Tanzania 2010

Sunday

Megan and I had breakfast at the hostel (which is included in the price ($25/nite). Breakfast left a bit to be desired as it consisted of toast or a plane crepe, butter and jelly. We walked around town. It is very common for people to engage you in conversation; mostly they want to sell you something or are asking for money. However, there are others who are very sincere. It was late one afternoon and a man warned us to stay away from a particular area after dark; many want to practice English with you or help with Swahili. The people are mostly amused and extremely helpful when we try to use Swahili.

I love the local food. It is mostly spiced up vegetables and rice or beans (sometimes cooked in coconut milk). Passion fruit is in season and it is my new favorite drink. Unfortunately mangoes are not in season. I have also tried papaya juice and watermelon juice.

We met Farryl for lunch on Sunday and then went to Neema orphanage.  We first spent time in the building with the 1 year olds. There is also a building for 2 year olds and one for 3 year olds. There are 47 children in the orphanage and only 19 staff. The one year olds had no toys only a pile of stuffed animals. 

The buildings at the orphanage are fairly new and nice from the outside. The setting is gorgeous. Farryl explained to us that this is one of the better orphanages. The children only stay until 3 years old and then return to extended family or move to another orphanage. The inside is very sparse. The floors are concrete. There is a rug in the play room of the 1 year old building which Farryl purchased. The 1 year olds did not warm up easily and they seemed so hauntingly unresponsive. The Lutheran Sisters do the best they can and are loving but spread so thin.

We also spent time at the 2 year old building. The first time we were there they were playing outside and their toys consisted of an empty paint can, cut up plastic jugs and very old soccer balls. There was a swing set and merry ground but they were like nothing I have ever seen in the US - pretty decrepit. Farryl got thrown up and peed on, Megan got peed on and i was the smart one who played ball with the kids and remained dry!!

Farryl spends most of her time at this orphanage. She is in her mid 20's and has a special gift and love for these children. This is her 5th time to Moshi. She has started an initiative for those children leaving the orphanage. As you might guess, case management is not part of the system here so when a child goes to extended family or to another orphanage there is nothing that resembles transitioning. Farryl is working towards a program whereby the family where the child may go is visited and the family also spends time with the child at the orphanage prior to leaving. She is also setting up funding that will ensure each child goes to school.

Our Sunday evening was spent having dinner at Nie and Jonas' with Farryl. Nie cooked all local food and it was awesome. I truly love the food here and it is no problem being vegetarian. She served rice, potatoes, mchicha (which is comparable to spinach and one of my very favorite dishes), beans in coconut milk (another favorite), curry vegetables, a beef dish for the carnivores, and mixed fresh fruit which is to die for. We drank both passion and papaya juice. If i ate like this everyday I would need to buy 2 seats for the plane home!!! (And there is no way one could run here without being run over or falling down a hole in the street!)