Funny sort of a week

It’s been a funny old week. Said goodbye to Annajane Ward, a lovely 20 year old from Michigan who puts the chavs of this world to shame. She’s a nursing student but works hard so that she can sponsor Zye at Walk in Love. She was only here for 10 days but she crammed a lot in. Mama AJ, you should be proud.

AJ (2nd right) with Ashley, Agnes-the cook at the Centre and Cassie at Agnes's food stand where she works on Saturdays to make extra money. An amazing woman

Welcomed Lori, mama Brianna, to the house after a long flight from Texas. She’s here for 6 weeks so I look forward to some long chats over a brew. Her 6, yes 6, crates of luggage failed to arrive with her but, fortunately they arrived the next day. She’s not doing a Posh Spice with endless suitcases, the majority of the stuff is for the centre, family and friends. Oh and she also bought me knickers that actually fit me, going down 3 dress sizes makes for extremely baggy clothes which can easily be replaced her, but the underwear, no, it just isn’t good. Thank you Lori   (no pics of the knickers, a girl has to keep some things private!)

Flew to Mwanza on Wednesday just an overnight trip to see the amazing work which is being done at Forever Angels. This baby home caters for all babies and has a great special needs programme. We learned a lot in the short time we were there. Thanks Lori for  arranging everything.

Lori with one of the babies, the amazing Monique, who is blind, having fun at the water table and Aubree with 2 more babies.

Owden, my landlord, informed me that the house is being sold but insists that the contract stands even though a lawyer has told me it doesn't. He told me the house was up for sale when I signed the lease so it was no surprise really. I’ve started to look for somewhere else, ideally I want to stay in the same area, but I’ve got at least 2 months to find somewhere. I’ll miss the mango tree in the garden but if I can get a more modern house it’s a small price to pay.

Came home on Thursday and this is what greeted me in the compound, there was a Masai woman close by but I've never seen them here before. Maybe they were collecting the grass which had been cut for fodder.

 

Finally, a picture of Peanut, why? Why not?

Until next time, I hope all is well with who ever has taken the time to read this. Thank you for taking an interest in my life as a volunteer at Walk in Love x

6 months on

It’s 6 months since I left the UK to start my new life in Tanzania. There have been some highs and one or 2 lows but it is definitely the place that I want to be at this time in my life.

I flew from Manchester to Nairobi, Kenya on 20^th November 2013 got a very expensive but worth it private transfer to Arusha, Tanzania on the 21^st November 2013 and settled into Kilahia Lodge as I started my search for a house. Thanks to friends in Tz I had several leads, the first place had no garden, I didn’t think that I needed one but looking out at a concrete wall and having nowhere to sit on my days off was not going to happen. I was shown several places too far from the main road/too isolated then I was shown what I called the Mango Tree house-2 bedrooms, secure fence, right price, all ready to sign up but at the 11^th hour the owners decided not to let it. Finally I was shown what is now my house above budget, 3 bedrooms rather than 2 but great location and secure. Ironically, it’s next door to Megan’s Resort. Over the past 5 months it has become my home, I am used to it’s quirks, love seeing the trees and hearing the birds in the morning. My friend, who came with me for 3 months left in February, I was grateful for his help but was almost glad when he went as I needed to start my new life on my terms. I then had a great house mate for a month she got transferred to Uganda after a month. In May a young American fellow vollie at the Centre moved in and is  staying until the end of the year. In October I have to decide whether or not to renew my lease for another year, not sure at this stage.

Visas-this has been one of the down sides, I still don’t have my 2 year visa, I have had a 3 month tourist visa, then a 3 month CTA-carrying out temporary assignment but I really need the 2 year class C visa. Hopefully this will happen soon otherwise it’s another CTA

Finance-I underestimated the cost of relocation. I had planned to save ££ before I came but due to Meg spending 2 more years at uni than planned and me being ill for 3 months before I left the UK the savings pot was substantially lower than I’d anticipated. That, having to pay 6 months rent in advance and my pension being paid a month late caused a few stressful moments. I was down to my last £100 when the NHS paid my first pension payment-after many phone calls. Alls well that ends well, everything is now in place and I can sleep peacefully knowing that I can afford to be here

People- I miss friends and family back in the UK emails, Skype and Facebook are not the same as sitting down with a brew putting the world to rights or just having a laugh. I have been away at some important moments in friend’s lives, I’m sorry for that Meg, Gill, Anita, Estelle and Michelle. I have met some great people here but vollie life is transient, people come and go frequently. I have met and said goodbye to some lovely people but it also means that we get to have some great goodbye meals.

Work- I have changed from being a mental health nurse in in-patient services to being a jill of all trades at a day care centre where 22 little people come whilst their mamas work and the cook makes meals for 35 people on charcoal stoves. I try to keep a check on the kid’s health and have been teaching basic first aid to the workers. I have managed to get the toilet refurbished, helped to get some soft play shapes and introduced a cause for concern recording system. There are no down sides to work, I love it

Health-I was pretty ropey when I came here but now I’m fit and well, have lost several kilos due to a healthy diet and walking miles. I can buy antibiotics and almost any medication over the counter. I’m due for a full MOT when I return to the UK in August, hopefully they won’t suggest that I am no longer roadworthy and need to be scrapped.

Over all it’s been a great 6 months, looking forward to new challenges and seeing Walk in Love go from strength to strength

Easter at Pangani-pure indulgence

This blog is purely about my fantastic few days at the beach

Left home early morning in the pouring rain to get the dala dala to town. Endless hassle at the bus station ‘you want Dar/Tanga/Barbati/Mwanza?’ Found Lucy and Brie already on the bus only to be told that we were transferring to another, obviously the companies were consolidating rather than running half full busses. So our carefully chosen seats went by the board and we were scattered throughout the bus. Lucy was convinced we would arrive at Tanga by 1.30, 2.30 at the latest. I had my doubts, these were well placed because we arrived after 4! Further hour and a half to the river crossing at Pangani, then another 45 minutes later we arrived at the Beach Crab resort at twilight but this didn’t stop Lucy and I running to the beach like 2 excited toddlers. After settling into our room, a beach bungalow made from coconut wood and matting with a salt water shower, we enjoyed a 3 course meal with the sound of the ocean in the background and a blue black sky lit up by nature’s lights-the moon and the stars

 

 Friday was spent walking along the beach scouting for places to eat and drink, we ventured out in the evening with the torch supplied by the resort only to see thousands of crabs scuttling along the sands. Part of the walk was in the water as the tide was still quite high. Great meal at Drifters, another at Mike’s Bungalow and the best meal of the trip was the beach barbecue at the resort. The lights were dim and we weren’t exactly sure what we were eating but is was pretty darn good and lots of it. I much prefer to eat fish than meat so I was in my element. Lucy fell in love with the waiter,who doubles up as a dive instructor,-see evidence, actually what she was doing was pleading for no more food.

I ventured into Pangani on a piki piki, I always said that I would not use one due to their horrific accident rate, but there’s little traffic on that side of the river and 15kms is too far for even me to walk. Interesting town, not in the least bit touristy, I spent a pleasant couple of hours wandering, watching the boat builders and chatting to the kids. The river crossing cost 8 pence each way-bargain! No ATM, nearest place to get cash is Tanga

 

Book of choice for this trip was the classic novel War and Peace, it’s actually a very good book but such hard work turning pages over to the sounds and smells of the Indian ocean but I did it. It remains a work in progress, 5 days is nowhere near enough time to even make a small dent in it. Rest was enforced as I’d, stupidly, trodden on a stick leaving a bit of a hole in the sole of my foot. Nature’s cleansing agent-the ocean-helped but it was pretty painful

On Easter Sunday there were decorated eggs on the breakfast table and small gifts of wooden eggs/bunnies. My bunny is now, earless, hanging from my camera

Tuesday morning we set off bright and early to go home, the kitchen staff made us a take away breakfast of sandwich, fruit drink and water. We stopped at a service station-not what you’d get on the M1 in the UK but there was a loo and food available, much needed on an 8 hour journey. The hustle and bustle of Arusha were not welcome sights or sounds but it is home-for now

Some random pics, I love natural shapes

 

 Great place, great company. Thanks to Lucy McMichael for arranging it

Busy times=late post, sorry

Apologies for the lack of posts lately, it’s been busy and I spent a great easter at the beach in Pangani, 12 hour journey in total with1, yes 1, loo stop but worth every bottom numbing minute. Definitely a place to return to.

                                                       Ema and Dolly

                                                             Zawadi

Visited my old place of employment, Cradle of love in Usa River, met up with some old faces who, 2 years ago were in the baby house and are now jabbering away. Ibrahim, Ema and Zawadi you are little stars. Ema had been home to live with dad but the relationship was not sustainable and he returned to Cradle, there are some people interested in adopting him, so fingers crossed

                   

                                                               Ibrahim

Said goodbye to Lucy McMichael on Friday, yet another example of the 20 year olds who never make the papers-hard working, helpful, open hearted, generous. Thank you for organising the Pangani trip and loving the kids for 3 months, you will be missed Ms Oosy

                                                      Dinner at Blue Ginger celebrating Cassie's birthday

Emmy saying goodbye to Lucy

Chiku presenting Lucy with her goodbye gifts

Introducing Mama Adriana who works as a mama at the centre. Her own daughter, Adriana, attends the centre, she lives close by in 1 room with her. She spends much of her time with the  pre schoolers doing activities and basic education. We are hoping to send her on a course to become the preschool teacher, she is keen to do this. We have found a course in a local college and are hoping to get a sponsor so that she can start in July. She is very helpful in translating for the other mamas whose English is poor or none existent  

So a pretty busy few weeks, diet has gone haywire with people leaving and celebrating birthdays but I'm back on track now, trying to lose those last few kilos

More next week-power and connection permitting x

 

Another week at Walk in Love and Njiro

A fairly quiet week at the mill. Most of the kids are doing great, little Emmy who tragically lost her mum last month is slowly getting used to eating. It’s been a struggle but still far better than having the poor little mite in hospital on a drip. Huge thanks to Juliana who has, literally, been a life saver. She has been wet nursing-breast feeding her. Her own son is a week younger and is still being breast fed so she agreed to help Emmy. Juliana gets extra meals and is, literally, saving this little girl’s life. How many mums would do this? Express milk and give in a bottle, yes but to actually breast feed? Juliana you are one in a million and we love you for it.

 

 

 Juma is talking, crawling everywhere and enjoying the taste of real food rather than just uji. He got stuck under the toddlers table but was not in the least bit bothered, just sat there and grinned until he was rescued.  Ema also loves the new tastes but sees no point what so ever in learning to crawl, people bring him toys to play with so why waste energy in going after them? No pics of Ema but will have some next time

 

Booked to go to the coast over the easter week end-thanks Lucy. It’s a long bus journey from Arusha to Tanga, then a dala dala or taxi to Ushongo Beach. Intend to do nothing more strenuous than read a few books, go for a few walks and watch the sun go up and down

Joeli saw the consultant paediatrician on Friday, after being prodded and poked by 3 doctors we were told that he is underweight and small for his age. No sh*t Sherlock, this is why he was taken in the first place. We have to keep a food diary for 5 days writing down everything he eats or drinks and whether or not he has diarrhoea, in 2 weeks time he will have blood tests and a chest xray to rule things out rather than diagnosing, poor little mite, he won’t be happy that day but it needs to be done.

Roof leaking, noticed this after a particularly heavy downpour on Friday night/Saturday morning resulting in a wet bedroom carpet. 1 phone call to the landlord, had to wait in all day for a fundi-workman to assess. He will fix it on Monday. I’m very lucky with having such a good landlord, so far he has fixed any problems which I’ve mentioned

Fridge decided to turn into a freezer and the freezer decided to turn into a cupboard. I decided to replace it with a new one. Electrical items cost more here than they do in the UK, a comparable fridge/freezer would be £40 less and I would not have had to pay £25 for a current stabiliser. Two days after I got it, power cut for 14 hours. Such is life in Tanzania

I have employed a dada to clean on a Saturday morning. Why don’t I clean my own house? Because this woman is struggling, she has a full time job, 2 kids and a disabled husband-no disability living allowance here. She would be embarrassed if I offered her money, this way she gets the money but works for it. When I mentioned it to her, her face lit up. I am paying her peanuts compared to what I’d pay a cleaner in the UK but a decent amount by local standards. She is very happy to be earning a little more each month. I’m paying her mid month so it is not so much of a struggle the week before her salary is due. Women helping women yet again

Finally, the kids all got new (to them) rain jackets and wellies, thanks to a campaign by Lucy Cottee. I bought a set for one of the older kids who does not come to the centre but is in need. OK, they are a little big but they will grow, Joeli's may fit him when he is 10 cos he just doesn't grow!

Next time I'll introduce you to some more of the amazing women who work their bums off for walk in Love xx

Joeli, Adriana and Nasra loving their new gear

Samweli and I in our wellies, he's 9 years old and nearly as tall as me! No I haven't got jodhpurs on, although it does look like it! Beige cut off trousers from the market.

Shite shirts, raising awareness and a long trip to Karatu

 

Shite shirts is a face book  page which  I follow, pics of folk wearing shite shirts, silly but it makes me laugh. I found this one in some donated clothing, it’s so bad that it’s good…..if that makes any sense. It also makes me look huge, which I’m not (anymore!). It made the WiL staff and fellow vollies laugh so it was worth humiliating myself for a few minutes.

 

Saturday was spent at the Mango Tree, a local bar, raising awareness of Walk in Love and showing folk what the tailors make, After expenses we did make some money but, more importantly, brochures were handed out and people are aware of who and where we are and what we do. Hopefully we’ll be doing more of these events in the coming months

 

Monday saw me at a local private clinic with little Joeli, taking him for a blood test, less traumatic than the government one where he would have had to wait and get very distressed. His iron level has improved but he has lost weight and  now has pneumonia. Next stop is Dr Matthews, a paediatrician at a private hospital

Tuesday bought a 2 ½ hour trip out to Karatu to see Mama Teddy and the girls. She was drunk, Teddy is supposedly at her sister’s in Arusha but Irene was there. She appeared to remember me and loved the biscuits which I’d baked for her. She looked scruffy and dirty but seemed healthy, we bought dry goods, vegetables, dried fish and paid the rent for 2 months. Is this family viable? Time will tell, we will increase the frequency of the visits and monitor the family closely. There is a ‘brother’ of mama Teddy on the scene and he has promised to keep an eye on this little family. These little girls deserve so much more I could have posted a sweet picture of Irene, but she pulls such funny faces that I decided to include this one

 

Finally this week we said goodbye to Lucy C at Shanga restaurant in Arusha, a fellow volunteer and great supporter of Walk in Love. This is the down side of vollie work-getting to know folk then having to say goodbye. She is a shining example of the youth of today, at 21 years old she has been acting director whilst the boss is in the States and has worked her socks off over the past 3 months. We always hear the bad things about the younger generation in the UK-getting drunk, work shy etc etc but what about the Lucys of this generation? They don’t make the headlines in the national press, although they should. Thanks to her one little girl’s life has been changed, she saw a need, raised awareness now 11 year old Eleanezer has a future. Lucy you are very much loved and will be missed. Sorry about embarrassing you Lucy, but credit should be given where it's due

I wonder what next week will bring? Rain for sure x

More Girl Power-sorry boys

Introducing Agnes, the amazing cook at Walk in Love. Everyday she makes porridge for the kids, chai for the workers, lunch for more than 30 people, prepares fruit for the kids, more porridge and snacks for the cause for concern kids, all on 2 charcoal stoves, she also goes to market to buy the fresh vegetables, some weekly, some daily. Plus she has to put up with an off beat volunteer (me!)  telling her that I’m going to give the small babies piri-piri-chilli sauce. Don’t worry, I’m not. She does all of this for around £60 per month. Her grand daughter attends the centre so that her daughter can work. The world is a better place with Agnes in it. The pic shows Agnes with the last of the mangoes from the tree in my garden, the majority were taken to the centre for the children, although I have eaten a fair few myself!

 

Heaven is the 11 year old daughter of a lady who I worked with at the baby home several years ago. I knew that mum had it tough but it has only recently dawned on me how tough. She is determined that Heaven should have a good education so sends her to an English Medium School rather than to a government school. By the time she has paid the fees and her rent she is left with less than £20 per month to cover everything including bills, school uniform and food. In January I took over paying  Heaven’s school fees, 2 months later both mum and daughter look healthier, happier and have put on weight. Obviously they were cutting back on food to make ends meet. Mum states that by the end of this month she will be out of debt for the first time in years and will be able to save a little from April. No family tax credit here if you are on a low wage. Debt is crippling no matter what country you live in but at least in the UK education and healthcare are, mostly, free at the point of need and we have a reasonable social welfare system.

 

Marie moved into her new home on Sunday. She went to visit the original room which I’d paid the deposit on but discovered that the roof leaked and she was not standing for it. She demanded and got a refund and found another room within budget, she is determined to pay me back the money which I’ve loaned her within 2 months and has plans on how she can increase her income. Thanks to Joan Hamer and other kind people her home has all that she needs for now, it’s simple but it’s her own front door. I’ll update this blog when I hear any news, maybe she’ll be the first McDonald’s franchisee in Arusha? Hope not, the food here is much better than that!

 

Some wonderful American ladies visited the centre and gave us rice, lentils and many bags of clothes and bedding. Some were given to the workers, others we saved for people in need who visit the centre. Here are some pics of Myasa and Chiku modelling their clothes. Yet another story of women helping women less fortunate than themselves. Asante Sana

 

First swhaili lesson this week, boy have I got a lot to learn, even have homework to do. I can tell someone that I am a nurse  that I live in Njiro but I still don’t know what 12 is! Oh and I know which is the women’s toilet now-preventing any potentially embarrassing situations

Until next week, this is Dolly saying, or rather trying to say, kwa heri