Moshi ~ Friday

Friday, January 24



John has been doing very well with learning a new Swahili word or phrase each day. Everyone from the hotel cleaners, servers, reception, cab drivers, street hackers and friends appreciate his efforts and take time to talk to him. They really appreciate it when someone tries to speak their language. One of the cleaning ladies, Happy, gives him a lesson each day.
On the other hand, so many of these people speak English and they want to practice so they want us to speak English to them.

This morning we went back to the Msaranga Center, the first one we visited. The teacher there was giving John a lesson in numbers so he has been practicing in case we go back ~ he wants her to know he did his homework.
The iPad was such a hit last time I made sure I downloaded a few games with basic skills for the kids to use.
It felt comfortable walking back into the center ~ knowing the faces now.
They were all happy to see us and welcomed us back.

Dana working with Selma ~





Fatuma and Selma ~





John helping Fatuma ~



Mama Janet ~ always the teacher ~ using the iPad but reinforcing with her own lesson for James ~





James working on shapes ~





Something going on everywhere ~



Haika ~ there are two Haikas ~ big Haika and little Haika who was absent today ~






Mama Janet singing and dancing ~


James sharing the iPad with the others ~ what better way to learn than to teach others ~ Haika wasn't too interested ~


so he tried Selma ~ James should really be a teacher's helper. He is so good with all of the children ~ he knows their routines and schedules ~ helps them walk with the walkers ~ gives them porridge


Selma liked the program ~









The other boys from the kindergarten came to say hello ~ and have their pictures taken ~










It was another rewarding morning ~

We decided to do some laundry and chill out this afternoon and then we went to Milan's for dinner.

Moshi ~ Thursday

Thursday, January 23

Today was a whole new experience ~ we rode the dala dala!



This is the mini van used as local bus service. The one we rode in wasn't bad at all. It was a newer van and it wasn't full. We have seen many packed with people and in the countryside we have seen them putting goats and chickens in as well. It only cost about 400 tsh = $.25.

We went to another of the centers with Dana this morning. Upon entering we could see (and feel) it wasn't quite the same as the first center, however they are doing the best they can. The "teacher" in this center is again the mother of one of the children and has no real training. The children are pushed to the center in wheelchairs over the rugged roads or carried. Before the centers were established, these children just stayed at home. The rent for this center is too high so they are looking for another facility.


At Kiborlioni center we met:

Mama Gemma ~ the teacher


her daughter Gemma and her son Jackson who comes to the center in the morning with his mother and then goes to school around 10:30.





Mama Imani ~


Her son Imani and her daughter Angela who goes to school first and then comes to the center with her mother and brother.


Angela ~


Prosper ~


Calvin ~


Ugi time ~ porridge time ~ poverty and malnutrition are common in this country so porridge is an important staple for all school age children. However, it takes a major part of the morning to feed each of these children. We were able to help take up the slack today but normally some of the children are on their own while the teachers are feeding the others.








Mama Mary Moshi ~ center coordinator













Later in the afternoon, we went back to visit with Mama Elitha. Mama Roberti was not home last Saturday when we all got together so she invited us into her room today as a welcome. She served us more pineapple and more peanuts. She was also extremely grateful for the things we brought Roberti who is away at school. He finished primary school and then the government assigns children to a school that could be anywhere. Some are close enough for the children to continue to live at home ~ some have to go away and stay at the school. The government schools are "free" however the family must buy uniforms, books, pensils etc and if they can't afford to do that ~ the child doesn't go to school.

Then Elizabeth and Raehama asked us to come out. They explained to Dana that they have been waiting for years for us to come to Tanzania and they want to make us clothes!!!! So they measured each one of us ~ yes ~ John also ~ maybe we'll have outfits for the wedding after all!
OMG ~ can't wait to see this ~ but their generosity has no end.


Mama Elitha, Dana and Jessica from Upendo who came by to visit ~






We walked back to the hotel just in time for dinner ~ John is still pinching himself that he has good food to eat, a great place to sleep, hot water and electricity ~ it's a new Africa.

Moshi ~ Wednesday

Wednesday, January 22


This was Moria and Cocoa's last day. Moira still had some work to do so she headed to the office. Cocoa wanted to buy some art work so the rest of us walked around shopping.
After finding just the right piece, Cocoa returned and we continued.

Entering the little local grocery store gave us a chuckle because we never expected to see:
Frank's hot sauce ~


Or ~








Local food is quite cheap but his stuff was very expensive ~ the locals would never buy this stuff ~ only the visitors ~






the bakery ~ it smelled delicious ~ and the breads looked great too





We walked over to check out the old volunteer house where Dana has stayed in the past ~








She met old friends ~ the staff ~ and they all remembered her ~






The tent Dana preferred to stay in. There were only two people in a tent vs at least four in a room in the house and it was much cooler in the tent.



We continued walking and stopped at the Keys hotel for a soda and a look around ~



Lovely pool area but we all agreed we liked our hotel and our location better.




We still weren't sure about Felix so we kind of hung around but as it got later and later we figured we were incorrect about his dinner invitation and started discussing having an early dinner with Cocoa and Moira before they left for the airport.
But ~ low and behold ~ Dana's phone rang ~ it was Felix saying he was sending a car to get us in half an hour!!! We quickly got ready, were picked up and went to meet the family. There are seven brothers, one is the priest we all know from Portland, one is the groom in the wedding we will be attending our last weekend and this one whose house we were heading to.
We turned off the tarmac road onto yet another bumpy, rutted dirt road. When you get back into these villages things slow down and quiet down. Felix came with the driver to get us and when we arrived, his whole family ~ and then some ~ came to greet us. It is quite an event to have white people from America visit ~ never mind come to your home.
Dana has been there before and they welcomed her dearly. They do not treat her as a guest but a member of the family. John and I on the other hand are treated like royalty ~ not only are we from America, we are Dana's family ~ and that is a big deal for them ~ and we are honored.
First we had to have homemade mango juice made especially for Dana.
Next was banana soup, a traditional local dish John had been hearing about so he was happy to be able to try it. Then the main coarse: rice, ugali, greens, cucumbers and meat. This time the food was all prepared so they weren't cooking the whole time. Of course we had to get our food first and they never think we take enough.
Lastly, they asked if we wanted a cold Kilimanjaro beer. John and Dana accepted. I said I was fine without a drink but they insisted, so I ordered a coke. No one got up to get the drinks ~ we weren't really sure what was happening ~ finally the son comes back in with cold beer and cold soda ~ he went to the store to buy it! They have no refrigeration ~ no one does. Felix proceeded to have a warm beer and his wife a warm soda ~ that's how they like it.
Now that the meal was finished it was picture taking time ~

First we had ~

Lynn, John, the youngest boy, and the youngest girl, we aren't quite sure who the baby is but she was a cutie and very good ~


Then Felix ~


Felix's wife ~ not sure of her name ~






That is Felix's oldest son standing, not sure who is next but the baby's mother is next to Lynn ~



The third oldest ~ far right ~ (the second oldest child ~ daughter is away at college.)



I think you know him ~


Then the kids took the camera ~ they did a good job!

The third oldest ~



Oldest ~



Felix and his wife ~



Dana and the two youngest ~



The rubber band bracelets came out again ~ everyone made one and I left a bunch for them to make more.

Our driver arrived so our evening came to an end.
It was really a lovely evening and once again we were amazed at how welcoming, respectful and generous these people are. We will be seeing them all again at the wedding so it will be nice to have familiar faces.

PS ~ Felix said he talked to his brother, the Father and it was planned that we will have a one day coffee tour (not three days) and dinner one night after he arrives ~ we'll see.