I'm a data entry clerk!

Sally here: We have had a good week in Muheza, with many adventures. I am now an official volunteer with the Orphan Vulnerable Children Program, doing – you guessed it – data inputting! I may also work on a grant proposal for them. The program is in the process of doing an inventory of orphaned and vulnerable children in all the small villages in the region, and providing school supplies/fees, food, and HIV/AIDS education to youth. They are funded through AIDS Relief, but the program seems to be taking place on a national scale. I have also become Rose’s teacher’s assistant, and am helping her to teach the TZ IT curriculum for children. It is a blast – the kids are so enthusiastic and curious, and very cute.
Leah and I have been having cycling adventures in our efforts to find a circular loop. We were out for 2 hours under the mid day sun on one of these trips because our path took us to the next village. We ended up taking the nasty main road for part of the return trip, but returned home safely. Today we found a shorter loop, all on the paths, that was lovely. Rose, Leah and I also had a walking adventure, again looking for a circular loop home. We were crossing the valley in front of the house but could not find a way over the creek. We were about to turn back, when a group of children who had been watching us called out to us and proceeded to take us to a narrow fallen tree, and held our hands while we crossed it. The valley in front of the house is very lush and full of small gardens growing lots of veg. There are also lots of mango and papaya trees. Avocadoes, coconut, bananas..........it is wonderful to eat all of these locally.
We had an unexpected day off on Tuesday (day commemorating the anniversary of the death of the much loved first TZ president). We were invited to join Ben and Sally on a trip to Magoroto, one of the nearby hills. We all crammed in a Toyota rover 4X4: Sally and Ben in the front, Rose, Sal, Leah and 4 month old Pippin in the back seat, Ambrose, Graham, Griffin, Simon, Zacha, Maxi (Ben and Sally’s 2 older boys) in the back. On our way to the car in the hospital parking lot, we saw what we think was a monitor lizard, almost a metre long, crossing the compound.
We drove 35 km up this extremely rough road full of switchbacks. We walked to a lovely manmade lake (town’s water supply) and walked around; then to a beautiful view point over the city and as far as Tanga and the Indian Ocean; finally to Magila where the first Anglican missionary in Tanzania was established and the Teule hospital was first located. We visited a beautiful old Anglican Church, convent, school, and graveyard. Drove back with a full moon rising.
Yesterday we zipped over to Tanga in a borrowed hospital vehicle. We bought supplies, and Rose and I finally got our own bike! Driving to Tanga takes about 30 minutes. It is pretty terrifying to drive here, but Ambrose does a great job. Saturday the hospital had a daylong event to celebrate ‘’international palliative care day’’. The day began with a procession with singing and dancing, which we partook in. In some ways, I think it was an HIV/AIDS march, with many people – mainly women – being out and proud. What followed was four or so hours of speeches, songs, dance, AIDS education theatre pieces. It was long, but quite spectacular.........so much to take in. Many funny and poignant moments. I sat up at the front with A&L and 2 UK docs as one of the celebrated guests....I think it was a case of mistaken identity...poor Rose and the boys were at the back. We finally had some lunch from a bottomless pot that served at least 100 people.
Books, my IPod and knitting are my main sources of opting out when the realities here are too overwhelming. It is so much to take in on so many different levels. The culture shock continues to be significant. Poverty, housing, access to power, clean water are all issues here. The provision of health is also a struggle. Sounds like people arrive to the hospital with really advanced disease. The health care providers here are amazing, especially the nurses, people doing great work in very difficult situations. Yet there are many things that link our lives: the similarities that run throughout humanity, I guess. I also see the impact of our privilege on other countries; the crap we export; the complexity of the issues and the shades of grey that exist.