Update from Tanzania

click to enlargeHi everyone!

Wow, it’s been a long time since my last update! Our internet problems have continued since my last update, but I think we FINALLY got to the bottom of the problem and now we are back up and running. There’s so much to write about, but I’ll stick with a few highlights from the last month and a half . . .

I avoided it for as long as I could, but I did make my first trip to a Tanzanian hospital in the beginning of April. I had a pretty bad cough and sore throat for long enough that I gave in and went to a hospital to have everything checked out. I went to one of the more expensive hospitals because I think the local doctors tend to tell you that you have things you don’t, just to get you to buy medicine. After telling the doctor my symptoms, he took a throat swab, but didn’t do anything else. He didn’t take my temperature or my blood pressure. He didn’t listen to my chest and he didn’t look in my ears. Then three days later when I called for my results they told me that I had strep. I did start a round of antibiotics to be safe, but I still don’t believe I had strep because I haven’t had strep in 15 years, since getting my tonsil removed. Things got better for a while and then the symptoms returned. Through an extensive process of elimination, I finally figured out that my throat was hurting because I was leaving my ceiling fan on too high at night and drying my throat out!

It didn’t seem to make the news in the United States, but there was a large explosion in Dar on April 29th (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8024656.stm). I wasn’t close enough to be in any kind of danger, but I did hear it. Honestly, it didn’t faze me at the time, maybe because I’m just used to hearing the canons at Norwich!

May was filled with lots of traveling. I took some time off to travel west to visit Pommern, the village I volunteered in during my first two trips to Tanzania with Norwich. I hadn’t been there since June 2007, so it was amazing to see how things had changed in two years. I was only able to visit for a few days, but it was wonderful to be remembered by so many people. I also took a long weekend getaway at the end of May with my boyfriend, Martin, to visit the northern beaches of Zanzibar! We stayed at the same place I did last year called Sunset Bungalows and as you’ll see from the pictures, it’s a very appropriate name!

It was quite a cultural experience to watch the madness leading up to the Barcelona vs. Manchester United Premiership Championship football match on May 27th. Their love for football (soccer) is amazing. It was like watching the Super Bowl or the World Series. All the local bars set up extra TVs and everyone crowded around them. They don’t seem to care too much about the Tanzanian teams, but they are crazy about the European football clubs.

I made my first visit to the American Embassy at the end of May. Frances scheduled a meeting for us with Patrick Brown, the Community Grants Coordinator, to discuss grants that might be applicable to the Mapinga project. It was very difficult to get inside because Mr. Brown forgot to put us on the visitors list, but once inside it was beautiful and very cool to see.

Last Friday I attended the Miss Dar es Salaam beauty pageant/competition as a VIP guest. Art in Tanzania was one of the major sponsors and they asked me to go to take pictures for our magazine. It was quite an experience! In some ways it was like Miss America with the usual portions such as formalwear and swimsuits, but there was no talent portion!

I can’t believe I have just a month and a few days left before I come home! I get back on July 21st and yes, I am still coming home! I still don't know what's next for me. Now that I have internet back, I'm looking for jobs of various kinds and in various countries! I welcome any suggestions!

I look forward to seeing many of you in August,
Moriah