Pipes on PikiPikis and all that is Mwanza!

Going from the quiet of isolated living in an English village to the noise and chaos of a Tanzanian city was a refreshing shock to the senses! Suddenly landing in a community of friends, I had more hugs in five minutes than I'd had in four months! It was like waking up from a hazy dream to find myself alive and bustling on the busy Mwanza street! Almost knocked out by the umbrella of the motorbike taxi as he swerved to cut a corner. Almost impaled by the 10-foot pipe sticking out on the back of another bike. Deafened by the truck loudspeakers blaring Tanzanian music as it drove through town with young guys hanging off the back. Friendly bartering and long greetings when shopping, all the while watching where my feet go and dodging moving baskets. Squished in with an uncountable number of sweaty bodies on the dala dala (minibus) from the market. The excitement and unpredictable craziness of everyday life came flooding back and it felt so good! 

It tasted so good! Fresh juicy pineapples and mangos again! Small sweet bananas! I snacked on chapati and maandazi. Mishkkaki and samosas. The mamas prepared ugali and dagaa (tiny fish) for lunch. Rice and beans, tilapia and oh, the huge soft avacaodos! Fresh juice, sweet tea and tamarind ice lollies for 30p! 

Samosas and Maandazi

Mishkkaki (for Louisa!)

Penina and Zuena took me for a vitumbua and pilau picnic
on the rocks to take a break from the Craft Market!

Pilau and a Mama Minja feast!

Ugali and Dagaa

It felt so normal, like I had never left. Like entering a new world and the old one completely disappearing.

It felt like coming home. Only now the home was gone. And that was the strangest thing, and yes, rather sad. 

I did have to laugh, though at how quickly I had forgotten that feeling of helplessness when it seems just everything goes pear-shaped! I soon remembered... 

When I arrived in Tanzania at the beginning of November, it was just days after the election and the country was still in a fair amount of chaos with a complete media and communications lock-down. Oh the issues with trying to connect to the internet! And then the power cuts at inopportune times! 

Then the rains came. We learned the hard way that The Hive shop floods in heavy rain. Lying in bed at night listening to heavy rain, I again had that familiar helpless feeling of internal tension as I wondered what havoc it was wrecking. And then in the Land Cruiser, driving on crazy roads in pelting rain, I had that familiar sinking feeling one gets when one is well and truly stuck in the mud. While the mamas prayed loudly and fervently inside the vehicle, I was out and up to my knees in mud and water to investigate the situation and get the four wheel drive locked. And while the mamas continued to pray loudly, and guys outside pushed, I kicked the trusty Land Cruiser into gear, and off we went! The exhilarating feeling of triumph over the odds! And then the sinking feeling returning when I arrived back, wet and muddy to find the power out and no shower! 

And then there were the simple jobs that get complicated! We had some new shelves made for The Hive. I drew pictures for the carpenter, we measured the space together and wrote everything down, but somehow when the shelves arrived, one was 10cm too long which meant we couldn't shut the front door. A five minute delivery turned into a three hour fixing job! And then we had some brochures printed. I went back twice to collect them after being assured they were ready, but was always told "later" ... finally one day they were there, but had been printed upside down. Back to square one! 

It was wonderful to see good friends again! I stayed with the Guild family for my first week in Mwanza and then the Ewing family for my second week. I was a little disappointed I didn't have more time with them all, as with so much to do I was hardly home! But it was so special to come home to them in the evening! So wonderful to be back with our awesome EI team! And lovely to catch up with other friends over lunch, and a special Diwali  party at Priya's one evening! With a Charity Fair one Saturday at the International School I was able to see many of the girls friends and teachers. And with three Sundays in Tanzania I was able to worship with three churches we have special relationships with! I just cried on the first Sunday... after being in the COVID-restricted UK, it was just amazing to join in with all the enthusiastic singing and energetic dancing! 

Back with the team in the EI Office!

With Bhatendi, Esther and Aikande at BMCC Church

Lunch with these lovely ladies!

A Diwali Party

With the wonderful folks from Mkuyuni Church

Two weeks was not enough in Mwanza! There was a constant sense of urgency and racing the clock (which is not a thing in Tanzania). We didn't get everything done that we wanted to at The Hive ... but we definitely did all we could! I had not had such dirty and tired feet for a long time! I had not felt so exhausted or hot and sweaty for a long time! But breathing in the open space by the lake then listening to the noisy insects and croaking frogs from my bed at night ... and the howling dogs and screeching roosters ... I savoured every minute!

And here to close was my last day in Mwanza. Some of the mamas were at The Hive, others at the workshop. We were packing up products to go to Dar es Salaam and the UK and finished with this special time together! 

I'll take you to Dar es Salaam in the next blog post!

A sad update since the last blog post ... our friend, Jade passed away on Monday afternoon in Nairobi. This is such a devastating shock; please remember Julius and their three boys in your prayers over these difficult days. Also this afternoon was a day to remember Emma, as her family and friends said goodbye. 

And in the midst of the sadness, today we got the keys to our new place in Monkton Combe. It's still empty at the moment, but we can now start to make a home here ...