Weeki Kumi Na Nne (Week Fourteen)

I started off week 14 with a visit (kizuru/ tembalaya) to the new (mpya) kitchen (jiko) site (mahali) with Mama Elizabeth, Mama Paskwalina and Mama Sabina so that we could meet with the Fence Fundi (builder) and feed and check on the cows (n’gombe). Once we arrived (tunafika) we met with the fence fundi and the people (watu) living (ishi) in the small community (jamii) right next to (karibu) the site to discuss some business matters. After talking for about 30 min, the Mamas finalized some documents and we went over to the site to feed the cows. I helped the Mamas unload huge burlap sacs full of grass (majani) and cow feed. It was particularly hot (joto sana) so the Mamas and I decided to take a break (pumziko) in the guardhouse. We sat together on the floor of the small shack (banda) and enjoyed some sugarcane (mua) that we bought from a nearby vendor (mchuuzi). The Mamas bought 3 huge stalks of suguarcane. We had no knife (kisu) so we had to use our teeth (majino) to peel the sugarcane husks off. I don’t know if most of you are familiar with sugarcane husk but its actually a pretty tough substance and it was really difficult to peel off just using my teeth. But the Mamas started munching away so I joined in hoping that I would not chip a tooth or anything. We sat on the floor for about half an hour (nusus saa) just chatting (ongea). About half way through our conversation Mama Paskwalina asked me if we grow sugarcane in Canada. I told her that we don’t and we talked about all of the foods (chakula) that are harvested (mavuno) and grown (makuwa) in Canada. It was funny (chekesha) because (kwa sababu) after (baddo) Mama Paskwalina asked (anauliza) me about the sugar can she said in Swahili, “Ninshangaza, unakula mua kuma Mbongo”, “Oh, I’m surprised, you eat sugarcane like a Tanzanian”. We all had a good chuckle about that. After our little break we headed back to town (mjini) on the daladala.
After my visit with the Mamas I went into town to the Foto King to print some pictures for Buswelu and Mtoni schools as well as for the Mamas. I find that pictures really mean a lot to people here since many of them have no pictures of themselves in their families (famalia) because the cost (bee) of cameras and developing the photos is way to expensive for the average person (watu wastani) here. So every time I take a picture of someone here I try to provide them with a copy.
After taking (chakua) the pictures in I headed to the market (sokoni) to try to take some pictures of the area to use for an upcoming WHE fundraiser that we are doing. I was a little bit weary of walking around snapping pictures at the market because first of all it put me at a bit of a risk for theft (wizi) and secondly (pili), many people (watu wangi) here in Tanzania really don’t like (sipendi) it if you take their picture (piga picha) without asking or paying them (which is understandable). So, I had to think of some creative ways to take the pictures I needed without losing my camera (kamara) or upsetting anyone (yoyote). By the way it is a little bit difficult (mgumu) to sneakily take pictures when you are a young white Mzungu in Tanzania so I ended up chatting to people for a while to convince them to take their pic. I also had to pay a few of the people to take a photo of them, from some vendors I bought some of their produce and some I promised to print their photo and bring it back to them. After a long afternoon (mchana) of attempting to get market photos, I had only succeeded in taking 4 (nne) photos so I decided to call it quits and try to get some more pictures another day (siku nyngine).
On the way home I stopped to run some errands and spent a bit of time at the internet café. When I got home the power (umeme) was out again so used up rest of my computer battery then studied Swahili by candlelight (taa ya msumaa).

On Tuesday morning I headed to Mabatini to the Yogurt Kitchen to pick up the profiles that the Mamas had written about themselves to put on our revamped website (www.wersternheadseast.ca). When I arrived, the mamas were sitting in a small meeting with the fence fundi. I sat quietly (kimia) and listened (skiliza) to the conversation. From what I understood (my Swahili is getting better every day!) I overheard that the budget for the fence was going to be about three times as high as we originally thought because of a mix up in communication. So, I asked the Mamas if what I thought they were saying was right. They let me know that I was right and that they were trying to negotiate the budget. Since many things are arranged verbally in Tanzania, I sat back and waited as the Mamas discussed the new budget with the fundi. After everyone had come to a consensus on the various prices of the fence materials, labour and transportation for the materials, I suggested that we formally write out the budget so that no one would get confused. Everyone agreed that that was a good idea so I assisted them in writing out a budget.
After my visit at the kitchen I came home and translated and typed put the Mamas profiles to send back home.
Later on that evening (jioni), Hassan, our housekeeper’s son came over for another computer lesson. This time I used word to help teach him some more English as well since he asked for my help with reading (soma) and writing (andika) English.

On Wednesday morning I headed to the kitchen to pick up the finalized fence budget and to meet the Mamas so that we could go to Saint Augustine University (SAUT) together. It was funny (chekesha) because when I walked into the kitchen, a man that had never seen me before asked, “mgeni ni nani?” “who’s the visitor?” and Mama Paskwalina said “Melissa siomgeni, wewe binti wangu na anafanya kazi hapo” “Melissa is not a visitor, she is our daughter and she works here”. It was really nice to hear that the Mamas think of me as their daughter…pretty cute!
After some of the Mamas (Mama Elizabeth, Mama Paskwalinia, Mama Leah and Mama Sabina) finished up some of their duties, the five of us headed off to SAUT to meet with George, Alex and one of the vendors at the canteen (cafeteria). The Mamas wanted to inquire about expanding their market to include a probiotic yogurt dispensary/ shop at the university campus and I had to visit the accountant to deal with some account business. On the way to SAUT on the daladala the conductor tried to rip me off (charge me extra) for the ride because he thought that I didn’t know the price of the trip. I knew that he was trying to do that and I was going to wait until I got off to ask for my change back but one of the Mamas noticed that he didn’t give me any change and boy did they give it to him. As pleasant (kufarahaisha) as the Mamas are, you don’t want to anger (hasira)four (nne) very strong African Mamas. It was kind of funny because the conductor was really embarrassed and I don’t think that he will ever try to rip off another mzungu again.
While George and I were at the accounts office, the Mamas started to discuss the options for opening up a kiosk at the canteen with one of the shop owners. Although sometimes the Canadian team initiates or proposes ideas or plans of actions to Tukwamuane, we like to make sure that the Mamas are fully involved in all the processes and activities associated with their project so that they can learn more skills and be fully sustainable on their own. After about thirty minutes of discussion, the kiosk owner expressed his interest in having the Mamas sell the probiotic yogurt at SAUT and said that he would look into the formal procedures for them.
After our meeting the Mamas and I headed back into town. I got dropped of at the big market so that I could head into town to get the membership cards for the people living with HIV/AIDS laminated. Although the lady who was working there instisted that I wait there until they were done because it would only take half an hour, it took 2 and a half hours for them to finish. I wasn’t worried or frustrated though because I have really got accustomed to the pole pole (slow) way of life here. Instead, I just chatted with the employees, other customers and studies the Swahili handbook that was in my purse. After my long visit at the printing ship I spent 3 hours catching up at the internet café. I had a ton of documents and pictures to send back to WHE Canada.
Later on in the evening after dinner, Miraji from Kivulini stopped by to make sure I was ok. It is funny, now that I am living alone in the apartment I have so many visitors. People around here hate the idea of anyone being lonely. I must be honest, although I miss them like crazy, I sure haven’t felt lonely since Ashley and Jon left. Soon after Miraji arrived, my friend Musiba (who runs the WW Talent Camp) came over to show me the ‘documentary’ that he and his team made about street children in Mwanza. Musiba explained to me that his team was acting in the movie but that the entire video was based on real life happenings, that is why he calls it a documentary. I was really impressed with the concept of the documentary as well as the acting involved in it. He told me that his next project is going to focus on explaining the issue of domestic violence in his community. I am always amazed when I meet with Musiba about how enthusiastic and driven he is to make a difference in his community.

On Thursday morning I headed off to Buswelu School once again to go with Headmaster Chinyele to pick up and paying the remaining balance on the desks that were donated by
Tecumseh Elementary School. I decided to go by daladala and pikipiki (motorbike) to save some money. It is always an adventure to get to Buswelu because it is a little far away and it is a very rural area. The daladala ride wasn’t bad at all, I actually got a swat the whole way there. Once I reached the main intersection (stand) I was dropped off and hopped on a pikipiki. It was a pretty hilarious ride because we ended up driving through a herd of cows that were blocking the road, dodging some goats that were in the way and at one point we had a swarm of children chasing us yelling Mzungu and waving at me. I’m pretty sure that these random, hilarious adventures around the Mwanza area are one of my favorite things about living in Tanzania!
Once I arrived at Buswelu school I met with Headmaster Chinyele for a little while and then we headed to the desk fundi to pick up and pay the remainder of the balance for the desks. On our way to the fundi we ran into the retired school teacher that I saw the last time I was at Buswelu. She was coming from the market and was very happy to see us. We stopped and chatted with her for a bit and she ended up giving a bunch of carrots as a gift and invited me to come to her house another day. I thanked her for the delicious looking carrots and off we went. Again I am always so impressed and touched by the generosity of people here. Like many other people who have given me small gifts, I know that the teacher has very little money but people here are always wanting to share and make you feel welcome.
When we arrived at the fundi he showed us the 13 desks that we were able to purchase from the Tecumseh Donation which will seat 26-30 students. The desks were handcrafted (as most things are here) and were beautiful!
After picking up the desks with Mr. Chinyele I headed back into town via daladala. I went to pick up some clothes that I had gotten made from the clothing fundi and later came home to edit some documents for Kivulini. I really enjoy assisting Kivulini (Women’s and Chidlren’s Rights Organization) with editing their documents because their documents are very informative and provide me with a better understanding of the local context in which in live. I really learn a lot when I help them out.
In the evening I decided to go for another hardcore aerobics workout with my friend Liz. Afterwards her and I went out for a delicious samaki (fish) dinner to refuel ourselves.

Friday morning I went to see the Mamas again and helped them make some chappatis for the breakfast program. Later on in the day I finalized the Charity Ball Application for funding and made a trip to the post office to send it off.

On Saturday I made another trip to the market to see if a few more people would let me take pictures of their shops/ stands. For some reason this time it was a bit easier to convince people to let me take some pictures…maybe because it was the weekend or maybe my negotiations skills in Swahili had improved. In the evening I went to a birthday party as 3 of my friends were turning 40 within the same week.

On Sunday I headed to Nygezzi Beach with some of my friends. Later on in the evening I went to a BBQ and met some more teachers from Isamilo International School. Some of the teachers are on the Mwanza Grand Charity Ball Committee so I managed to put in a good word so that we can hopefully get funding again this year. I also managed to talk to the Headmaster of the school (Iain) and his wife (kate) about setting up a meeting to possibly sell probiotic yogurt at the school cafeteria.

All in all, it was a good, productive week!