Fitting In

July 8th

It has been awhile! Time for a much needed update...

So these past two weeks since safari have been relatively slow work wise. At first things were busy; we worked hard to get everything in line for start up. We had found an amazing location, we went equipment shopping and had all of the equipment on hold, we scheduled the mamas for a business training session, we prepared a predicted monthly revenue analysis and we modified and updated the budget. We were all ready to move forward and get going and then we hit a bit of a brick wall; we were waiting for a go from the funders and they still were unsure of what they would be able to do for us. It was devastating. All of the work that had been done in preparation, the excitement that everyone was feeling to get started was put on hold and there was absolutely nothing that we could do. We were so close and then everything started to look as though the kitchen may not be up and running this summer. Marta and I were both discouraged and frustrated, but we decided that we would not let this stop us. We stayed on top of all of our contacts, we pushed for answers and we continually modified and updated our plans as things came up. This whole process has been a true test of patience. Today, two and a half weeks later, we are proud to say we have just heard that our funders have come through with the money and we will be moving forward as planned. We will be meeting in Ngaramtoni tomorrow to revise our schedule but things are back on track and I couldn’t be happier! We are now able to finally secure the location and pay first month’s rent to get painting and fix ups started. We should have the equipment delivered within the next two weeks and have the Mama’s trained and ready to go!

In the meantime between trips back and forth from Arusha to Ngaramtoni, emails, phone calls and meetings we have become quite accustomed to our new environment. I feel like we know Arusha like the back of our hand now. We are now comfortable negotiating prices, walking through markets, asking questions, riding a packed dala dala, using the washroom wherever you can. It’s just another day.

After a month in a home stay we decided that it was time we try and find our own apartment where we could have some privacy and our own space. Although, I am truly thankful I was able to have the home stay experience, we have now been in this apartment for the past week and it has been another amazing experience. We now have to fend for ourselves – scary, I know. We are now responsible for our own cooking and laundry. Cooking has been fun, laundry not so much. It has been a lot of fun shopping in the market and coming home in the evenings to make some dinner but today I decided to be ambitious and wash the massive pile of laundry that slowly accumulated over the past week, it was NOT fun. It took me over two hours and my shrivelled hands and sore arms are proof of the onerous task that laundry has proven to be in Africa. I will never complain about doing laundry in Canada again.

Before we moved out of our home stay we had Mama Stella, our house Mama, provide us with some necessary cooking lessons. For two nights we sat in her kitchen around a charcoal cooking fire watching and trying to learn how to make her traditional African dishes. We attempted last night to make our own chips mayay, a local African dish of eggs and French fries (essentially an omelette with French fries instead of vegetables), we were not successful haha I guess we will stick to the local restaurants for that. It was a lot of fun to sit around the fire and watch her cook, though. One of the most endearing qualities of African culture, in my opinion, is the resourcefulness of the people. I find it so humbling to observe the ways in which they use the most simple of tools to produce amazing things, how they use everything they have in some way. That night while we were watching Mama Stella cook it was just so wonderful to see how she used everything, she did not waste one thing.

Then came Canada Day, my personal favourite celebration of the year! This being said, we couldn’t let the fact that we were in Africa hinder our celebrations, in fact this made it even better. June 30th we dragged some of our American friends to the used clothing market to invest in Canada Day outfits. Of course one has to wear red and white on this marvellous day and so It was my goal to find a Canada tee-shirt. It was a success! So when we woke up on July first Marta and I dressed in our red and white and walked around Africa proud to be Canadian, slightly ridiculously dressed Canadians, but proud ones none-the-less. After hours of waiting to file a police report for my stolen camera and Marta’s stolen wallet at the police station we ventured to a fellow Canadian’s house where he was hosting a Canada Day bonfire and firework show. It was an absolutely wonderful evening. We listened to Canadian music and danced the night away.

Then Saturday rolled around. Marta and I had organized a group to do a day hike to a nearby waterfall. We met at 9am in town and walked from town to an absolutely gorgeous waterfall where we went swimming and had a lovely picnic lunch overlooking Mount Meru. The hike itself was about 3 and a half hours one way up the side of a steep mountain – I may have been winded multiple times – but it consisted of some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. The fantastic group of people we hiked with and the unbelievable scenery and gorgeous weather made it the perfect day.

Pictures to come, internet is slow today.