Guest blog, mamma Libby (Katie)
Christmas happened all over again, when we reached Dodoma on the 2nd Jan at the start of a two and a half week visit to Tanzania, to coincide with the children's long summer holiday.
Small people love visitors and when those visitors happen to be family and come bearing gifts, their excitement knows no bounds. Although the presents we brought with us, were from a range of family and friends, we had the reward of seeing little faces light up and squeals of joy and delight, when they opened them. They were very pleased with everything they were given. It might be appropriate to say here that most of Libby and Daniel's Christmas post arrived after we did, in January, even stuff posted early in December.
Most of our time in Dodoma was spent fitting in with the routine, helping with the children, sewing (K!), babysitting, swimming in the MAF pool, which fortunately was up and running again after a refit, etc. We went to the ice-cream shop a few times; visited the prison to purchase baskets and mats made by the prisoners; visited the new, American built, Christian Medical Centre, which also has dental facilities; went to a children's party of one of Bethany's friends; went to Saba Saba, the non-food market, to look for curtain material; went to "one way street" to look for batik material and wrap around kangas; visited "Two Sisters" a small shop which sells western groceries; and visited the homes of Libby's two house ladies. We saw Elizabeti's new, sturdier cowshed and her new cows and two calves, which replaced the ones stolen last year.
Last Saturday we drove to Bagamoyo on the coast, north of Dar, to get the boat to Lazy Lagoon, a small island (9km long) in the Zanzibar channel, where we would be for the next two nights. Most of the island is a nature reserve and accommodation is in 12 bandas/rooms, with all mod cons; very close to the beach. There's a large restaurant/bar/lounge area and a swimming pool and you can swim in the sea. Consider this, you can walk in the sea without flinching, as the water is warm and when you come out, you don't need a towel either, as it's warm! The warm winds reduced the mosquito factor and kept the temperature pleasant, plus all meals were provided and there was no washing up (!), so it was a relaxing time for everyone.
After lunch on Monday we headed for Dar for the last two nights, before flying home on Wednesday morning, from temperatures around 34 degrees and brilliant sunshine, to rain, wind and a drop to 6 degrees in London, but at least it was above freezing!
Memorable events included:-
Acidently leaving a piece of hand luggage in the airport in Dar and not being able to retrieve it until the day before we flew home. It mainly had Roy's stuff in it, but apart from having to buy 2 pairs of shorts in Saba Saba, he had enough of other clothes, just, to get by. In the end it meant the kids got some extra gifts, as we left, which was fun and we were very grateful for the integrity of the airport staff, as nothing was missing.
Eating gazelle for one Sunday lunch, a gift from a colleague of E and D's, who'd hunted it
Caleb crying, because someone wouldn't let him play with the machete he was wielding and took it off him - how mean was that!
Joshua losing his second, top front, baby tooth. It had caused him some anxiety re where it might come out, as he wanted to add it to his collection.
Bethany's "I style myself" outfits and accessorizing, mainly pink, but branching out
Caleb's tree climbing, best not to look, activities-he can get quite high, but not always down without help
Daniel, Joshua and Caleb having a shared Lego building experience, making the transport ferry and a week later an aeroplane from the same bricks
Finding out that giant cockroaches are more frightened of me, than I of them
The continuing popularity of Robin Hood (J and C); and also Davy Crockett, (the same film I watched, when I was a child!)
Enjoying the sun, knowing how cold it was in the UK, rumours of -14degrees one night, filtered through
The many hermit crabs on Lazy Lagoon and the diversity of shells they use
Bethany being brave and patting Lazy Lagoon's resident dog
Libby getting her work permit for her job as Partnership and Development Manager, covering a colleague's maternity leave
Renewing friendships with people on the base
Swimming virtually every day
Seeing how Daniel and Libby have grown in their roles and in the learning of Swahili
Getting away from the news, radio and television
Being in Africa again and spending quality time with the family
posted by Daniel & Libby @ 5:12 am
4 comments
