Week 22 at School

Thank you to everyone who has contacted us over the last two weeks.  I believe I have responded to each and every email, but if I didn't please accept my thanks for your kind words.

Denise flies home (Arusha) on Monday and I'm looking forward to that although I know she will probably sleep for two days once she gets back.

On to the good stuff...the blog

For those reading the online blog, there is more if you click on the Read more>> button below.

This week I want to tell you about some of the funny (ha ha and awkward) things about this place.

The most interesting thing I have seen to date was a few weeks ago when I went into a toilet in town.  As I walked in, right in front of me was a woman washing her shirt/blouse (whatever you call it).  The funny thing was she had taken it off to wash it and was making no effort to hide herself.  I backed out and checked it was the male toilet, it was, so I went back in.  I am surprised now that I still remembered what I was there for.  This was one of those moments.

Driving in this place still amazes me.  The lack of road rage and the lack of concern shown towards the road rules just blows me away.  The thing that always brings a smile to my face is when the drivers put on their seatbelts while driving.  You know a police check is coming up.  It doesn't mean you will be pulled over, but if you don't have a seatbelt on going through the check you have a very good chance of being pulled over.  Once past the police checkpoint, off comes the seatbelt.

When a vehicle breaks down, instead of putting out a triangle reflector which is compulsory for all vehicles to carry, you pull out shrubs and rocks and place them in front and behind the vehicle.

The other day I was walking round town and heard a horse clip clopping along.  Now never having seen a horse in town, I looked round to see the horse, only to discover it was a beggar hitting his cup against the footpath.

Until a few weeks ago I didn't realise this one.  Denise told me.  Many of the girls wear wigs over close cropped hair.  I didn't believe Denise, but I have since started to check out girls hair, no not touching it, and it doesn't move naturally.  Many of the styles look great, but I am now disappointed that Denise has burst that bubble.  Next thing I know she'll tell me the Easter Bunny is not real.  Spoil sport.

Tanzanians have a habit of telling you how it is.  I have heard several times now, and they will say it to some bodies face, my you're fat.  Just as if it were normal conversation.  You can't be self conscious here.

The idiot at Lake Chala has to take the award for the funny awkward at the time and now just funny.  As the manager had commented that they will probably write something derogatory about the place on Trip Advisor, I got in first and made a comment about the guests behaviour and how good the place is.

When you hear the comment from someone "just wait", be prepared for a long wait.  This can take from 5 mins to hours, or even days.  I usually say I'll come back in an hour or two and do just that.  Sometimes you still have to wait, so at that stage I tell them I'll come back tomorrow.  By that time they have usually resolved whatever it is.

When you hear the comment "just listen to me", be quiet and let them go.  They usually come up with just what you were trying to explain in the first place, but if they don't you go through the whole process all over again.

As for Tanzanian time, I don't think I'll ever get used to that.  I went to basketball last weekend, and as usual it started late.  As it was only an "exhibition game", there was no scorebench, just a scoreboard, otherwise known as a whiteboard.  When I thought it was near 1/4 time I asked if anybody was timing, and two people on opposite sides of the court said they were.  I ignored both and called time when I wanted each quarter to end.  Guess what, no complaints and we made full time before it got too dark.  The reason why they were playing an "exhibition game" and not the finals was explained in he following SMS I received:

I asked:

Are there any games this weekend? If so, what day and time?

Response

No...coz tht team they jus try to attack Table official..so the legue is canceld...but tommorow we play East and West...ur welcome sir....

I am disappointed I wasn't there last week.

One final thing, Ajabu, our sponsored elephant, died last week.  We received an email telling us the sad news and that we are now sponsoring another elephant.  When Denise returns, we will choose a new elephant.

Remembering Ajabu

Until next time.