Finally!

Okay, so a little money can go a loooong way. Earlier I wrote about when my project came to a standstill because the soil was contaminated. With my friend Raya’s generous donation(I just misspelled generous and wrote "generation donation"-actually an appropriate play on words since it will impact generations of people as well as the other meaning, to generate, as in to produce! I love a good play on words) I was able to purchase 600 soil bags and all the soil to go in them. This allowed me to be there to help plant the inside of the tunnel/greenhouse. Not only was it fun for me to participate but more importantly, it was exciting for the Jitihada farmer group and me to see this project to completion. It was two weeks ago that we planted these tomato plants. I only wish I could be around to watch them grow and be harvested.

It was a great last day at Kawe for me. I got to play a great game of catch with Dennis, Sylvester's middle child. I was able to actually do some physical work with the group filling the dirt with fertilizer and planting tomato seedling. I loved working with these people so very much and am incredibly proud of the work they are doing and that I got to play a small part in it.

I got some great photos too thanks to my bf Shaine. (photos courtesy of Shaine Jones Photography-except the last one, it's kind of obvious that I took that one)

Sylvester's children: William and Dennis. These kids are amazingly well behaved and sweet. I think we could learn a few things here in the west from developing nations when it comes to parenting. And in terms of material possessions; William is playing with mangoes and often Dennis is drawing in the dirt with a stick. And they are happy! Can you imagine!?!

Dennis and me after a rousing game of catch with a deflated ball. Look at all the bags of soil Raya bought!

Working hard in the tunnel planting and fertilizing. I saw one of these before I purchased this one and the tomatoes grow to the roof. Hopefully I will get photos of that from my colleagues in the future.

The Jitihada Farmers group in front of their tunnel before the drip kit was installed and bags were purchased.

Judgement

The concept of a “safe ride home” has been redefined here in Tanzania. Back in Canada, I am the person that insists on no drinking and driving. I work in a beer joint and anyone who has ever worked in a restaurant or bar knows that after work, drinks happen. I however, choose to drive to work and therefore I usually refrain from a drink or I at least limit myself to one and have been known to have Alex Wilson finish that one for me.

I am demanding when I drive. I insist that if I am driving someone that they put on a seat belt, if there are not enough seat belts then I don’t take everyone in my car.

In Dar things are much different and therefore I am much different as are my standards. When it is extremely dangerous to walk anywhere after dark, yet your sanity depends on a social life, you are often in search of a safe ride home. The rules of back home no longer apply. First off, I often take a bajaj with a driver that is a complete stranger. Who knows what he may be on, you do your best to find one who is sober but who really knows what he’s been up to earlier. Seat belts? HA! Well, there is no such thing in a Bajaj, because it is basically a tin can with a (faux) leather roof. Taxi, well, there are seat belts but they usually don’t work, and tend to be a bit scarier because they have the power to lock the doors, possibly locking you in. This is a sense of security when you know and trust the driver because it protects you from the dangers of the outside but when you don’t know him it can instill fear like never before. Add him taking a route you are unfamiliar with and you are assuming you are being taken to be mugged, raped, and maybe killed. Sorry, this is dark but it is my reality and it has been terrifying. This is not my imagination, these are things that happen here. So you take the precautions you can but so much is out of your control.

Bajaj and taxis are also hard to come by sometimes. For a demographic that needs to make any money they can, they are surprisingly selective about the hours they keep.

These are the reasons why the BEST option is to go with someone you know who is driving. Oh I love those nights. So much more relaxing. The thing with this option is that the driver is drunk. I guarantee it. They are my friends so I know. Certainly they are usually not obliterated but they have consumed far more than the legal limit. Now because of the above mentioned issues, everyone is seeking a ride with this friend who is driving. This means there are far more people in the vehicle than safety would dictate. Seat belts are definitely not an option and I have been in the boot (trunk/hatch) more than once due to my size. At the time it has been a very good option considering the alternative.

I am aware that this is an unsafe choice but given the alternatives, going with a friend who has had a few is far safer than the other options. What do I take from this realization? I suppose to be grateful that there are better options at home, that I have made it through 6 months unharmed, and to withhold judgement. Sometimes people do what they have to. Sure, it is not always the ideal choice but we are all human trying to get by and we do what we can. So when I see a family of 4 on a motorbike I no longer think "how irresponsible and unsafe", I think, "they are doing what they have to right now".


Judgement is an unkind action and incredibly arrogant. It assumes you are all-knowing. This simple act of willingly getting into a car where the driver has been drinking has opened my eyes to the fact that sometimes people do what they have to in certain circumstances. Also, I just want to point out reason number two hundred and thirty seven in the list of why Canada is amazing: I have never HAD to make this choice. There are always other, better options.

Culture break-Another Look at TZ

Okay so sometimes I love this place and sometimes it is maddeningly inefficient and disorganized. It was an adjustment for sure, but now I am pretty used to these things. So used to them that sometimes I forget how different it is than back home. Sooo, here are a few examples.


The other night I walked into the pizza place near my home. I’ve never gone there but thought it was time. The guy took my order and walked away without taking my boyfriend’s order. He wandered around, made a few phone calls and came back and said "sorry the guy who makes the pizza is not here, you cannot get pizza today".

Oh, of course, that makes sense. At a pizza place. With a neon open sign. Pleasure doing business with you Tanzania.

Leonard and his Bajaj outside my office this morning. The last time he'll take me to work. I'm going to miss seeing this guy every morning and afternoon. 

No one ever has change! Seriously, bank notes come in 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10,000. When you withdraw from the bank you get 10,000 notes. When you take a Bajaj it costs around 2000 to 4000 or more if you are traveling a greater distance (but generally a dollar to 2 dollars). When you buy lunch it costs about the same. But no one has change!!!! Even the movie theatre. The other day they did not have change so they simply wrote on the receipt that change was due and to try to get it after the movie.


Dala dalas. A dala dala is what the local busses are called. They look like large vans kind of. It is the main local transport. There is no such thing as a full dala dala. They have seats for about 16 people. This means NOTHING. People will cram in until they are sitting on each other and when there is no more room they will hang out the windows. Yesterday I saw dala dala full of people at the Maasai market and some of the passengers had purchased goats. Well you need to take you purchase home right!? So I watched them load 8 goats in the dala dala as well. Just another day at the market.


A few weeks ago when we went to Bagamoyo we took the dala dala. It is incredibly inexpensive. A two hour drive is less than it costs me to take a Bajaj from my house to the grocery store. The woman sitting in front of us kept reaching behind her looking for something, we realized her live chicken was at our feet. Throughout the ride it proceeded to move around and tickle my boyfriend’s leg. But for the most part, what a well behaved chicken, it didn’t make a peep until we stopped and the woman picked it up. I guess it prefers a dala dala ride to what it knew was coming next, dinner time.


Piki Pikis. These are motorbikes. They are everywhere and are used as a source of public transportation. So when you walk by a few motorbikes they say piki piki, and I say “no way, are you crazy?”. This is because there are no helmets, they weave all over the place, and are considered extremely dangerous. Not to mention (what’s with that term? by saying not to mention, I am in fact mentioning it. hmmm) not to mention that you have no control over where they could be taking you.

What I do like about these is that they have stereos. You always hear music when a piki piki goes by.


There are so so many more but that's all for now. It's my last day of work and I must wrap up a few things. Oh I really am going to miss this place:(