Well, in the middle of a final week, the time seems to fly. Last night I had my last team dinner, which we have every week on tuesday nights. Everyone from all the different houses on the base get together at on families house, so its a full on feed, lots of kai from different countries etc.
It was nice because the team gave me some gifts (a Massai blanke, a kikoi, some african tea, and an nice African shirt) and said some kind things bout me and finally prayed for me and my future. Then we had desert as a bit of a finale'
Tomorrow I'm going to Magugu with Lynda, Patrick who is a Congolese pastor and his wife Rebbecca who is Australian. Its going to be great to have a last taste of Africa before bundling everything up, catching a bus, two planes, and (I guess) a van ride back to 13 Watea rd, Mt. Albert, Auckland, South Pacific, Southern hemisphere, the world, sitting in Gods hand.
This weekend I am going for a walk with Josh out to the village to visit Eframe (whom dad will remember). I will be getting up early Saturday morning to cook French toast for the Carstensens. By the way I have picked up a few African recipes which I will be trying out back home. Then after the morning at the base on Sunday, I will be catching the Impala bus up to Nairobi.
um, yup, so I don't think I will be updating my blog again unless I'm really bored, that is until I am back on Ateorua soil.
So, thanks for journeying with me, I'm sorry if the last few post have been a bit droll, thanks a million to those who posted comments and connected me with home etc.
-_- :D *) 8) (-_-")
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
saturday's a lazy day
Weelll,
I am totally over my stomach problems, and the sun is heating upi the atmoshpere here in Arusha. It was hot yesterday and it is proving to be hot today.
I've been giving guitar lessons, designing advertisements, working out new worship songs for the 'song book', spending time with my family over here, and reading.
I've been reading Katherine Mansfield's short stories and they are just fantastic, I highly recommend.
I have also been invited to go down to Magugu again at the end of next week(thursday and friday), which will be great. I will be finishing off the photos we didn't have time to complete last week, and it will really be the last thing I'll do before I leave.
Africa is such a huge place, but its easy to forget, because everyone is so local, and communal. When I look over the balchony in the evenings it seems such a normal landscape compared to the sight it seemed when I first arrived. I guess everything will look a bit different when I get back hoome, too.
I am totally over my stomach problems, and the sun is heating upi the atmoshpere here in Arusha. It was hot yesterday and it is proving to be hot today.
I've been giving guitar lessons, designing advertisements, working out new worship songs for the 'song book', spending time with my family over here, and reading.
I've been reading Katherine Mansfield's short stories and they are just fantastic, I highly recommend.
I have also been invited to go down to Magugu again at the end of next week(thursday and friday), which will be great. I will be finishing off the photos we didn't have time to complete last week, and it will really be the last thing I'll do before I leave.
Africa is such a huge place, but its easy to forget, because everyone is so local, and communal. When I look over the balchony in the evenings it seems such a normal landscape compared to the sight it seemed when I first arrived. I guess everything will look a bit different when I get back hoome, too.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Inescts, Africa, and only two weeks left!
Two weeks and I will be on a plane on the way home to NZ, God willing of course.
I'm really trying to make the most of my time here, especially spending time with the people here, like the Carstensens (who I live and eat with) and the Mooses (who live in the same house) and all the others. The training teachers are back to begin study tomorrow morning, and I can't wait to spend some more time with my African Brothers and Sisters. Hamisi, who I teach guitar to, has already organised a lesson for tomorrow via text message.
I saw a snake yesterday morning, the first I've seen in the wild here in Africa, although I've seen them before (in the wild) in China. It was just slipping into a rabbit hole as I saw it, brown and probably a harmless garden snake. I'm going to miss the lovely weather here I think, and the wild life, and the amazing smell after rain. But, before I get too sentimental, I better remind myself I have a whole two weeks left.
I am on antibiotics for this stomache problem, the doctor reckened it is bad bacteria. This is my third cycle of antibiotics since I have been here; One for every month!
The insects here are amazing. I was just sitting under a tree yesterday, reading The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White, and I began to notice the interesting insect life all arround me. The red earth was covered with browns crickets about half a fingers length in size, and they clicked their wings as the made huge leaps here and there. When they landed they often burrowed in the soft ground, or sat rubbing their legs together, looking constipated. I noticed a small bug that looked like a crayfish with no tail and it was perfectly camoflaged in the dirt but walking in my direction. I poked him with a stick and he immediately played dead, and stayed dead no matter what I did to him. I looked away for a minute and couldn't find him again as he looked so much like a piece of dirt. A centipede like insect with yellow stripes, and as small as a twinky fingernail, climbed up on a tiny clover and looked at me for five minutes. He was just building up the confidence to introduce himself when nature called me away. Pole sana
I'm really trying to make the most of my time here, especially spending time with the people here, like the Carstensens (who I live and eat with) and the Mooses (who live in the same house) and all the others. The training teachers are back to begin study tomorrow morning, and I can't wait to spend some more time with my African Brothers and Sisters. Hamisi, who I teach guitar to, has already organised a lesson for tomorrow via text message.
I saw a snake yesterday morning, the first I've seen in the wild here in Africa, although I've seen them before (in the wild) in China. It was just slipping into a rabbit hole as I saw it, brown and probably a harmless garden snake. I'm going to miss the lovely weather here I think, and the wild life, and the amazing smell after rain. But, before I get too sentimental, I better remind myself I have a whole two weeks left.
I am on antibiotics for this stomache problem, the doctor reckened it is bad bacteria. This is my third cycle of antibiotics since I have been here; One for every month!
The insects here are amazing. I was just sitting under a tree yesterday, reading The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White, and I began to notice the interesting insect life all arround me. The red earth was covered with browns crickets about half a fingers length in size, and they clicked their wings as the made huge leaps here and there. When they landed they often burrowed in the soft ground, or sat rubbing their legs together, looking constipated. I noticed a small bug that looked like a crayfish with no tail and it was perfectly camoflaged in the dirt but walking in my direction. I poked him with a stick and he immediately played dead, and stayed dead no matter what I did to him. I looked away for a minute and couldn't find him again as he looked so much like a piece of dirt. A centipede like insect with yellow stripes, and as small as a twinky fingernail, climbed up on a tiny clover and looked at me for five minutes. He was just building up the confidence to introduce himself when nature called me away. Pole sana
Friday, January 18, 2008
quick post
Hey, I have Only a quick chance to post today - Im going to dinner in a minute
i've been feeling decidedly sick today, and took the day off the work I'm doing.I'm going in to the medical center tomorrow...
Its really good to hear from Toni and Roger, I replied in the comments.
Ann and Grant Maxwell arrived at En Gedi today, whom some of you will know. I'm looking forward to meeting them again.
A black snake was seen and chased off yesterday, close to where I work everyday, possibly and spitting Cobra...nice huh?
Tensions and riots have increased in Kenya! Check out the NYtimes...
Ok, I'm off to eat some fried bannanas now, yum!
i've been feeling decidedly sick today, and took the day off the work I'm doing.I'm going in to the medical center tomorrow...
Its really good to hear from Toni and Roger, I replied in the comments.
Ann and Grant Maxwell arrived at En Gedi today, whom some of you will know. I'm looking forward to meeting them again.
A black snake was seen and chased off yesterday, close to where I work everyday, possibly and spitting Cobra...nice huh?
Tensions and riots have increased in Kenya! Check out the NYtimes...
Ok, I'm off to eat some fried bannanas now, yum!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Back form Magugu
I've been away from Arusha for the last two days. I went on a trip to the school connected with the Joshua Foundation started by Lynda Steevenson, but run by Tanzanian teachers in the town of Magugu called The Joshua Primary and Secondary School. It takes about 3 hours drive to get there, and a lot of it on a gravel road. Magugu is a hot little town, filled with people and cockroaches. The school is a pre-school, primary and secondary school, with form 2 being introduced this year. I went down with Lynda and a girl called Justine, the main reason being to take photos of every student there to send back to their sponsers (just like world vision does every year). We didn't finish the job, but got through a huge hunk. Its was HOT down there, nothing like this rather temperate Arusha which gets the rains coming down off Mt. Meru.
So it was a couple of days of pure African meals, and the accomodation Ngorongoru Hotel was typical of an outback guesthouse, with cockroaches which hiss at you when you go to use the log drop, not running water, and is a little notorious for theives. I enjoyed it though. The best part of the trip was just to spend time with all the kids, and practice a lot of swahili, especially saying 'Cheka' which means 'smile'. The kids really knew how to smile, too. They kind of exploded with huge cheesy grins. The kids struck me as being so unaware and naive, very amazed at the sight of Wazungu (Foreigners), especially if they were just new to the school, as the little kids might never have seen a white person before.
One of my friends, Immanuel, who I made at En Gedi, who is training to be a teacher, lives very close to the school and he came over and invited Justine and I to go to his house. Before we knew it we were being fed a full on dinner, with Ugali, chicken, and all. Justine, who was quite aprehensive of the whole thing was doing very well considering, until Immanuel seemed to expect us to eat some of the little fish called Telapia his sister had cooked. I wasn't feeling hungry after eating the chicken's neck, but he was obviously expecting us to eat a fish at least, so I suggested to Justine we split it. She said ok, and I cut it in half with my spoon, and gave here the top half, which was mostly head. She looked at me with a fixed grin and wide eyes, as if to say 'what are you doing', but I paid no attention and just did my part of eating the bottom half. Immanuel had no idea that we were struggling silently, and the whole situation was so funny I just about burst out laughing.
Anyway, there were many more interesting situations from the trip which I won't bother posting up here because I'm not feeling that well today, and have a tummy ache. I've had the Runs again, and although I'm gulping down the Charchol tablets which often do a good job of corking you up, I haven't had much fun the last three days. I think I have a cold as well, which is strange because it's definitely not cold.
Oh, yeah, we saw a dead Hyena on the road on the way back home. We though it was a pig, but as we drove past it was obviously a not a pig. Hyenas are huge and when they hunt in packs are more effective at bringing down prey than a pride of Lions, mostly due to their reliance on endurance and their extremely powerful jaws. I was surprised to hear from Lynda that they used to get Hyenas on the base a recently as two years ago! They used to wander up from the stream, walk up the path and get into the rubbish. Man!
Another thing to note is that the minnimum wage has gone up 300 percent since the beginning of Janurary which is crazy. Actually Engedi was already paying staff that and a little more, but the over all effect will thing in shops and food etc becoming more expensive in general the the very poor who earn less than 1$ a day will have an even harder time at buying things, or at least much more limited. It may not seem so bad, but its sure to have significant effect.
So it was a couple of days of pure African meals, and the accomodation Ngorongoru Hotel was typical of an outback guesthouse, with cockroaches which hiss at you when you go to use the log drop, not running water, and is a little notorious for theives. I enjoyed it though. The best part of the trip was just to spend time with all the kids, and practice a lot of swahili, especially saying 'Cheka' which means 'smile'. The kids really knew how to smile, too. They kind of exploded with huge cheesy grins. The kids struck me as being so unaware and naive, very amazed at the sight of Wazungu (Foreigners), especially if they were just new to the school, as the little kids might never have seen a white person before.
One of my friends, Immanuel, who I made at En Gedi, who is training to be a teacher, lives very close to the school and he came over and invited Justine and I to go to his house. Before we knew it we were being fed a full on dinner, with Ugali, chicken, and all. Justine, who was quite aprehensive of the whole thing was doing very well considering, until Immanuel seemed to expect us to eat some of the little fish called Telapia his sister had cooked. I wasn't feeling hungry after eating the chicken's neck, but he was obviously expecting us to eat a fish at least, so I suggested to Justine we split it. She said ok, and I cut it in half with my spoon, and gave here the top half, which was mostly head. She looked at me with a fixed grin and wide eyes, as if to say 'what are you doing', but I paid no attention and just did my part of eating the bottom half. Immanuel had no idea that we were struggling silently, and the whole situation was so funny I just about burst out laughing.
Anyway, there were many more interesting situations from the trip which I won't bother posting up here because I'm not feeling that well today, and have a tummy ache. I've had the Runs again, and although I'm gulping down the Charchol tablets which often do a good job of corking you up, I haven't had much fun the last three days. I think I have a cold as well, which is strange because it's definitely not cold.
Oh, yeah, we saw a dead Hyena on the road on the way back home. We though it was a pig, but as we drove past it was obviously a not a pig. Hyenas are huge and when they hunt in packs are more effective at bringing down prey than a pride of Lions, mostly due to their reliance on endurance and their extremely powerful jaws. I was surprised to hear from Lynda that they used to get Hyenas on the base a recently as two years ago! They used to wander up from the stream, walk up the path and get into the rubbish. Man!
Another thing to note is that the minnimum wage has gone up 300 percent since the beginning of Janurary which is crazy. Actually Engedi was already paying staff that and a little more, but the over all effect will thing in shops and food etc becoming more expensive in general the the very poor who earn less than 1$ a day will have an even harder time at buying things, or at least much more limited. It may not seem so bad, but its sure to have significant effect.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Democracy by other means
Just read an interesting column by Aidan Hartley, of whom I read a great book called The Zanzibar Chest.. He gives a clearer perspective than most commentators, maybe because he has spent most of his life reporting all over the continent of Africa, here.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
life goes on
Check out this funny blog post from the Owens family who have recently moved here to en Gedi from Canada here under the post Wednesday, 19th of Jan. The roundabouts here are called keplefti...keep lefti? They also say 'I say' when they are making an exclamation in Swahili, but don't understand they probably got it from the British.
I've been going for runs with some of the guys on the base, and it is really challenging as we are 1000 feet above sea level, and the higher altitude is harder on your lungs. but at last i am getting used to it, and its just great to run through the farms and villages around and greet the people, pumping away on the red dirt and dust and dodging cattle and overloaded trucks on the road.
pity I can't post any photos, but the server won't allow me to :(
(if you leave a comment I will reply, Just check the comments section on the bottom of the post upon which you commented. Confusing?)
I've been going for runs with some of the guys on the base, and it is really challenging as we are 1000 feet above sea level, and the higher altitude is harder on your lungs. but at last i am getting used to it, and its just great to run through the farms and villages around and greet the people, pumping away on the red dirt and dust and dodging cattle and overloaded trucks on the road.
pity I can't post any photos, but the server won't allow me to :(
(if you leave a comment I will reply, Just check the comments section on the bottom of the post upon which you commented. Confusing?)
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Kenya - pray
On anther note from my previous post, please pray for Kenya. It really is getting pretty intense over there and it is effecting things here in Tanzania, as they are our neighbors. just check out this article from today:
here
Nairobi is literally two to three hours away from Arusha, where I am at the moment. We are their closest city outside Kenya, and there is a bit of a fuel shortage here in East Africa because of the violence. My ticket actually leaves from Nairobi airport, so there might be a problem with my flight home, I hope not though! The government is not being smart, and i was surprised to find that the Kenyan politicians are among the highest paid in the world! No wonder there someone is trying to hog he presidential seat. Needless to say the government is acting terribly, but there is a whole lot of cultural tension coming to the surface. Like people keep saying over here, we just "hope it isn't another Rawanda". We met some people who had been on a safari in Kenya and had to return through the streets amidst the gunshots, fires and angry mobs.
here
Nairobi is literally two to three hours away from Arusha, where I am at the moment. We are their closest city outside Kenya, and there is a bit of a fuel shortage here in East Africa because of the violence. My ticket actually leaves from Nairobi airport, so there might be a problem with my flight home, I hope not though! The government is not being smart, and i was surprised to find that the Kenyan politicians are among the highest paid in the world! No wonder there someone is trying to hog he presidential seat. Needless to say the government is acting terribly, but there is a whole lot of cultural tension coming to the surface. Like people keep saying over here, we just "hope it isn't another Rawanda". We met some people who had been on a safari in Kenya and had to return through the streets amidst the gunshots, fires and angry mobs.
§ Zanzibar §
Ah, its good to be back at En Gedi again, and have the internet working. I would have liked to post a lot more over the past week and a half, but the net wasn't working and then i went to Zanzibar and now, as happens, I have forgotten what I want to say. I find things come together in you head when you have time to ponder, but if you aren't quick to engrave them in your memory, or paper, they warp, slip this way and that and eventually escape the fingers of my mind. So...
Zanzibar! what an experience. It is a small tropical Island off the coast of Tanzania, which is on the east of the continent. The beaches are exquisite. White coral sand, blue and green water, tropical fish, snorkeling on the various reefs, sunbathing (and getting burnt), reading, eating quite a lot, sleeping quite a lot, swimming as much as possible due to intense heat, playing cards and talking with good company, all pretty much sum up the first five days at the norther end of the Island. I went with Jeremy (the leader of the Joshua foundation's son), Kendra (his girlfriend, and Joanna (one of the head teachers at the college). I am browner than i have ever been, although i don't think the tan will last until I get back, hheheh.
The fifth day day we went to a new hotel in Stone Town where we stayed for a day and a night. With it's white washed walls,winding alleyways, ancient, hand carved doors in Arabian style, beautiful mosques and cathedral, palaces, late night markets where you can fill up on a lot of fish for a cheap price, Stone Town has character. It has been around the block a few times, or maybe the block has been around it. It is also filled with tourists, but that can be positive because it means it is quite safe to walk the alleyways and basically get lost with no problems at all. I sat and drank some fresh coconut for amount 50 cents and had a good old chat with the locals, visited the site of the old slave market which was demolished and covered by a Anglican cathedral. It was just fun. I took lots of photos as well, although i wish i didn't have to and could just take photos with my eyes, because you never know how photos are going to turn out exactly.
Its good to hear home from family
-Hannah, I'm sorry to hear the bad news, but remeber i failed my restricted 3 time! Write me another email, I like the last one.
-Geoff, glad you are killing those cockroaches for me. I'm gonna bring home a mosquito net for sure :) Miss ya bro
-sorawit, are youi in Australia yet? How are ya man? whats been happening?
-Mum, good to hear from you, and to get some photos from the beach from aunti Toni, just to see you guys. Love and miss you.
-Dad, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!(sorry Im late)
-andy, good to her from you, thanks for reading. Hope you and family had a great Xmas. Thanks for prayers.
-theo, How are ya bro? Heard you got a new bike? awesome. I still haven't had a chance to dirt-bike. ~hope you plans for Japan are underway and going well :)
Zanzibar! what an experience. It is a small tropical Island off the coast of Tanzania, which is on the east of the continent. The beaches are exquisite. White coral sand, blue and green water, tropical fish, snorkeling on the various reefs, sunbathing (and getting burnt), reading, eating quite a lot, sleeping quite a lot, swimming as much as possible due to intense heat, playing cards and talking with good company, all pretty much sum up the first five days at the norther end of the Island. I went with Jeremy (the leader of the Joshua foundation's son), Kendra (his girlfriend, and Joanna (one of the head teachers at the college). I am browner than i have ever been, although i don't think the tan will last until I get back, hheheh.
The fifth day day we went to a new hotel in Stone Town where we stayed for a day and a night. With it's white washed walls,winding alleyways, ancient, hand carved doors in Arabian style, beautiful mosques and cathedral, palaces, late night markets where you can fill up on a lot of fish for a cheap price, Stone Town has character. It has been around the block a few times, or maybe the block has been around it. It is also filled with tourists, but that can be positive because it means it is quite safe to walk the alleyways and basically get lost with no problems at all. I sat and drank some fresh coconut for amount 50 cents and had a good old chat with the locals, visited the site of the old slave market which was demolished and covered by a Anglican cathedral. It was just fun. I took lots of photos as well, although i wish i didn't have to and could just take photos with my eyes, because you never know how photos are going to turn out exactly.
Its good to hear home from family
-Hannah, I'm sorry to hear the bad news, but remeber i failed my restricted 3 time! Write me another email, I like the last one.
-Geoff, glad you are killing those cockroaches for me. I'm gonna bring home a mosquito net for sure :) Miss ya bro
-sorawit, are youi in Australia yet? How are ya man? whats been happening?
-Mum, good to hear from you, and to get some photos from the beach from aunti Toni, just to see you guys. Love and miss you.
-Dad, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!(sorry Im late)
-andy, good to her from you, thanks for reading. Hope you and family had a great Xmas. Thanks for prayers.
-theo, How are ya bro? Heard you got a new bike? awesome. I still haven't had a chance to dirt-bike. ~hope you plans for Japan are underway and going well :)
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