Feeling more at home

20th February, 2008

I say that, (feeling more at home) and actually do mean it. We are getting used to the pace of life here. The fact that the water and electricity are somewhat erratic doesn’t cause us too much hassle, we just use it when it is on, and so far it hasn’t been off for too long. Cold showers are good anyway when you are hot and sticky!

It was funny yesterday, after we had had our Swahili lesson with Joey, he took Donald into his placement which meant that I had a couple of hours here on my own – first time I think. So settled down with the laptop plugged in, music playing quietly from it, and got down to reading some of the papers I’d brought back from my placement (more about that later!). There was the constant sound of chickens and walking feet along the road outside our house – quite comforting sound when you get used to it – and I was getting along quite nicely. I knew there wasn’t any water as had had to wash my hair this morning from the water we’d saved from yesterday in a bucket. Then the power goes – so I thought, OK, I’d done what I could work wise, I’d sit and do my nails and read. Texted Jen to say, “hey no electricity or water now, its fun living in Africa – but no worries as I’m reading and doing my nails” (we like to keep in touch!) Her reply was “well why do you need power or water to do your nails!!” fair enough – she’s right.

I think that I am getting more used to the sounds of Africa/Mwanza. There is constant sound, but not the sort we are used to by any means. The motorway hum seems a long way off from here. We have dogs – they are particularly active at night, howling/barking/fighting, and sometimes all at the same time. When this starts I think it starts of chain of noise (like the twilight barking in 101 Dalmations) which goes all around the town – and back again!! Then we have the chickens, who do tend to be quiet at night, but they pretty quickly get going in the morning, at first light – or just before bless them. They carry on throughout the day and are joined by goats and the occasional cow. As a constant background to this, during the day, we have the slip slop of people walking along the road, chatting, or singing as they go, and then the cars and lorries trundle along too. They have to use their horns quite frequently to ensure that the goats, chickens and people get off the road to enable them to zoot past. So it is a cacophony of sound which is now becoming quite familiar.

Anyway – on to my placement. It’s day four of the first week, still very early days I know, but I fear that I still don’t actually know what they want me to do, or what I can do for them. I have some cynical thoughts that they are happy to have me – and have given me a desk in their office (which is a v small room 20ft x 12 ft) as a means to obtaining something more tangible. Part of our fee’s for volunteering go to the organisation we work with. We decide together what they need and what to spend it on, and - well maybe I should leave that thought there. I keep saying it is early days with them, and I must give them more time.

They are a group of really well meaning volunteers who try to obtain money from grants or donors. Their mission is to “be active participants in the search for lasting solutions for the severe economic and social problems which face the people in their daily lives" and so sometimes they put together some drama group which goes along to villages to put on a show to educate them about how AIDS/HIV is transmitted, or they organise workshops which are run by peer educators who they have trained.

They are volunteers who are at the office full time (Monday to Saturday morning), think they do get some expenses, if there is any money in the pot, and they all seem to do everything.

Looked at their systems (accounts/filing/etc) yesterday and we agreed that I may be able to help them a bit there. I went out and bought a new cash book and hope to be able to set them up with a system they can follow (me teaching accounts!!!!!) Anyway, we will see how today goes. Joey has said that he needs to come in with me one day next week and maybe things may be clearer after that. At least I have the greetings with them sorted now – I think!

So life is good out here – it is lovely to be around Jen and to get to know how her life is. She is very much at home here and very happy. She and Joey had their first interview with the priest yesterday. The wedding arrangements are coming on – the ceremony is now all going to be in the hotel where the party is, no church, but it is going to be conducted by the priest from Mwanza, who they both like and feel comfortable with. So that is great, Jen is so much happier about this and it seems that Joey’s family are too.

We are off to Moshi next weekend for a wedding – an Indian wedding (Joey’s best man is getting married to an Irish girl and they kindly invited us to the celebrations.) and so when we are there we hope to see both the venues and the hotels we will be staying in and get a bit more of the feel of the place. I will, of course, report back accordingly.

So had better do a quick bit of swotting on accounts before I turn up this afternoon – believe we are out with Jen & Joey again tonight – its all go!!

Love to all
Love J

PS – sorry about the emails (or lack of them) and the lack of photos on the blog – still haven’t had time to spend sorting the photo’s out, although I am getting the hang of internet café’s now, found a good (cool) quicker one just around the corner from my placement – so fingers crossed at some stage I might get it sorted.