June just disappeared...

Today (10th July) is a significant day – exactly two months since my arrival in Tanzania. My emotions pattern themselves on the name of the Sydney restaurant ‘Oscillate Wildly’. Most of the time I’m positive, and feel that I can handle being away from Ian, and that I’m making a worthwhile contribution here. Other times I just emotionally crash & think “What am I doing here so far away from the guy I love? I should just fly home.” Those nights, for it’s mostly nights, are tough. Things generally look brighter in the morning though.

Getting settled back into Kili Kids after trekking has been quite an undertaking. I had a huge backlog of documents to download (a mind-numbingly time-consuming task) & emails to respond to, as well as trying to get my head around the huge influx of volunteers we’re welcoming this month.

I didn’t have to camp out in a small tent on my return to the Hoff, as I’d expected. A cancellation meant that I could move back into my old permanent tent, although a different bed – it was quite a home-coming feeling. After all, the Hoff is the closest thing I’ve got to a home here.

There’s been a significant changeover of Hoff residents in my absence, and the night after I returned we had a farewell dinner for another two girls. We went out to Deli Chez (pronounced phonetically here, otherwise the taxi drivers have no idea where you want to go). I’d heard several rave reviews of their Vege-burgers, so gave one a go after a vegetarian spring roll starter. The burger was enjoyable but nothing to rave about in my humble non-connoisseur opinion. Did enjoy the chocolate sundae that followed though (once I’d picked off the nuts – doh!). A three-course dinner plus Coke for 8,200TSh (approx $8.20AU)... not bad really. I can certainly afford the occasional night out without breaking the bank.

We regularly get random visitors at Kili Kids: an American lady who’s been chatting with one of our volunteers at her hotel, and is interested in rallying her friends to organise some fundraising for us when she goes home; an American student doing ground-level research on healthcare access & working with a local health clinic to assess the feasibility of setting up a micro-loan scheme for folks who can’t afford the doctor’s appointment fee; and a seemingly endless stream of past volunteers returning to say hello or “hang around” for a few days.

My collection of movies is proving popular at Hoff. How to make yourself feel old... watch a movie like Top Gun with a bunch of young folks all saying “When did this come out? No wonder I don’t remember it, I was ONE that year.” It was a fascinating trip down memory lane. Bit sad that I had to restrain myself from singing along with all the soundtrack lyrics; Top Gun was one of the first cassettes I bought in Bali when I was fifteen. I was really keen on Tom Cruise back then, so very funny to watch it now that I’m totally not (weirdo) & also with girls who are all grossed out by him.

June concluded with a typically TIA (This is Africa) moment when I walked back to the Kili Kids office, after having been briefly in the house, to find all our belongings locked in to the office by Zawadi (our accountant), who’d driven off to town. Despite an extensive search, the spare key couldn’t be located & we ended up having to phone Zawadi to return, so we could get to our valuables & leave to buy lunch.

I received THE most delightful end of financial year present, in the form of my Wild Woman on Top friend Sal visiting, and volunteering at Kili Kids for most of a week before she gallivanted off all over Africa. I was so delighted when she walked around the corner of her hostel; to see the face of one of my friends was deeply joyous! Sal not only brought my first “care package” from Ian, but lots of spoil me goodies herself. Thanks so much WWoT girls for your scrumtiddilyumptious moisturiser suggestion to Sal – my skin is enjoying it immensely.

Sal and I had a great time together, dining out each night, including attending a fundraising dinner for a local NGO. That was a really lovely evening. De rigueur for these events: the charity information table, children’s artwork for sale, women’s tailoring items for sale, local artists displaying their wares, raffle tickets, and so on. The band was enjoyable to listen to, playing an intriguing blend of African and Western music. Some of the Western music was scarily old muzak though. Remember the track with the chorus that goes “Hello... is it me you’re looking for?” Sal and I had a great laugh, reminiscing that it was a hit in the roller skating rink when we were teens.

I also had another giggle when, after the charity founder (a Tanzanian) gave his nervous speech in Kiingereza (English), he informed the crowd that “The band is ready to shake shake, welcome, enjoy.”

And we did...