
Just this morning, after making breakfast, I heard a noise in our front yard. I walked outside to see a young man throwing rocks at an injured hawk, mwewe. I asked him why he was doing that and he said that the hawk ate his chicks. I couldn't disagree with him there...I've heard about hawks eating chicks before and I've even seen one swoop down and grab one. It is interesting that when a hawk is in the sky all the chickens run for cover under trees or inside houses as if the sky was falling. They know the threat of hawks, as do their owners. Anyway, I asked the man what he was going to do with the hawk and he said that he was going to eat it for dinner.
Russ and I have printed out address cards to give away to people. As the time nears to say goodbye we still want to keep in contact with people and have been giving everyone who asks an address card. Asha, my primary school girl friend, just stopped by the house the other day and I told her I was leaving soon. She began to cry. I was shocked by this. Asha comes around the house every once in a while and we talk and she helps out with whatever we happen to be doing that day. But I didn't feel like she cared that much. After I gave her a hug and told her that we're still here for another month, and that she is welcome at our house at any time, I realized that perhaps I have made more of an impact in Tanzania than I originally thought.
posted by lisa at
10:59
1 Comments:
Lisa & Russ - best for the 2 of you as you prepare to leave soon. I was reading Joshua's blog. I couldn't respond as only "team members only" could respond. If you could tell him - he hit it dead on the nail! Friendship-that is what it is all about. Yes, TZ & the friends you have made will be forever in your heart & on your mind. I am very amazed at how many of them I receive letters from & even some when they get to an internet cafe at any time in Njombe or thru the seminary will drop an e-mail. It will tear your heart to shreds when you leave them even with you excitement of going home. Recently I was on the website & reading info on Oprah Winfrey's Leadership Academy for Girls. With all her millions of dollars & good intentions - she missed the point. I believe instead of helping girls that will become highly educated & return to help current & future generations make some changes, I believe she just may have created a new breed of hollywood brats & thinks everything centers around money & the finest things in life, it just isn't reality & most will probably leave Africa eventually & not return. That is sad. So do tell Josh & you both should know that even if you didn't build a million dollar building, nat'l exam scores are not through the roof & all the villagers are not rich financially. Remember that at least 1 person now knows they are loved, 1 knows they are special, 1 feels important, 1 will remember you forever, 1 will tell stories of you for years to come, you may have helped save 1 life in more ways than you could ever imagine, 1 person learned a new task, 1 person learned something more about Americans....and like I think Josh got it - - - many many have a new bond of friendship. Safe travel for you both, and I wish the best to you & all the others that are going home soon & best to all the new PCT/PCV that are starting their new adventure. I'll pray for their safety, health & mental health also. You will be home in time for some good old midwest Fall & Winter soon! Do take care in handing out the addresses, somehow there were a few that I were not familiar with that had gotten my address & had someone write letters for them that were asking for money (one wanted a camera - ha! like that would ever get to them thru the Iringa posta & probably never make it to the Njombe postal let alone all the way to Kidugala!) But it will be very important for them when they do write you to hear back from you.
*Deb
By
Immanuelkidugala, at 21 October, 2007 22:16
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