21-23.01.2007 - Safari to Newala

Safari to Newala and Tandanhimba 21^st - 23^rd

Because ari arrived lately than scheduled from Singida due to road problems it meant that we couldn't visit all the friends in sports schools in the Mtwara region. It was decided that we would travel to Newala and Tandahimba and visit the 16 schools there who are sponsored by associations in Finland.

We set out one hour later than scheduled on the Sunday and hoped to arrive in Newala before the Arsenal game started. However, due to road works and diversions and an untimely flat tire we made it there for the start of the second half and seen all the goals. A good crowd of locals had come to watch the match and a lot of shouting between one set of supporters to the others.

The drive to Newala was bumpy and rough with Ari doing record speeds along the road. After the football in Newala we grabbed a bit to eat in a local restaurant. We talked about the coming days and what role each one of us would be filling. We left for bed early as we had an early start the next day and after some complications with the mosquito net which was only half the size for the actual bed we eventually fell asleep.

After a quick breakfast it was off to visit the schools. Annukka was the still photo lady for the day, Ari the presenter, Kanda would talk to the principals giving information about the association school, Chigo would be pumping the balls in which every school got 2 balls – one for football and the other for netball, and I was operating the video camera.

We visited 12 schools on the first day and most of us where very tired at the end of the day. All the children where very happy to see and so excited to receive balls for sports. Their enthusiasm was amazing and something that would never been seen in European children. At each school we recorded the school grounds, classrooms and especially the football and netball grounds. Some schools hadn't received the goals yet while others hadn't put the in place yet for one reason or another. In general most of the schools had the posts in place and the playing grounds where by and large in ok condition.

We managed to do most of the schools on the way to Tandahimba which meant that little back tracking would be done the following day. In one of the schools Michael (A.K.A Gervas) reversed into a tree and shattered the back window on the Land rover. After some cleaning we reached Tandahimba at around 5 that evening and after checking into our lodge we went for a small bit to eat. After having my first chips omelette the night before I had another one here which, was much better. While waiting for the food myself and Kanda played some pool on the local table in the bar.

After the meal a brief talk about the next day and starting time and everyone went to sleep. Unfortunately because the batteries for the camcorder was empty we had to hope that electricity would come back which would allow us to record the remaining schools the next day. We relaxed outside the lodge watching the stars and looking for shooting stars. Despite only been a quarter full moon it was still very bright outside. It was nice to relax outside with little mosquitoes around watching the stars. The temperature was noticeably warmer than in Newala but still not as hot as Mtwara. Fortunately the electricity came on later and enabled us to recharge everything.

The following day we visited the remaining four schools which the children where just so hysteric to see us. At one school we had to walk about 500m to start filming at the school sign post we walked from the school to the sign post and around 100 children followed us all the way there and back, signing, running and dancing. No wonder they where hysteric, three Mzungus which cameras and camcorder ; )

The same procedure for these schools was the same as the previous day and the children again where so happy just to receive the balls. After visiting all the schools we made our way back to Mtwara stopping to visit the Tandahimba lake on the way. We reached Mtwara around lunch time for the remainder of the day we had a small meeting in the office, few games of table tennis, a swim in the ocean and finished the day off with a meal at our host parents house eating Pilau.

15-21.01.2007

15- 21^st

School begins again after the break but we didn't go this week as they are just getting everything prepared once again after the long break. However, we had a lot of work to prepare in the office and some trips to the bush and other parts of Tanzania coming up soon. We went back to the girls training camp to see what work the coach was doing with them. The land rover was due for repairs this week so it meant it would be our last visit to see the girls for a while.

Also one of our friends returned from Europe this week. Jan, who comes from the Czech Republic, had spent the last 3 months away and will only be a short time again now in Mtwara until his project finishes. We arranged to meet up on Monday in Bondeni over some beers and food and talk about his Christmas in Europe. He seemed to be happy to be back in Mtwara but this was only because he was leaving for good soon.

We have a new house girl at the moment. Our usually one is in Dar to spend time with the family so the current one will only be a short time with us. At the moment the house has an unwanted visitor – a rat. Bright is trying all methods to get rid of it. At the moment poison inside a piece of kingfisher is his latest method but unsure yet whether it has succeeded or not.

The weather now is once again hot and very humid. The sweat comes straight away in the morning and when sitting for dinner in the evening time it is at time unbearable. The other day Bright was lying outside in on the bed sleeping while Jennifer was in the garden planting trees. I was thinking that this would be the other way around in Europe.

After being illegal for all of last week we eventually got to met to the immigration officer who joked that he would have to arrest us. The permits where still not ready despite him saying in early December that the permits would be ready and waiting for us in Mtwara. This situation is becoming really annoying now, after 4 months we still do not have any solution and nobody seems to know what is going on.

The officer said that we would have to go to DAR and pay for the permits there and get them maybe on the same day. I don't understand why there is a immigration office in Mtwara if they are not able to issue immigration papers, this centralisation makes the system even slower. We got another one month extension to our holiday visa again and contacted Ari to find out the situation as he was slowly making his way from Singida to Dar.

Once in Dar, Ari went to the contacts which the officer in Mtwara had given us however the people in DAR didn't know anything about the papers there and a quick phone call from Ari back to the officer Mtwara who stated he would have to check whether or not the papers had in actual fact been sent yet??? This is the same person who said they would be ready 4 weeks ago. After some time Kanda went to the office here in Mtwara and was shown receipt that the paperwork had been sent to DAR. Ari sent more time trying to clear up the situation with a sly threat if there wasn't any sign of permits tomorrow. The officers in DAR are claiming that they have no idea about the paperwork at all even though it has been sent since September 2006. Ari went back Friday morning as he believed he would then be able to pick up the permits, but they still didn't find the papers. Another half threat about a visit to the vice-presidents office seemed to work well and they went quickly back to look again for the papers. Ari will return to DAR the following week so we will see if the papers are ready ; )

We had a meal with Jan on Wednesday night. He invited us around for his speciality ragu and pasta with red wine. We where supposed to have Tuna fish but Jan ate it all the night before due to a lack of electricity. He had also prepared this evening to be electricity free and when he had made the fire and prepared everything the electricity came back on. However, Jan continue to work as though there was no electricity which was quite funny in the end.

Ari eventually arrived with Daudi from Singida. A similar project to SDA is being established in Singida and Daudi will stay around in Mtwara for some time to learn about the ins and outs of the NGO and Kanda will then travel with Daudi to Singida in February to see how things are running there. On Saturday we organised a game between Mzungus and Bantus in Shangani on Saturday morning at 10. Probably wasn't the best time to play the game but we managed anyway. A good turn out for both teams meant that at least the Mzungus wouldn't become so tired in the extraordinary heat. We played in total four periods of 15 minutes. Unfortunately the Mzungus lost on the day 8 – 6 and where very tired for the rest of the day. Prizes where given out to the best 5 players from both teams and pens where distributed to all of those present as well as a bag of mangos. The reason for the early morning floorball game was because in the evening Liverpool where playing Chelsea and a game we (myself and Ari) didn't want to miss. We went to watch at Mikindani and a few other Mzungus tagged along in the land rover which for this journey resembled more of a Daladala. After some problems at the beginning Ari the technician got the football going. The game was good from a Liverpool point of view and unfortunately for Chigo had to listen to me and Ari shouting at him for most of the game. Liverpool won 2 -0. After the game some took a swim in Mikindani bay. For Daudi it was his first time in the ocean. This was followed by a trip to Bondeni for chips and chicken. The food was nice after such a long and hot day. It was decided that going to Bandari for dancing, not all of the group joined due to tiredness and sickness. In the end Ari, Jan (Czech Rep.) and myself ended up in Bandari after a quick beer at a local bar near the centre of town. After a lot of dancing with locals and shaking of the hips and other body parts it was time to go back home. A good night enjoyed by all and a great cultural experience to remember.

8-14.01.2007

8^th - 14^th

Illegal officially now in Tanzania. Residents permits taking so long to process the whole notion of actually needing one now is a farce. We are already over half way through our stay here and still no word regarding our permits. When we left Mtwara at the start of December with a one month extension we where told that the permits would be ready for us when we return. Upon our return we where told after Christmas. Now we have been trying to get in contact with the boss who has not been in the office. We tried to get going all this week but it failed due to our other commitments in Ziwani. Fortunately, the police didn't arrest us so we slept peacefully.

Our football camp in Ziwani which was due to start on the 3^rd was rescheduled for the 8^th however, when we arrived at the office which, was meant to have dealt with these issues on Monday morning it was clear we where going nowhere today. The problem was all the officers had gone out to check whether the secondary schools where in good condition for the start of the new school year. This meant that the transport which had been promised was no longer available. After a long time trying to negotiate a good deal and waiting for the necessary officials to come back from their journey, it was agreed that we would be give petrol money and we would, ourselves, have to collect the girls from Mtwara rural and take them to Ziwani. Not an ideal solution but the only one that was remaining. So the camp would then start on the 9^th – hopefully.

The following day we arrived at Ziwani where some of the girls had been collected. In total we had 28 girls from 54. The accomodation and food was not enough for 54 girls so it became evident that the girls we had now would be the ones selected to go to Finland. Its unfortunate for the other girls who could not make it to Ziwani due to the officials been not organised. We had to get the total number of girls down even further to a total of around 22. A game was organised and the names of those girls that impressed was recorded. Those who didn't make the final list of 22 where given – football boots, socks, t – shirt and a bag full of pens.

We trained at Ziwani for a few days, but due to the awful sleeping conditions we were trying to find a new sleeping place for the girls. Training went well and as the week went on it became evident the girls where quick learners and of course motivation was not needed because all knew about the possibility of going to Finland. Different sessions involved working on different skills. As the girls are not used to do regular exercise for long periods over a number of days consecutively they became quickly tired therefore meaning sessions generally lasted around 3 – 4 hours. We tried to encourage the girls to drink plenty of water and highlighted the reasons for this, some listened others didn't.

After two days at Ziwani, new accommodation was found about 15 minutes drive in the Mtwara urban direction. The sleeping facilities where a lot better but the pitch was not great and one of the goal posts was in danger of falling and possibly killing someone as it was not the regular goalposts but mental posts, almost rusted the whole way through and supported in the middle by a piece of wood. Fortunately during our time there nobody was hurt because of the post. Again we had a number of training sessions organised over the remainder of the week we spent there. As Friday was a holiday we had a short session and organised the girls into two teams. They both played really well, some remembering the skills picked up during the week and using them to go effect. It also really good now that the girls have settled with one another and are no longer making “kissing noises” to get attention but rather calling out names and shouting for the ball. In the first number of days they were a bit nervous which could be seen by how they where kicking and controlling the ball. But once we moved to the new place they seem to enjoy it a lot better and their football as a result improved. In the end the team lead by me beat Kanda's team 6 -0. The girls stamina and energy levels are also increasing. So over the next number of weeks when we don't have training it will be interesting to know whether they are still practising.

On Saturday, a party was organised at a local Mzungu house, Philip. He had organised a cheese and wine party. It was more than just that as he had been working very hard for the previous two days with Kate, another Mzungu, cooking various dishes for all the guests. I was wondering where the cheese had come from but Philip had been travelling recently so had taken it from DAR. The food was great and for desert he had Malteesers. It had been ages since I had some of these and it was so nice to try them again. Some luxury goods in Mtwara.

Also the really good thing about the party was the wine, Philip had made his own wine in various taste. One in pineapple which was really good. All the guests had a really good time and was nice to meet up with everyone again after the Christmas break. We all talked about been back in Mtwara again and our safari's around the Northern Circuit.

2007!!

1^st - 7^th January 2007

The new year started slowly due to the large downfall of rain – apparently though it was only the short rains – which lasted for nearly seven hours at a time! It meant that we had to spend most of our time in the house. Thankfully we had electricity the new gas project provides electricity through TANESCO most of the evenings. Although there are still some areas of Mtwara that are still not receiving electricity. I was also able to go and watch a few football games due the rain intervals as Liverpool matches where been kicked off at an earlier time.

Our first week back to work after the new year should have seen us going to the training. However some issues they hadn't dealt with before the Christmas holidays meant that the camp, food and transport was not ready to leave this week. Instead the camp was now scheduled to leave the following week.

We celebrated a birthday party at our house, Harrison's brother – Jackson who was in Mtwara for the Christmas period. The house had made once again a lot of food and invited some of the local children around to join in the celebrations. The birthday parties take more or less the same format as other ones. Its just a little less formal than adult parties. The funny thing was that come the time when we would eat the food, the adults would take first while the children would wait until we had finished. However, when the children got near the food they took so much that I was so shocked at the portions they could eat, some even managing a second helping. No wonder the adults went first then.

Also when giving the presents, the parcelled ones would be handed to the birthday boy whereas money would be placed underneath a plate in front of him. Also giving birthday cards doesn't seem to be a big tradition either. Here only one card is bought and everyone who attends the party signs it whereas back home the person could expect to receive a lot of cards, also if money was to be the gift, it would be placed in the card and not shown in public.

Thankfully the weather returned to normal for the remainder of the week and we went to the beach to get some sun while getting funny looks from the locals probably wondering what we are doing. At the office we have also been playing a lot of table tennis. Annukka's father bought the set from Arusha for SDA. So we can organise tournaments in the near future. We have been playing most days and fortunately I have been winning most of them.