Moshi ~ Thursday afternoon

Thursday, January 16

We took a cab back to see mama Elitha but she wasn't there when we arrived so we waited for her. It is too hot to walk at this time of day.



The kindergarten school ~ mama Elitha's building is right behind this ~



Elizabeth said she would be in trouble with mama Elitha if she didn't give us something to eat ~ delicious fresh mangos and oranges ~



The "kitchen" area in the hallway ~ everything is done in buckets ~ different buckets ~ they sell them at all the markets ~ they're everywhere ~ washing food, washing dishes, washing clothes ~ washing floors . . .







While we sat there a little girl Dana remembered came along ~ Angela



I had been working on the iPad so that was a big interest ~ we don't think they have ever seen one before but they certainly caught right on ~



Next came Jennifer ~


And her sister, Gabriel ~



They all LOVE having their pictures taken ~


And iPhones ~



The work day was ending so along came Reh ~ she is a teacher at the kindergarten now and she sews at Upendo.


And Elizabeth who is a teacher at the kindergarten ~ Elizabeth and Reh used to be the "girls in pink" (helpers) at Upendo and now they have worked up to being teachers ~ they all have rooms in the same building with mama Elitha.


We played games ~


And then they all walked us to the gate, of course carrying our bags for us ~ oh, Elizabeth took Dana's bag and mama Elitha made Dana take my bag! ~ respect your mother ~ she says ~ ( I think I like this culture)









On the way back we walk through an area called "shanty town", unlike the meaning here ~ this is a very affluent area ~ beautiful homes ~





But still no sidewalks ~ always mindful of where we are walking ~






What is this ~ an amusement park ~ ??? That's new ~ Zumba Land





That evening we broke the rule and walked after dusk to Indoitaliano ~
The streets were still busy ~ and there were four of us






Coco is one of the girls Dana met on her first volunteer experience here in Moshi in 2009. She is here with another woman whom they also met on that first trip, Moira. Since that first trip Moira has started a nonprofit called Ed.Powerment. It is one of the few like endeavors that is actually succeeding and doing well. They were staying at the same hotel so we hung out most evenings.