hard wiring in the lab

At last the internet connection is more than just a dream. Last Friday wafundi wawili (two technicians) arrived with all their gear and started putting blue wires all around the computer laboratory, office, and administration block in the school. We are hoping that TTCL (Tanzania Telephones) will come with a link to make the connection fairly soon, and then the work will really start; Running a teaching laboratory with internet is quite a different operation to managing one without.

Kevin had several long days of work as they got started. After the travel from Bagamoyo it was a challenge to go straight in to this, as well as baking some amazing bread and getting packed and ready to go to Canada for his son's wedding next week. He travelled from Iringa by bus yesterday and is now in Dar having a day to rest before flying tomorrow. I had a rest day catching up with friends here in Iringa yesterday. Much easier! I'm going back to Kilolo today and will be sorting through my books...

Nyaulingo

Nyaulingo has been helping us cook especially when there's been more to do recently. With five of us in the house, we decided to invite the teachers for an evening meal. Hannah, Katy and Jack did a beef roast in a pit using bricks, sticks and tin foil. Definitely to be repeated. The rice we cooked went into a mush, I think because it was this year's harvest - that's a good excuse anyway, and I tried to do too much of it (around 4kg uncooked). Nyaulingo did ginger carrots -yummy, and cabbage stir-fry, also yummy, and the others made a banana cake as a delicious finale.

Yesterday we drove to Bagamoyo via Dar to collect some luggage - a twelve hour round trip. The others did a bus trip for the final two hours and ended up on the beach before us. Amazing that the whole trip has gone so according to plan. Doesn't often happen, although recently God has been very good to us.

We're able to watch the Olympics here, and yesterday Kevin, who's son is a cyclist, walked in to the lounge room where the womens' team pursuit was on television; he unexpectedly watched them win a gold medal - came out all excited, and then told us this morning that other golds came in after that! It's good to be connected to the world here.

Ruaha Game Park

OK this image was taken in 2004 and this time around I am not going! Kevin and the Three left this morning; got through the gate at 11.30am, and I had a text just now saying they were having lunch with the hippos! All this week we've been thinking about the Game Park, and finally it's come. I just didn't feel up to yet another bumpy ride on a hot and dusty road. It is time for me to return to the UK traffic jams!

The weather here in Iringa (at the weekend) is hot, dry and dusty, and in Kilolo (midweek) it is cold, dry and dusty. I've heard that in the UK at last a bit of sun is showing. Hope it stays with you!

At work Kevin is fixing curtains in the computer laboratory, and I am giving feedback to the 'O' level students about their exams. Four of them passed out of six. Of those who failed, one simply can't keep awake in lessons, and the other hasn't been able to pay her school fees. Very sad :(

Hannah, Katy and Jack

Last Saturday my God-daughter, Hannah arrived in Dar es Salaam, together with her two friends, Katy and Jack. They have just finished their 'A' levels, and are here for a few weeks' holiday. For their first week in Africa, we have all been staying in a cottage, enjoying walking in the beautiful scrub-land, riding horses, and swimming in the Ruaha river. It's great to have another guitar player around for campfire songs! It has been COLD at night and in the river, but the sun is hot when it shines. The air is very dry.

This week we will be in Kilolo experiencing school life! Term starts again tomorrow, Monday 9th July, after a two week break, and finishes on 2nd August. This unusual timing is because there is a census in August, when all schools will be on holiday.

.....................................The Sting and the Honey..................................

I've never before seen myself as a bee keeper. Now the honey has been harvested, I wonder whether the bees will like their new home! If so, the sense of achievement will be even greater, because I made it out of off-cuts and left-overs from the house we live in. Yes, I was stung, and it took from 9pm until 3am leaving me feeling stiff and achy afterwards, but the fun of doing it was tremendous. Kevin kept out of my way (and that of the bees) apart from taking some photos, because he comes up with bites and stings, so we didn't want to risk an emergency trip to Iringa! I try not to bite him too often, but it's hard. :^)

We are now at our favourite place next to the Indian Ocean, in Bagamoyo. It's called Travellers' Lodge, and in the past I have called it 'Paradise Garden' because that is what it feels like. The palm trees and birds are beautiful, and this is where we can relax with good food and exercise.

On Saturday we'll be meeting some friends at the airport; Hannah, Katy and Jack from Devon. Hannah was my bridesmaid, and they are visiting just after their 'A' level exams. We're going to be a full house at last!

Out of Focus...

We had a visit from our mission recently, which helped us to get our lives a little more into focus. Beforehand we spent time reflecting on what has happened in the past two years since coming to Tanzania, and thinking ahead to the future. I have been surprised to find that it is Kevin who wants to stay on longer here! He is getting into the whole project and finding it fulfilling as well as demanding. As for me, I know there is plenty more to do here, especially getting the BK students through their course, but I am tired, and the physical side of life here is tough. I want to start a new life back in North Wales while I still have the energy.

After our wedding in September 2010 we spent five months preparing to come to Tanzania, volunteering at Redcliffe College and visiting our supporting churches. When we arrived, Kevin studied the language for a few weeks only, and has picked up enough to get by. While he was doing that I was trying to recover from the flight... It felt as if something was damaged inside me, and tests show that I do have 'varicous veins' (varices) around an enlarged spleen. It started more than two years ago with a liver infection of an exotic disease which has still not been diagnosed, even after many investigations! After taking treatment for amoeba I have had a lot less pain, but this all means it may not be advisable to fly again. We are planning an overland and sea return trip to the UK. We don't want to encounter pirates, so will go via the Cape.

Winter in Kilolo

This picture shows the District Heats for shot-put being held on our school playing fields, with a game of netball in the distance; part of the national games programme. It included athletics, football and volleyball as well. It was so cold that day that we stood shivering on the side of the field. Last Monday I looked at our wall thermometer and found it was 10 degrees Centigrade. During the BK class that morning I'm sure I heard someone's teeth chattering!

We have had a few visitors recently, and yesterday we were privileged to be able to welcome Ken and Dianne Phyllis to a farewell visit to the school. They worked in St Michael's from the beginning, setting up the science laboratories and getting some of the buildings up, including the computer laboratory. In the past few years they went even further into mainland Tanzania to help set up a new Diocese in the west of the country. It was great to see them, but sad because this will be their last visit before returning to Australia because of illness. Dianne has a torn ligament in her knee, among other things. We shared a lot of laughter yesterday over a dinner of meat and rice, together with friends.

Life seems to get busier. Our weekends in Iringa have been filled up with a round of visits and parties, so we seem to go back to Kilolo for a rest. Livestock also demands attention; our swarm of bees is growing, and I have constructed a hive to house them in. I'll share a photo when it's in place! We hope to get someone to come and help us move them in to their new home very soon, and (just maybe) we'll get some honey!