So, The Update On The Last Week On Camp.

I'm not really sure what i have and haven't told you, so i may repeat myself, sorry.

Last week in camp had many ups and downs, and was in no way what i expected. Firstly, i thought i would cry leaving that place, but i didn't, the last day was i nightmare. Our transport back into town didn't make it to us until late afternoon, so with camp packed up, no food, no toilet, and the locals asking for everything we owned, we just wanted to get out of there, especial since we suspected another one of us of having malaria and it started to rain properly for the first time too.

By the last week i had lost motivation on the project as it was one reason after an other with the lack of progress on the school staff house, and i didn't get to see the end of the project. However, I'm confident it will get finished, I'm just worried it wont be in time for the start of the next school year. Which means that 150 kids still have not school. Though after meeting the staff that work for the charity out there, i know they will do everything in their power to get the project moving, there are some great people working for them and i left behind many friends!

A couple of high lights of the last week was the kids, i made a real effort to spend time with them and they knew we were leaving. One day we borrowed this sketchy wheel barrow from the work site and gave the kids a ride around on it, we would go really fast and they would scream for dear life... then they would want to pull us along, just as humorous, watching them struggle to pull us through the sand, though they did actually manage it! On the last night, we were climbing trees with the kids, that was such fun. At one point i was hanging from the tree, and then all of a sudden, three kids were climbing up me to get to the tree, it was great fun and i felt so connected to them. I'm really going to miss them, i feel we really did bring such joy to their lives.

Packing camp up was rather interesting, realising how small the space we lived in was... like the sleeping tent, once all the furniture was removed, it's tiny inside! And now little possessions we actually had to live by, it consumed such a small area. I think Pete got some photos, so will try show you later.

On Friday night before leaving for Arusha, we had a big meal at Scene Lodge, the usual venue. All the vols were there along with a load of the HAPA staff. A great evening, everyone gave speeches, and presented presents to the odd friend we were leaving behind. That was quite a sad night, but we all knew that this time would come. So my ten weeks were up, the trip i was waiting nine months for is now over, i learnt so much about me and the people that we would never think of. In every way, i have no regrets. I have come to realise how little we know about what goes on in our world. To be continued...

He's Back in the UK

Here we go again for more culture shock, it could be worse coming back into the real western world again than it was going into the developing. Water you can drink from the tap... running hot water... chickens that you buy pre-slaughtered and packaged... oh, and of course, it's raining and only 10 degrees! Welcome back Luke!

Not quite home yet, decided to spend until Friday in Brighton before heading home, after all, what more could i need but an extra weeks holiday. I will be spending the next couple of weeks updating you on my travels and begin on some conclusions from my trip... i think you will be surprised to hear my thoughts, may not be what you expect, as what i discovered was not what i expected. So I'll keep you posted.

If you want to check out some photos, i have added a slide show on the right hand column, click on the photos to see them larger and with a caption to explain them (most i will add a little later) and of course i will add more photos to it later too. x

Last Day

On my way back to England today, all the travelling is done and i start on my 42 hour flight back to the UK, I'm incredibly sad, but I knew it was coming. As soon as I get back, I will start updating you all on the last four weeks a bit more thoroughly that I have done, and I will make sure to throw on loads of photos and my conclusions for the trip. So there will be lots on here come next week hopefully.

I should just add before leaving that South Africa is an AMAZING place, I have really loved it here, though it may have been tainted by the sort of activities I've been doing. What with swimming with great whites, jumping off a bridge and walking off the side of table mountain! Very crazy, or stupid maybe.

Anyway, I will see you all very soon! x

End of Camp, Kili & Safari

OK, so a lot to say! Firstly, as you can see, still watch this post, will will continue posting even after my trip with my conclusions from it too. It's been the most manic two and a half weeks ever... Actually, there is so much to say that this post maybe a little disjointed, sorry, also again i am such for time, so i will post you more on this later too.



As for big news, i made it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro... 5890 m... litterally at sunrise, 6.30, on last Thursday morning. Absolutely amazing!!! But such hard work... Altitude sickness hit me from about 4900 m, and then go worse, it hit me the same as it did everyone, started as a shortness of breathe which isn't surprising considering the air up there is twice as thin. Then as we ascended further it just got worse, we had to stop for breaks every five minutes to get our breathe back even though we may only have walked say five metres... if that. When i reached the top i melt so dizzy, my muscles were nowhere near strong enough to hold me, almost fell down many times. It was so bad that i felt if i fell i would just die, i felt that if my lungs were not strong enough to carry my body, it would not be strong enough to keep it alive if i fell to the ground. Now it's done, well, I'm so glad i did it, absolutely crazy thing to do, but well worth the experience, plus it was quite cool living above the clouds for a couple of days.



As for safari, well, again well worth it, really it was the wrong time of year, but i saw everything i need to see. The only thing i missed was mating, a kill, and a good sighting of a Rhino. However, i got my Lions, Elephants, Cheetah, Hyenas, Hippos, Zebra, Buffalo's, Wildebeests and much, much more... Photos will say it all when i post them back home.



The last week in camp went well and badly. My first shock is that i didn't cry when i left, the last day was the bad day, nothing went to plan. Will post more on this next time as i have run out of it.


And on a last note as i have to leave now, i fell very sick again a couple of days ago, they followed the same symptoms as Malaria, but the doctors didn't know what it was after the tests... thing always look up for me! So they prescribed me Malaria drugs anyway, and now I'm better again. So I'm thinking it may have been again, but who knows.

Arusha

Hey all, very quick passing message. The project is now over for me, left camp and now in the touristic Arusha. Climbing Kilimanjaro today, just about to leave, so if anyone wonders where i am at sun rise this thursday coming, i will be summiting at just under 6000 meters. Have a good week all, will post when i get back. Best wishes to my brother Ben, Happy 21st for Thursday too, will try ring you! x

Feeling Better Already

Hey everyone, knew it was only a minor case, I'm already feeling much better again, almost back to normal! Hope to return back to camp soon.

On a different note, i wish my brothers and foster sister a happy birthday. I managed to find cards in Singida at the last minute, so have sent some your way, but i know you will get them very late, very sorry (pole sana!) Have a great time guys, i will be thinking of you on the days!

As i probably said in my last post, last week, so I'm incredible sad, and feel myself getting closer to tears by the second. Just had tea with some locals in Singida and spent the morning with another charity i met out here to see what they get up too, it's actually really impressive, you might find more info if interested at www.outreach.com great people working for them as you would usually expect to find in Tanzania.

Anyway, sorry for a short and rather blunt post, speak next week.

An Interesting Week

Though perhaps interesting being the wrong word. I should probably start by telling you i have Malaria, it's a relatively minor case, now i have the correct drugs i should be back to normal in a couple of days if I'm lucky. The previous three nights i haven't been sleeping, and was getting really tired in the evenings, i thought nothing of it, perhaps just dehydration... Then a fever definitely kicked in, feeling REALLY hot one second then REALLY cold the next, and when i was cold i knew i was actually hot because i was sweating like there was no tomorrow. Yesterday i got the jeep to come and collect me to take me to hospital to get the checks done, jeep organised around 1, so i got to the hospital for just before 8. However, there was a power cut, great timing, so we had to go and find another dispensary to do the check. They diagnosed me with malaria, they found two parasites in the small drop of blood they drew, it's a little weird to think there's loads of things swimming through my blood right now. The pain killers i brought out here have been keeping me going, and i got my first nights sleep last night, though a little int erupted, i woke up at 2 in the morning violently shaking, so i took some water and it died down after 20 minutes. Same happened again at 7, i think the drugs i am using are very dehydrating. It's nothing anyone has to worry too much about, like i said, i should be OK in a couple of days, just right now my body feels really really weak, huge headache (worse than any hangover) random pains round my body, and continuously feeling too hot or too cold. I just feel like i want to sleep all the time, but i know that if i keep myself up and about (not too much) it keep my mind off it. Hence why i pushed myself to come log on. Anyway, enough about that, I'm fine otherwise!

On different notes, a lot more making and moving bricks this week. On wildlife front, i found my first scorpion this week (in the sleeping tent too,) diddly little thing though, and we saw a shit load of Meer cats (excuse the language, i don't know the "herd" word that you'd use for them, so the Irish girls said the correct term was "shit load")

Mvae group came to Mghumbu again, i build i huge fire to honour the evening with, but i was not there to enjoy it as i had to get back to Singida town. It really puts it into prospective, i felt like hell, but i knew i was at the very least three hours away from any real medical advise, and knowing the delays that occur here, it would be a while to get a jeep to come, as you could see from above, the jeep took seven hours from leaving Singida town to get me to the Hospital, but then again, it would probably take that long waiting in A&E back at home through you're local NHS hospital, HA.

We plan to sleep on the top of these huge rocks near us this week (if I'm well) they're call Delalu, cool name hey. So we would see a great sun rise and set over the area we live in. Also, last week in camp, so it's going to be a sad one! Many party's, will try to get involved as much as i can, and by Friday, many many tears! I'm going to miss this place so much, i really love it here!

Anyway, i need to go now, feeling pretty crap again, so going to try walk it off, or sleep, though the latter wont work, so I'll walk.

HAPA Leaving Do

Last night we were invited to the leaving party of a HAPA colleague. HAPA is the Charity we are working for out here, and we get on with them like friends. It was a great day actually, after leaving the internet yesterday, I started to walk back to our Hostel when I saw one of our jeeps, then the driver Hassan, went over for a chat and found he was waiting for another guy to show to help him organize the drinks for the night. I invited him to have a soda with me at a local bar while we waited, as I had nothing to do I thought it would be nice to offer a hand, as they were doing loads of jobs to set up for this party.

Once the other guy showed, we went and collected the drinks (a lot of too) and some of the gifts that had been given. And took them all to the party’s location, which by Tanzanian standards, were pretty swanky! I knew it would be a good night!

Anyway, the party when we arrived was just amazing, a lot of people, a lot of dancing and fancy dresses. The girl that was leaving, Eva, was extremely well dressed, see looked gorgeous! As for trying to describe the event, I’m not sure I can in a way that really describes it, it was just wonderful to be there for it. There was a lot of speeches, and gift giving, all of which were surrounded by dancing, I mean there was no walking to places, toilet say, instead, you had to dance to the toilets, and it wouldn't surprise me if they even danced while they squatted, sorry, bit crude of me, but seriously, were was lots of dancing, it was great, the evening felt so happy and joyful. I'm seriously going to take this idea back home with me, next party I hold, no walking, or running, just dancing, it's just great, really gets you in the spirit of things. And because everyone is doing it, you don't feel weird or self conscious, just makes you feel really happy, everyone just laughs with each other. Really emphasizes on the fact that Tanzania seems like a place of peace and love.

I don't want to say much more than that incase i spoil it, i just thoroughly enjoyed myself. Anyway, until next week...

Mvae

Not a too eventful week, power cut Last Sunday in Singida meant i couldn't get online.

We bought a football for the kids that hang outside the gate and they popped it in less than 48 hours.

Work on the school has come to a stand still... the villages are not paying the workers wages, so no one turns up to work apart from four Mzumgus, and so we have spent the week making a ton of bricks.

We did a Hapa tour this week, for me this was the second time, but i really enjoyed the last time, and as they knew this they changed the route and did different projects for me, so it was new for me after all. After we travelled to the other camp at Mvae, and spent the night there. It was so different, almost what i expected my camp to be like when i first arrived seven weeks ago. Also got the chance to see the project they're working on, and saw Mount Hanang from their camp too... it's big! Mvae knew we were coming and prepared meals, drinks, big fire etc... basically returned the hospitality we showed them a couple of weeks back. Absolutely superb evening.

On another note, which some of you may not like to hear, but Pete and I killed two chickens between us for the first time... We were offered chicken at a small price and bought them as i haven't had meat in my diet for a while. So it was killing to eat, not for fun, and i would describe the chickens out here as free range, i wouldn't say they receive that much stress. Also the guy that over looked was Muslim, so as a mark of respect, i said a Muslim pray, in Swahili, and had the face of the animal facing North (forwards the Holy land.) It was admittedly scary, taking the life of something, but it was incredible, i was bricking it up to the point i had the blade in one hand and the neck of the chicken in the other, then it all went, whether it was a case i wanted it to feel as less pain as possible, or if natural human instincts took over i don't know, but it was easier than i thought. It was a big chicken, the blood went all the way up my arms and all over my boots, and they're certainly not wrong when they say they keep moving for ages, i had the headless torso pinned down for ages!

Things are getting sad here as the end gets closer, only two weeks left of camp now, have to make the most of it! This week, we have been invited to a party in Singida, hence why I'm here again on a Saturday afternoon. And Carmel has her Birthday on Monday, so big celebrations there too!

Lastly, I didn't watch the rugby last week after all as no where showed it... can't complain, should have expected it.

Hope everyone at home is great! Sending my love...

Clubbing... In Tanzania!

I couldn't wait to write about this today... Absolutely fantastic evening last night. Where do i start? Well, as the title suggests, we went clubbing at the local club in Singida. It was the usual Scene Lodge meal with the last new volunteers of the year, and saying goodbye to four too. After we went to a bar called the Anaxes and had a couple of beers... then it got really exciting...

How many people can you fit into a Tanzanian Taxi?

Well, including the driver, there was four in the front, five in the middle, and bearing in mind its a saloon, FIVE of us in the boot! Yes, that included me, i very almost fell out i was laughing, no, crying so loud. I seriously had stomach pains i was creasing so much. I wish all of you could have seen it, hey Josh, think you would have loved how low the car was!

Anyway, the club, as most of you from home will know it's not really my scene, but I'm so glad i went. Once again, i managed to achieve activities pushing on my comfort zones. Danced all night until about 3 a.m and got another dodgy cab back to where we were staying. Got many photos for everyone, and danced with many locals, some too close to enjoy, but all in the name of having a little fun and to say I'd done it.

Go me, I've managed to stay in Singida for an extra day to watch the Rugby, persuaded a restaurant in town with my limited Swahili to play the match. Great, so when you are all watching it, i will be too, just in East Africa. By the way, thanks to all you guys at home that keep rubbing in that I'm missing Top Gear... Thanks Byrne for saving some of them for me! I Love You. And on a completely different note, and only sorry, not many will understand this, so don't dwell on it, but I'm missing the 'Tripod'!

Oh, by the way, flights now booked for this Cape town thing now, its going to be a heavy three weeks activities. I'm going to be wasted by the time i get back home to fit in everything i want to. Six flights to get me to Cape town cheaply... SIX, that's a joke, how many change overs? Also hiring out a car to get us places, it's going to be a blast!

Anyway, should end it there i think, that cab story is going to keep me amused for months, expect to near the story many time, apologies in advance. Hopefully get back into some hard work again this week, last week was problems, it would seem some of the locals are not receiving their pay. But hopefully sorted out now. Anyway, laters...

Photo's

Hey everyone again, just a quick one as i'm affraid of losing connection with so many photos that took me an age to upload. Thanks again to everyone and their messages, in particularly Gail, surprised to hear from you, but glad too!

Ok, so the photo below is of the two groups plus some extras... from top left: Carmal (Mghumbu), Tim (Mvae), Em (Mghumbu), Therese (Mghumbu), Vinny (Mvae), Me (Mghumbu), Pete (Mghumbu), Random Hapa worker, Hassan (Our Driver), Vincent (Mvae), Tim (Mvae), Mwiko (Hapa worker). From bottom left: Gerrard (Hapa worker), Shane (Mvae), Hughie (Mghumbu), Simon (Mvae) and another Hapa worker.


This is Mount Hanang, Ok, the picture doesn't really do it justice, but to put it into prospective, it's a good two and a half drive their buy bus, and we can see the mountain from a twenty minute walk from our camp... I think that says it all!


This is our group with our guide from the summit in the clouds, 3417 metres up.


Thought i would squeeze in a picture of the famous "wapi jeep" defender. Now with new shock absorbers, so this week Hassan bombed it down our dirt tracks, and at one point, called back to me "Luka (it's what they call me out here) now we go on Hassani road" and then just pulled right into the bushes... man it was cool, i mean proper off road, i'm so getting one of these when i get back!!!!!!! Oh, thats me on the jeep tying down a bag and water.


Thanks to Pete for some of the pictures.

Mount Hanang

Hey everyone, thanks again to those leavig messages, great to hear from you all! England and the rugby thing is really cool, so would love to watch the final, but not quite possably surprisingly due to my location... a bit of a weird morning today, it feels like the whole of Singida knows who we are, last night two members of the group got stolen from, lost an expensive camera, money, many visa cards, mobile phones and a bounty chocolate bar. It was a real pity as i've had such an amazing weekend, sad to end it that way. Whats nice is that we can laugh about it, i mean we considered the police, and the locals laughed... we went anyway as they needed a "police report" for insurance claims.

But anyway, onto happier notes, the weekend away in Katesh near Mount Hanang way so good. Sunday we climbed Mount Hanang, which cost us a little over $40 ( next to nothing!) It was absolutely beautiful, hard work, especially seeing as one of us badly twisted her ankle at the peek of 3417 metres... always good fun, oh, and Pete had his jam sandwiches stolen by the birds, it was very funny watching his reaction. A story for later i think, as i am running short of time.

I do have a photo of the mountain for you which i will post on Friday.

The bus journey into Katesh was amusing as usual, VERY bumpy, and again the bus broke down, what really made us laugh was after waiting around for about thirty minutes i started chatting to the locals to discover that Katesh was actually less than a five minute walk around the corner... what an I.D.10.T mistake to make. Ah, and while in Katesh, Tim was diagnosed with Malaria... mild case, which he had almost recovered from for the mountain, and he made it to the peek... We have decided to change the names of the camps. Mvae camp is now camp Malaria, as five people have had it that i know of from there, a lot less than the Mghumbu camp which is now camp injury, as many have had them.

Last night i didn't sleep to well, after here i plan on doing Kili, Safari and Zanzibar, and last night my friend offered me to join him to travel to Cape town with him after that to Swim with great whites, another skydive, the world highest jungie jump, world highest absail, and must more... really sounds like i'm trying to kill myself! Whats everyones view on this matter? As i'm torn.

Anyway, i should probably go as i have to get back to work in the village at some point today. Hope everyone is well back home. Update again on Friday...

Almost Half Way Through Now

Hello everyone again. Firstly again, thanks to everyone that messaged. It’s great to hear from you all, especially from Kirby, Grandpa and Carol. Glad to hear you are all well and are enjoying reading the blog.

This week has been a funny one really, not that much has happened. Started on foundations for the staff house, that is pouring cement into the trenches, laying bricks etc… The school building itself is now completely finished, they put in the foundation stone yesterday and we were invited to the opening presentation, I could honestly say my own graduation ceremony was more interesting, I was only glad my Swahili is not enough to understand it all, because then I really would have fallen asleep, actually, I’m making it sound worse than it probably was, the heat got to me a bit that day and I had loads of work to do on camp which mean me not wanting to be there.
Last night the Mvae Camp came to stay with us for the night, so me trying to be a good host set about getting a huge bon fire made of the trees we cut down last week, picked up a crate of beer, and ordered in three chicken to kill and eat with them. However, the chickens never came, great… “Karibu Tanzania!” Despite that, the night went so well, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. As for interesting event of the evening, we kick started the bon fire with a flaming arrow, yeah, ok, a bit fraught of danger, but we’re in the middle of nowhere, what else is there to do! Also, strangely our jeep was left on camp that evening too, I assume the driver was staying somewhere locally, so we thought we would have a play, I managed to get a film of the state of its complete lack of dampers… I mean, I would rock it a bit and then it would continue to rock for couple of seconds after just as violently as it was before, it really is a joke! Oh, on the subject of the jeep, I have fallen in love with defenders, one of the roads that gets us into Singida at the weekend has been blocked by a huge three lorry pile up… I might have mentioned it last week, well yeah, the crash got bigger and it’s still there. Well, anyway, the defender decided to go off road, which is a complete understatement considering the state of the roads our here, so when it did, my jaw dropped, and my hands clenched onto the nearest thing as I have honestly never seen a car at those limits!

Other than that, this weekend we have all decided to take it off, so we are heading up the Mount Hanang, which you should be able to find on any good map of East Africa. 3,417 meters high, we plan to sunit it on Sunday. So I will be back in Singida on the Monday to update you on that one, perhaps some photos this time, sorry none this time round.

Also, as for the hair thing, I chicken out, I would do it if I knew I would go completely bold, but we only had the equipment to get VERY short hair, I didn’t want that.

Eventful Week

New volunteers this week, so Pete and I have been showing them the ropes, it's been quite a change from the last group. We have been up to so much, as for the work and the project, always moving on slowly, we have been kicking out bricks at quite a rate, and on Tuesday Austin our technican asked me to bring the machetes to work with me...? Well, got to work and we were asked to clear the area where the staff house is going to be put, so spent the morning hacking away at trees, such fun! Yes, not very green, but they had to go. Wednesday we started to dig the trenches for the foundations, and the locals started to drink the local beer on site too, nasty stuff, but gave it another shot just for a laugh.

In the afternoons, we have been going for walks, i showed the new bees to the local primary school, were we offered to help teach English and they asked us to come back the following day. On our way back to camp, the kids were just finishing, and about 500 odd kids stormed towards us, and walked us home, it was so amazing, to have that many kids surround us like that. The kids out here are so innocent and have SO much respect for their elders, it's too complicated to explain why, but i'm sure i will get the chance once i return.

The following day we were give a class of 65 kids about 10 years old and that was an interesting experience. They spoke very little English, and we basically tought them numbers, which they did surprisingly well at. We did witness caning... not a pleasant sight, even I was taken back by how real it was and certainly more brutal than i thought it would be too. Other than that we have been on walks to some local rocks that had some amazing views, we even decided to go back there to see sun set, sleep on the top with a fire, and then see sun rise too.

On another topic, the new girls were in stitches when they saw one of the local hold my hand as we walked somewhere, out here it is culture to show friendship with the holding of hands between the same sex. Where as sighs of affection between opposite sexes is very fround apon, and being gay would get you stoned out here! I was also given a gift this week by one of the guards, some eggs and a necklace, might not seem a lot and i mean, eggs, a bit on the odd side, but out here, thats something really big!

Will try get some more photos for next week... oh, and i'm concidering cutting off all my hair... will update on that one.

Thanks everyone for their messages, in particular Martin, good to hear from you mate, hope you are well and glad to hear that you are taking an interest. Also hello Miriam, thanks for your message too, yeah, those two are the cutest things, swinging on the gate all day long, running around in circles in the wind, and it's one of my favourite things to walk to work and as you walk past their house, you hear a sweet "Mambo?", the way she extends it so its more like mambooooo, so cute! I think everyone wants to take her home.

Also, news on contacting me, two of my messages state a way you can do it, it shouldn't be more than 15p per minute, and if you text me a day before you call, i can arrange being in the right place at the right time. Just click on some of the messages to the posts for details.

I am starting to get myself a few nick names out here too, i have now become camp chief so some of the locals call me mtemi (Swahili : Chief) and my technician calls me translucent because i take the mickey out of the colour of the paint we use out here... as you can guess, i call it translucent. I'm still absolutely loving it out here, but we are getting new vols tomorrow and old ones leaving today, so emosions are up in the air and i would dred to think how i am going to be in six weeks!

Keep the messages coming... x

PHOTOS!

Hey everyone, got some photos up for you. The one directly below is the school, as you can see it is now complete, we start work on the staff house on Monday, and toilets later. The huger pile of bricks in front are the ones i have been making for the staff house, we have made about 2,000 so far and need another 1,200 roughtly. It's very hard work, but i am enjoying every second of it.

The photo below now is my camp, sleeping tent on the left, kitchen is center. I realise the pictures are poor quality, but wanted to get some up on here and new i would have more chance with poor photos. With success, i will try for some better ones next week maybe.

Hope everyone is well, will try update again later or tomorrow.

Singida And Camp Life- (what was to be)

I've just wrote a huge post but lost it because the power went...I'm vexed! Oh well, will have to wait till next weekend. Really eager to hear from everyone else, what their thoughts were and what they're up to, so please message!

Two Weeks At Camp...

Hello all again, two weeks atcamp have gone now, things really beginning to settle in.

My Tanzanian sim number is 0785151707, i think you will have to phone +255785151707 (that is add the +255 and drop the first 0) however, if you do need to contact me, you need to try give me a weeks notice, i know that seems funny, but it's rare i will have my phone on and be in an area with signal. If you fancy chancing it, you are best to call English time between 7 and 10 pm. Rates are expensive, but if you search on google "call tanzania cheap" or something to that extent, i hear you can call me for as little as 10 to 20 pence a minute by calling a special number and then they call me... something like that. If i find details, i will post them up, or if someone else does, message me and i will post your message.

Anyway, back to the important stuff, as usual, alwaystoo much to say, but it's been a great week. Work has got harder, making bricks, moving bricks, varnishing desks, digging VERY large holes and the old painting experience again. The wind has really picked up this week, it continuously sounds like a freight train passing through our sleeping tent, and we even got a spot of rain this week to... thats going to be interesting to see it's affects on the local houses made of mad when the rainy season properly kicks in!

I also went to a wedding yesterday... that was on of the most interesting experiences ever, certainly pushed on my comfort zones, and being a guess meant in their culture it is rude not to accept anything they give you in their home... so to put in short, i have eaten foods most reading this wouldn't even dream of let alone actually eat it. I have drunken two of the local beers... and they are easily worse that any beer i have every seen/heard or... (Byrne, i think it even puts you mixed grill drink with rum to shame!!!!) there were bits swimming around in it i swear! Thankfully i have had no serious side effects yet... will update on that one! Other than that, the whole thing was great, singing, dancing, we were treated like kings.

By the way, does anyone have any questions in particular? And i will try get a picture up here next weekend. No promises though, as connections are slow and a bit of the dodgy side. Will try update again tomorrow. Oh, and i have sent out postcards too, so expect them in about twelve years, lol, no, no idea how long they will take, hopefully about four weeks at most... we will see.

First Week in the Village

Hey everyone, thanks again for the messages if you've sent some, i am getting them eventually. I have bought a Tanzanian SIM and occationally get signal, so i will post a number up hopefully next week if people would like to contact me. Internet is slow as usual so this will not be a big post.

I've started working now in the village, it's been an amazing week and a real eye opener! The nearest house to me is made of old wood and mud, the children out here wear the same clothes day in day out, and some of the cloths are so ripped to shreds you question why they wear them at all! Progress on the school is going well, the Africans work very slowly, but we are very far behind schedule, so i've been told to expect long hours in the coming weeks. The school itself is almost done from previous volunteers, left is the staff house and the toilet block, with eight weeks left of the program, its going to be a push!

As for my B'day, it's been great, we walked to a local rock in the middle of nowhere about 100 ft tall. It's called Mampando Rock and the views from up top were breathe taking, though getting back from any walk is fun as everything looks the same, so easy to get lost.

As for living out here, I love it so much, it's so much fun! At night the wind only allows me a couple of hours sleep, not to mention the wild dogs, crickets and hyeanas. The toilets... haha... i'm not even going to bother describing that, and food wise, i'm eating well, though very very little meat as we have no way of storing it. The water we have to collect every morning from the local pump, filter it and then purify it.

Anyway, my stories could go on, but i don't have the time i'm affraid. Sending my love from rural Tanzania.

In Singida, Tanzania

Hello everyone, my first post while here, internet VERY slow, but will try keep at it. I'm in town every Friday night shopping for the weeks shopping, so hopefully update it then if it's up and running.

Just a quick thanks to Dan K & B and Kate, got your messages.
And thanks to Josh for his update on Facebook.

I'm surprised i got here, the bus journey here was one to remember, roads you couldn't even comprehend in Briton. I already have loads of stories, i don't even know where to begin.

I have not started on the Volunteering yet, currently staying in a Salvation Army Hostel in Singida (sing-gee-da) while they teach me Kiswahili and about the culture of the tribes here. Everyone is so friendly but doesn't stop me from feeling nervous around them.

Culture shock is a lot more extreme than i thought, i don't really know what i expected, but even in Dubai, it was fascinating to see such a different world they live in in comparison to us! The other shock is the state of living and the extremes i have to go to to keep health... poverty has really hit me in the face, but i do get the impression that things are being done about it, on the 12 hour journey inland i could see a lot of new buildings being developed, but without any health and safety rules, things are just comical!!!

Anyway, not on for long this time, but will get back soon. Best wishes to all, and i send my love from Tanzania, i start in my Village, Mghumbu (M-goom-boo) on Saturday.

Departure Tomorrow

Don't ask me how i feel, i can't tell you. With less that 12 hours before my arrival at Gatwick, i'm feeling nervous, excited, worried, stressed... actually, pretty much every feeling under the sun. Anyway, just another quick post as i have not that much to tell you about the trip yet. Everything is ready (i think, i hope!) and i wish everyone a great three months. See you all in December some time. Best Wishes! x

Skydive

Well, 31st May was a couple of days ago, and the weather was perfect, even though the forecast predicted otherwise. Woke up on the morning and stuck my head out of the tent to see an absolutely gorgeous morning, few clouds here and there, but just ended up making it more interesting. I spent the whole morning feeling very nervous (not so surprisingly,) but what was surprising was when I climbed into that plane, it all disappeared. No nausea, no butterflies, just excited.
This is going to be so difficult to put into words, the feeling I felt during the whole trip really was out of this world! You can almost imagine it, I was up there in the plane and shuffling towards the open door to see white clouds at the same level as me, thinking “it can’t be that difficult, all I can see is white, what’s there to be afraid of?” then when I got to the edge and looked down, there it was, 12,500 ft of nothing between me and the ground. So I though to myself, lets just do it! So I tucked my legs under the plane so my feet touched the underside, rest my head back against my tandem diver, and then, all of a sudden I was hurling through the air at 128 mph towards the ground… this is the bit that is really hard to describe! It honestly felt amazing and I would recommend it to everyone to do, I mean, I’m certainly going to do it again. What made it even more interesting, I was the last to leave the plane, and after I left, it nose-dived, it was absolutely incredible to see a plane like that dive when you are that close to it. I should say a HUGE thank you to Kate for setting me up with this, what a fantastic 21st birthday present.
I have attached some photos and please message me with any questions.

First Entry

Nearing the end on my uni life, really thinking about the trip ahead now. Can't wait! Though there is so much to do, not to mention the skydive I have on the 31st May... will keep you posted!