Don’t forget the sunscreen

BBC weather report for Moshi

I actually have no concept of how hot 30C is, nor what it will feel like day after day. Given the recent wet and gloominess of UK weather I am quite willing to find out but my freckles may not thank me.

Home sweet Kitolie home

I have my project details!

And, more importantly, my accommodation details.

So I am staying at the Kitolie Lodge which looks very cute. More importantly it has electricity and running water – I am excited. I need to take a mosquito net which is fine because I have already made this all important purchase although I am a tad nervous about erecting the bloody thing.

My project is the Upendo Tailoring Women’s Group who are apparently a group of around eight women who deal mainly with – you’ve guessed it – tailoring. I can’t sew to save my life but I’m guessing they don’t need my help in the actual stitching department. Apparently they’re short of equipment especially sewing machines but I really don’t think I’m going to be able to get one of those in my suitcase!

The only slight problem is that my project is about 4km from my accommodation which means a five mile walk every day – I am going to be fit at least (but slightly knackered). Also I’m working 8.30 to 5 Monday to Friday and 8.30 to 12 on Saturday – I haven’t worked a five day week since October – I really will be knackered.

It’s all more real. It’s all more exciting.

Kuna mtu yeyote kusema Kiingereza?

My Swahili is not going well. I’m having realy difficulties with the amount of consonants that it seems to put together. I’m really hoping that once I get there, it’ll get a bit easier (out of necessity rather than anything else).

I’m going to carry around the most important phrases and my phrasebook then I can at least point at the words if my pronunciation lets me down.

So far the most important phrases seem to be:

Unasema Kiingereza? (Do you speak English?) – thankfully easy

Tafadhali (please)

Asante (thank you)

glasi ya bia (a glass of beer)

Choo kiko wapi? (where’s the toilet?)

Nina mzio wa ndizi (I’m allergic to bananas) This will be very important on Wednesday nights as that is banana stew night – I think I’ll be going out!

Anyway, hopefully that’ll cover the basics along with habari (hello/how are you?) so hopefully they will take pity on me and speak English!

Stationery

Went on a bit of a stationery buying spree yesterday. I love stationery, I love buying notebooks and lovely pens that write really nicely, preferably with a nice squishy bit so I don’t get “writer’s bump” and if it’s an interesting colour ink then so much the better. I always thought I was a bit weird for being like this, but it turns out Suw has similar stationery foibles - thank goodness it’s not just me!

Anyway, the stationery yesterday was a bit more utilitarian and I had to resist all temptation with the fact that lovely notebooks were half price as were a gorgeous set of coloured gel pens. Apparently Tanzanian pencils are crap so it’s been recommended that I take some over. Woolworths were selling 36 for just 63p – what a bargain! I’m hoping they’re going to be better quality than Tanzanian pencils but at that price I’m not sure. I also bought some felt tips for my lessons and some A3 paper in case there isn’t a blackboard, that way I can stick the paper on the wall and hey presto something for me to write on. Not that I actually know what I’m going to be teaching yet. I have some thoughts for lessons but can’t really write up my lesson plans until I get there. It’s a bit annoying because I’ve got a bit of time on my hands at the moment and I could really do some decent planning. Oh well.

Less than four weeks

I am thoroughly excited. In less than four short weeks I will be in Tanzania!

Well I hope to be although the visa situation is still proving impossible to understand/get any straight answers on! I have just sent another email in the hope that someone will be able to stop me worrying.

I’ve had most of my jabs – just the second Hep B to go. Typhoid was the worst, always makes me feel a bit flu-ey and generally yuk.

I have all my clothes sorted, most of my toiletries (which are going to take up most of my suitcase). Rather annoyingly the two things you can’t get in Moshi are sunscreen and DEET spray – I spy a retail opportunity – so I’m having to take a fair amount of those. I seem to remember that I blogged that I had all my clothes a couple of weeks ago – I was fibbing but now I really must stop buying things! Also got my mosquito net so I’m set for some adventures with the Maasai. I’ve also obeen bought a silk snuggly liner for a sleeping bag which will do for a sleeping bag in the warm weather and can also be used on my bed to make me feel cosy and happy (when I am suffering from the inevitable home-sickness).

I should get all my project and accommodation details next Saturday by which point I will be beside myself with even more excitement.

Long time

I know it’s been a long time but been having all sorts of laptop problems.

Preparation is going really well: I finished my TEFL (hurrah!), I’ve started having my jabs (less hurrah but at least I’m up to date on tetanus, hep A and polio so slightly less pincushiony). I also got my malaria prescription today. This was a bit of a pleasant surprise because I had been expecting to potentially have a battle on my hands as I wanted to get Malarone and some drs are funny about prescribing it for more than 28 days. Anyway, no battle. Also was expecting to have to pay a fortune for it as it is usually only given as a private prescription but (without me asking or saying a word), I got it on an NHS prescription. Someone is looking after me and – for that – I am very grateful.

I have also been shopping like a demon and now have all my clothes and toiletries sorted. Need to get my mosquito net and a couple of other travel type bits but it’s all looking good. Have also bought some London memorabilia as – apparently – people will be interested in this.

Only 5 weeks to go and very excited.