15- 21st
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.
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