Sunday 25th January

Dear Reader – it’s time for cleft sticks! The up-load time from the internet café, and the subsequent costs, are considerable. So from now on we are being ingenious; I ring Dad via nice cheap (but time-lagged and distorted) Skype, and he takes down the blog in shorthand, then types it into the blog from the UK. He says if there are any errors, then they are due to his cloth ears…. He has to write up all the rude words I dictate (see below and share my grief, dear reader – ed.)

I have written this by candlelight in what will be our home for the next three months. We have no electricity and although we are supposed to have water, we have already learned not to rely on it and its sporadic appearance!

We met our lovely neighbours when we arrived. They have the most adorable little boy called Barak and Jacqueline (Mama Mashoto) came over when I attempted to do our washing on the front step with a most amused expression!

It felt quite odd splitting the group up; I feel like we have known each other for much longer than we really have. Allan took us to do our shopping in the local fantastic ‘supermarket’, then the bus we were on toured the schools we were assigned to and our numbers slowly depleted.

We’ve had very thought-provoking times since I last wrote. On the one hand we have had great fun together seeing the sights and schools and spending ‘bonding’ time together at the Greek Club. But on the other hand the reality of the desperate need for aid has really hit home.

A few days ago we visited Nkauranda, isolated, self-sufficient (pretty much) community on Mount Meru where James, Becky and Rachel will be. I spent a long time talking to someone called Mike, about the nature of aid-giving and what the most useful help could be. He is doing a degree in International Development at Godoma so he had a very practical view of it. Allan – my Tanzanian Daddy – who is our Swahili teacher ,broke down the costs he has to pay for his children’s schooling versus his income, and it’s on a knife edge. Again I asked him what the most useful aid would be and he said either school fees paid, or desks/textbooks bought. People sometimes have to buy their own desks at around $40 each.

Yesterday we met simply the most inspirational woman, Mama Taisha from Bourka. At the age of 62 she held herself in a way that just exuded pride. In 1998 she set up a school for orphans with only three pupils who she took under her wing and roof. Today she has 167 pupils and her school is the best in the region. Only this week two parents of pupils died and they have no family to live with. In addition to this devoted vocation, she has started a community of women who have been cast out of society because of HIV/AIDS, childbirth before marriage, husbands dead etc.

They train in tailoring and sell their clothes. Only yesterday Mama Taisha went to a meeting to discuss a mini-economy which runs along the same terms as the Big Issue: The women sell the clothes and bring money back to Mama who can then buy more sewing machines and expand the enterprise. She is desperate for sewing machines and also open to fresh business ideas.

A lot of food for thought.

Yesterday Mike and Eli Nkauranda (dubbed fitty and fitter by the group! an example of when dictation can get messy - the previous statement was not what I said at all!!!) took us to a very remote Massai village community. Do you remember the tribe who ran the London Marathon last year to raise money for irrigation? It was this tribe. We met the main protagonist who was so friendly and welcoming. Despite that we all felt so intrusive and examined. The Massai absolutely hate having their photos taken because they want to protect their culture and think we will sell the pictures.

We went to the filthy lake that is still the main water supply, cattle sale and market. It was, however, one of the most interesting and bizarre experiences of my life!

So I think that quick gloss over brings you up to date .

We have not yet met Mr Hockey (pro: Hokkee) the headmaster, so we are not yet sure what tomorrow has in store for us. We hope we will sit down and plan how to do lesson plans, see the timetable and shadow some teachers, but I get the feeling we may well be thrown in at the deep end and have to take a class where the teacher has not turned up – apparently a common occurrence.

Anyway, I will let you know how things pan out.

Lucie xxx