A lot to catch up on...(week of July 16-22)
Sorry I haven't posted in soo very long. I've been really busy these last couple weeks but I brought my journal with me and I have a lot of time so I will try to catch everyone up...
So let me start with the Sunday that Jack and I went to church in Boma. I met him in the morning and we headed down some dirt roads to a small Assemblies of God church. Jack talked with a member and she told us the schedule-that now (9:30a) they were praying and then at 10a was Sunday school followed by the main service at 11a. We sat in on the Sunday school which adults attend as well as children. I thought that was a great way to do it because adults need to learn about the teachings also. Jack told me later a little about what was said because everything was in Swahili so I didn't really understand any of what they were saying. The main service lasted about 2 1/2 hours. In the middle of it, Jack said that we have to stand and introduce ourselves--Jack said say.... (something in Swahili) and I said there's no way I'm going to remember that! So i just stood with him and he said I could just say who I am in English. I was the only mzungu in the entire congregation-but everyone was very welcoming and didn't really stare or anything like that. Later in the service, they introduced a couple that had just gotten engaged! They sat on opposite sides of the church which Jack said is customary. After they introduced them, the Pastor said something I didn't understand of course and then everyone turned around and was looking right at Jack & I! Turns out, Jack told me later, that they were teasing that Jack & I were another young couple! When the service ended, everyone headed out of the church and you shake every person's hand and form a large circle, all the while singing-what a great way to end a service. The singing and dancing at this church was amazing. They had a keyboard and guitar also. Everyone here prays out loud which is something I am not use to. I really wish sometimes I could understand more Swahili. Jack & I went to lunch after in Boma and then I headed home to rest up for a busy week.
That Monday, I was to meet with Jack in Boma early in the morning. When I arrived, he was there with Pastor Frank and explained that he had to go to Tindegarney with the American team to build a house for a Masai mama. I was really disappointed, not only because we get along well but because there was a lot of work on the shower room at Pilgrim. But, Pastor Frank helped me buy materials and such that morning with one of the fundis. I then waited the entire afternoon to go to Moshi with one of the LIA staff to buy mattresses for Malika and the new cabin at Pilgrim. Many of the children wet the bed, even when they get older, so you have to get mattresses covered with a material that's like leather/vinyl that can be easily cleaned. I ended up waiting all day but they never showed up.
That Tues, I went to Arusha with some other volunteers to go see the Rwandan genocide trials being held there. I had been wanted to go watch the tribunal the entire time I have been here. It's about a 1 1/2 hour bus ride there. We finally found where they were being held and they were on recess...until Aug 14th! (and I leave on the 9th!). I was thinking about changing my flight date but decided not to. We went around Arusha the rest of the day. We went to the the Masai market which I had envisioned as being a lot of Masai mamas with jewelry, etc. We got there and it really is just a tourist attraction. I only saw a few Masai women. Every person was in your face saying "Karibu dada" ("welcome sister") and trying to bargain with you and such. There are no prices on anything here so you always have to ask and they always quote you about 4 times what it really is. I'm not the bargaining type and I get really frustrated and overwhelmed with people in my face all the time trying to sell things. So, I did one quick lap through the market and then sat on the curb outside with another volunteer (Reike, from Germany) who was also overwhelmed. We finally got to the bus station after a long walk to and from Shop Rite (a big western grocery store). One the bus ride back, we came upon an accident just past Boma. It looked pretty bad and I was with some med students from England so when our bus pulled over, they went to go see about it. I stayted on the bus to make sure that it didn't drive off without them. It was already dark and there were some other cars stopped, but no emergency vehicles. Apparently you can call 112 for an ambulance but no one could get through. Usually, someone just puts the person in their truck and takes them to the nearest hospital. I've only seen an ambulance-like vehicle twice while I've been here. (They are small SUVs with red crosses on the side.) It made me so thankful of all the support we have in the U.S. Really, that the only safety concerns I have here--it's not getting sick or attacked or anything--it's getting in a car accident. The driving is really bad here and people don't use seatbelts or their lights all the time. And if you're in an accident you just hope that someone is nice enough to stop and take you to the hospital and then hope that at the hospital they know what they're doing. As much as is wrong about healthcare in the US, there is a lot that is really great.
On Weds, I met Michael (one of the fundis) in Boma to go to Moshi to get toilet tanks. We walked all around Moshi & finally decided that we would have to get plastic flush tanks instead of metal (there were no metals ones anywhere , except one that looked to be about 20 yrs old). We finally headed back to Boma to buy a couple more things and the toilet tanks that weren't there before were there in Boma! Oh well, I had a nice time with Michael anyway in Moshi. His English is not very good but enough that we communicate a bit. I found out that he is a single dad raising his daughter on his own. His daughter's mother (Michael's ex-wife) is remarried, so Michael takes care of her. He was telling me how expensive school is and things like that. His wages are TSh 5,000/day which is about US $4/day! I still can't get use to how cheap labor is here. Now, everything else is cheaper than the US but 5,000/day is still not very much but is the going rate for fundis. In the afternoon, one of the LIA staff was able to show me where to get the mattresses in Moshi so I went to Moshi a second time and ordered the mattresses to be covered. That night, the New Castle med students who I collaborated with on the new cabin were planning to have a BBQ at Pilgrim. I had asked them all week if they had talked to the staff at Pilgrim to figure out if they had enough food, etc. I resisted taking charge of it bc it was their BBQ bc they were leaving the next day. And I figured there were 9 of them that someone would figure it out. I even asked that morning if they knew there are 40-some boys that live there...So, I show up and sure enough they thought the mamas were going to cook and they would just add to it, but the mamas thought they didn't have to cook...so there wasn't enough food. The boys ended up all having some but there was hardly enough for the staff and none for the volunteers. (I had brought a snack anyway bc I knew something would probably happen). So we headed home in a matatu we had rented. When we got a little past Boma, we had a flat tire. I was sitting in the very back and heard it but figured they would pull over as soon as they had a shoulder. The other girls freaked out and thought there was a fire and started yelling and trying to get out of the car. The car pulled over and they all jumped out of the matatu and I just calmly walked out. Turns out it was the taillight that they thought was a fire! They repaired the tire but had to go put air in it. About 45mins later they returned with a cattle truck-just like safari!!! So all 13 of us hopped in the back and we were off. We stopped for petrol and the look on the face of the guy working there was priceless--a truck full of wazungu! But we made it home safely...
Thurs I went to Moshi to do some errands. I had to change my malaria medication bc I was reacting to the doxyclin I had been taking. In some people, it causes photo-sensitivity-so that if you're in the sun you get really red and itchy and suntan lotion doesn't help. I finally found a Duka la Dawa (pharmacy) and bought some new medication that one of the 4th yr med studetns recommended. Many other volunteers have had the same problem with doxy. After about a week off doxy I finally felt like myself again. I bought some more materials for Pilgrim with Pastor Frank and then headed to Pilgrim to do some work. Jack finally returned later that afternoon from Tindegarney and told us about his time there--sounded like he did a lot of work! And he missed our work at Pilgrim bc our fundis are so hard-working and such. Jack & Frank came that night to Mailisita for dinner by the American team that Jack helped out. Hannah & Rosie (2 volunteers from the UK) cooked that night so the kitchen staff had the night out. Dada Anna looked so cute dressed up I almost didn't recognize her! I think they had a great time and we had fun in the kitchen. I served the icecream and realize that I am not good at portion control with that;-)!
One Friday, I woke up feeling really sick. I was supposed to meet Jack and the electrician fundi, Adam, at 9a but I finally decided that I better not and sent a volunteer going to Boma with money to give Jack to buy materials so they could get started. I thought maybe I could head to Pilgrim later that day. I still felt sick after eating lunch so decided to just stay in for the day. I found out later that night that the girl I sent with money never met up with them! I think she thought they weren't there but they had been waiting for 2hrs! I felt awful to have people wait on me but to get to Boma is a 45min matatu ride which is real tough when you're sick...so I just prayed that I would feel better the next day. I did feel better on Sat and headed to Pilgrim to do some work! Jack & I did landscaping at Pilgrim in the morning--pruning and weeding and painting rocks to make a pathway. Then Adam showed up and the 3 of us set off on Adam's bike to go to Boma!!! Nienke took a picture of it and so I hope she sends me a copy. We didn't have to go too far before a matatu came that took us the rest of the way. We bought materials for the electrical work and Jack & I looked at some plants for Pilgrim but decided to buy some later. We headed back to Pilgrim and worked more on the landscaping and playing with the boys. I brought my IPOD and speaker and it was so much fun having music while we did work. Felix was dancing so much too!
(I'm going to put the next week on another post)
So let me start with the Sunday that Jack and I went to church in Boma. I met him in the morning and we headed down some dirt roads to a small Assemblies of God church. Jack talked with a member and she told us the schedule-that now (9:30a) they were praying and then at 10a was Sunday school followed by the main service at 11a. We sat in on the Sunday school which adults attend as well as children. I thought that was a great way to do it because adults need to learn about the teachings also. Jack told me later a little about what was said because everything was in Swahili so I didn't really understand any of what they were saying. The main service lasted about 2 1/2 hours. In the middle of it, Jack said that we have to stand and introduce ourselves--Jack said say.... (something in Swahili) and I said there's no way I'm going to remember that! So i just stood with him and he said I could just say who I am in English. I was the only mzungu in the entire congregation-but everyone was very welcoming and didn't really stare or anything like that. Later in the service, they introduced a couple that had just gotten engaged! They sat on opposite sides of the church which Jack said is customary. After they introduced them, the Pastor said something I didn't understand of course and then everyone turned around and was looking right at Jack & I! Turns out, Jack told me later, that they were teasing that Jack & I were another young couple! When the service ended, everyone headed out of the church and you shake every person's hand and form a large circle, all the while singing-what a great way to end a service. The singing and dancing at this church was amazing. They had a keyboard and guitar also. Everyone here prays out loud which is something I am not use to. I really wish sometimes I could understand more Swahili. Jack & I went to lunch after in Boma and then I headed home to rest up for a busy week.
That Monday, I was to meet with Jack in Boma early in the morning. When I arrived, he was there with Pastor Frank and explained that he had to go to Tindegarney with the American team to build a house for a Masai mama. I was really disappointed, not only because we get along well but because there was a lot of work on the shower room at Pilgrim. But, Pastor Frank helped me buy materials and such that morning with one of the fundis. I then waited the entire afternoon to go to Moshi with one of the LIA staff to buy mattresses for Malika and the new cabin at Pilgrim. Many of the children wet the bed, even when they get older, so you have to get mattresses covered with a material that's like leather/vinyl that can be easily cleaned. I ended up waiting all day but they never showed up.
That Tues, I went to Arusha with some other volunteers to go see the Rwandan genocide trials being held there. I had been wanted to go watch the tribunal the entire time I have been here. It's about a 1 1/2 hour bus ride there. We finally found where they were being held and they were on recess...until Aug 14th! (and I leave on the 9th!). I was thinking about changing my flight date but decided not to. We went around Arusha the rest of the day. We went to the the Masai market which I had envisioned as being a lot of Masai mamas with jewelry, etc. We got there and it really is just a tourist attraction. I only saw a few Masai women. Every person was in your face saying "Karibu dada" ("welcome sister") and trying to bargain with you and such. There are no prices on anything here so you always have to ask and they always quote you about 4 times what it really is. I'm not the bargaining type and I get really frustrated and overwhelmed with people in my face all the time trying to sell things. So, I did one quick lap through the market and then sat on the curb outside with another volunteer (Reike, from Germany) who was also overwhelmed. We finally got to the bus station after a long walk to and from Shop Rite (a big western grocery store). One the bus ride back, we came upon an accident just past Boma. It looked pretty bad and I was with some med students from England so when our bus pulled over, they went to go see about it. I stayted on the bus to make sure that it didn't drive off without them. It was already dark and there were some other cars stopped, but no emergency vehicles. Apparently you can call 112 for an ambulance but no one could get through. Usually, someone just puts the person in their truck and takes them to the nearest hospital. I've only seen an ambulance-like vehicle twice while I've been here. (They are small SUVs with red crosses on the side.) It made me so thankful of all the support we have in the U.S. Really, that the only safety concerns I have here--it's not getting sick or attacked or anything--it's getting in a car accident. The driving is really bad here and people don't use seatbelts or their lights all the time. And if you're in an accident you just hope that someone is nice enough to stop and take you to the hospital and then hope that at the hospital they know what they're doing. As much as is wrong about healthcare in the US, there is a lot that is really great.
On Weds, I met Michael (one of the fundis) in Boma to go to Moshi to get toilet tanks. We walked all around Moshi & finally decided that we would have to get plastic flush tanks instead of metal (there were no metals ones anywhere , except one that looked to be about 20 yrs old). We finally headed back to Boma to buy a couple more things and the toilet tanks that weren't there before were there in Boma! Oh well, I had a nice time with Michael anyway in Moshi. His English is not very good but enough that we communicate a bit. I found out that he is a single dad raising his daughter on his own. His daughter's mother (Michael's ex-wife) is remarried, so Michael takes care of her. He was telling me how expensive school is and things like that. His wages are TSh 5,000/day which is about US $4/day! I still can't get use to how cheap labor is here. Now, everything else is cheaper than the US but 5,000/day is still not very much but is the going rate for fundis. In the afternoon, one of the LIA staff was able to show me where to get the mattresses in Moshi so I went to Moshi a second time and ordered the mattresses to be covered. That night, the New Castle med students who I collaborated with on the new cabin were planning to have a BBQ at Pilgrim. I had asked them all week if they had talked to the staff at Pilgrim to figure out if they had enough food, etc. I resisted taking charge of it bc it was their BBQ bc they were leaving the next day. And I figured there were 9 of them that someone would figure it out. I even asked that morning if they knew there are 40-some boys that live there...So, I show up and sure enough they thought the mamas were going to cook and they would just add to it, but the mamas thought they didn't have to cook...so there wasn't enough food. The boys ended up all having some but there was hardly enough for the staff and none for the volunteers. (I had brought a snack anyway bc I knew something would probably happen). So we headed home in a matatu we had rented. When we got a little past Boma, we had a flat tire. I was sitting in the very back and heard it but figured they would pull over as soon as they had a shoulder. The other girls freaked out and thought there was a fire and started yelling and trying to get out of the car. The car pulled over and they all jumped out of the matatu and I just calmly walked out. Turns out it was the taillight that they thought was a fire! They repaired the tire but had to go put air in it. About 45mins later they returned with a cattle truck-just like safari!!! So all 13 of us hopped in the back and we were off. We stopped for petrol and the look on the face of the guy working there was priceless--a truck full of wazungu! But we made it home safely...
Thurs I went to Moshi to do some errands. I had to change my malaria medication bc I was reacting to the doxyclin I had been taking. In some people, it causes photo-sensitivity-so that if you're in the sun you get really red and itchy and suntan lotion doesn't help. I finally found a Duka la Dawa (pharmacy) and bought some new medication that one of the 4th yr med studetns recommended. Many other volunteers have had the same problem with doxy. After about a week off doxy I finally felt like myself again. I bought some more materials for Pilgrim with Pastor Frank and then headed to Pilgrim to do some work. Jack finally returned later that afternoon from Tindegarney and told us about his time there--sounded like he did a lot of work! And he missed our work at Pilgrim bc our fundis are so hard-working and such. Jack & Frank came that night to Mailisita for dinner by the American team that Jack helped out. Hannah & Rosie (2 volunteers from the UK) cooked that night so the kitchen staff had the night out. Dada Anna looked so cute dressed up I almost didn't recognize her! I think they had a great time and we had fun in the kitchen. I served the icecream and realize that I am not good at portion control with that;-)!
One Friday, I woke up feeling really sick. I was supposed to meet Jack and the electrician fundi, Adam, at 9a but I finally decided that I better not and sent a volunteer going to Boma with money to give Jack to buy materials so they could get started. I thought maybe I could head to Pilgrim later that day. I still felt sick after eating lunch so decided to just stay in for the day. I found out later that night that the girl I sent with money never met up with them! I think she thought they weren't there but they had been waiting for 2hrs! I felt awful to have people wait on me but to get to Boma is a 45min matatu ride which is real tough when you're sick...so I just prayed that I would feel better the next day. I did feel better on Sat and headed to Pilgrim to do some work! Jack & I did landscaping at Pilgrim in the morning--pruning and weeding and painting rocks to make a pathway. Then Adam showed up and the 3 of us set off on Adam's bike to go to Boma!!! Nienke took a picture of it and so I hope she sends me a copy. We didn't have to go too far before a matatu came that took us the rest of the way. We bought materials for the electrical work and Jack & I looked at some plants for Pilgrim but decided to buy some later. We headed back to Pilgrim and worked more on the landscaping and playing with the boys. I brought my IPOD and speaker and it was so much fun having music while we did work. Felix was dancing so much too!
(I'm going to put the next week on another post)
posted by Jess at 4:10 AM
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