23 MARCH, 2015

Our work is done!

The Medical Health Check Team effectively finished its work on Thursday, though there were some loose ends to tidy up on Friday with filing and an inventory of the items needed for the check next year. It has been a thoroughly enjoyable fortnight and with a different work program, we seemed to have more opportunity for socialising – an opportunity we have grasped enthusiastically.

The team has now pretty well dispersed: some have gone on safari, some returned home, and others headed off to diverse parts of the globe, and four stragglers hanging around for a quiet weekend in Arusha before departing on Monday. The exiting procedure has gone largely well, though one, let’s call her K-L, suffered an airline stuff-up which was somewhat upsetting. On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport K-L found that she was not on the passenger list, and not allowed on the plane. Despite its grand title, the airport is a very basic operation and does not boast airline staff who could assist. In fact it seems the staff who were there were decidedly unhelpful. So poor little K-L had to return back to the school to sort things out. She was eventually sorted, but had to purchase a flight on another airline. She should now be safely in London. The lesson of course is to check-in a few days before departure, so one might have a bit of opportunity to sort things out. Bearing this in mind I decided to check our Precision Air flight from Arusha to Zanzibar and as of this moment we have confirmed tickets. We’ll  find out for certain tomorrow.

As we did last year, we visited the Plaster House and a government school, and we were able to hand over some stationery and teaching resources which were gratefully received. The Plaster House is an inspiring operation, run on a shoestring but with amazing results for children in need of corrective surgery.  Jen and I never cease to be amazed at the powerful difference that can be made to children whose lives would otherwise be quite literally hobbled, or shortened. If you get a chance, have a look at the website www.theplasterhouse.org.

Saturday was a largely lazy day. We caught up with a Tanzanian friend whom we have not seen for some time, and had a really good chat with her about life in Tanzania. We went for a walk with her through some local villages and met her family and friends. I find this much more enriching than visiting Maasai Boma, or as we did on Friday, a Maasai choir. Mind you, the choir was a fascinating experience, and they involved us in a mock Maasai wedding. Jenny had the role of the mother of the bride, and was dressed lavishly with robes and jewellery.

After leaving our friend we went into town to one of the well-established eating/drinking establishments – the Fig and Olive, a leafy enclave on the edge of the city area. We took a dala dala home. It looked pretty empty when we got on but soon filled to about 22 passengers. I would have said that we were packed as tight as sardines, but every tie we went over a speed bump I slammed into the metal roof and then crashed into the thin bench. For some reason this was thought to be hilarious by all the other passengers, so we must have seemed a jolly lot as we bumped and roared with laughter all the way down to Moshono where we alighted.

One thing we have observed since our visit a year ago, is the encroachment of the expanding city into the rural areas. Arusha is not a city that grows upwards with increased density, but rather creeps outwards, filling in voids  with little huts, little shops and at times some quite large houses. It all seems rather haphazard. Last night we went to dinner at the home of a local businessman and supporter of the school. He is an Australian and has built a very grand house in the middle of what would have been a banana plantation. Access is very tricky along some unnamed bumpy tracks and narrow lanes. Poor Soph had to sit in the boot of the small SUV.

Sunday, Day of Rest. This morning we welcomed a visiting family who are here to see the school, visit their sponsored student, and go on safari. The three boys are aged between about 9 and 14. We decided we would all go out to Rivertrees  for lunch, meeting up with Gordon and Sophie who had been canoeing on Lake Duluti, as we had done last weekend. It was very pleasant sitting under the shady trees, sipping a Serengeti Lager and enjoying conversation with new and older friends and watching monkeys play on the lawns and in the trees. Back at the school it has been a chance to catch up on a well-earned snooze, do some laundry and pack, ready for our flight to Zanzibar tomorrow.

I have a feeling there was something else this week that was memorable…

Ah yes. Fiona came good with a baby. I must admit that with each passing day we getting increasingly anxious, and our nights sleepless. On Wednesday evening (Arusha time) and 2.38am (Brisbane time) baby Casper arrived to much joy and relief. We were out for the evening so did not catch up with the news till Thursday morning when we had a conversation with Don. Needless to say Jenny was somewhat excited and many of our neighbours got wind of the news before we made the announcement at breakfast. By the time he arrived, Casper had generated a great deal of interest among the medical check team. And of course, in addition to the car load of baby goods we took to Brisbane, we have a new stock of Tanzanian kit for him. As he grows, young Casper will be puzzled by the African flavour of his wardrobe. After their marathon effort, Fi, Don and Casper are now home. We can hardly wait to see them all.

Thanks again for reading. Tomorrow we have just a few things to tidy up – handover some paperwork then off to Zanzibar and Pongwe Beach.

Kwaheri