Team Poa Tanzania Take on Managha!

 

Mambo! (Hi) After almost 2 days of stressful travelling team Tanzania have finally landed in Africa. We spent our first night in Arusha Backpackers after our first Tanzanian style journey with Gem and Robbie (our driver for the day) from Killi airport. Having not gone to bed till 11 as the soup took several hours to cook (we are on ‘African time’ now apparently), we got up at 6 to catch the bus to Babati, this was our first real taste of Tanzania and despite having booked enough seats for us and our bags we somehow still didn’t have enough room. 3 hours later and after numerous strange encounters with other people’s body parts and groceries we met Julian and Mr Kahembe in Babati town.

 

We all agree that Babati had a much more rural feel but was also far more welcoming than the bustle of Arusha.

 

As we pulled into Managha primary school we were greeted by a stampede of around 150 children running towards the car – sounds amazing, it was terrifying! After finally managing to escape the crowds we were treated to a traditional welcome with beautiful singing from the children (admittedly it sounded as though they were repeating the same song over and over again). We spent the evening setting up home number 2 in one of the classrooms and enjoyed the first of many meals of rice and beans. 

 

 

Following a day of orientation and rest Monday saw the start of the work we came here to do. While we all knew it wouldn’t e easy I don’t think anyone anticipated quite how tough it would be. We are writtig this in the sunshine of working day number 2 as we have already managed to complete more than we had expected. We have plastered a classroom in a day so today were already able to start the liming and in addition have created a market garden to supply vegetables for the school meals that will be provided to the children of Managha once we finish building the kitchen!

 

 

Whilst we are all missing our luxuries we are definitely starting to get used long drops and bucket showers (rice and beans however – we are not so sure). We can hardly complain though considering the community has decided to build us a house for the rest of our stay, which, compared to the floor of the classroom where we were told we would be staying is a dream come true.

No real problems or arguments so far, but plenty of laughs which have been displayed for all to see on our quotes wall….There are some real crackers but that will have to wait till we are home.

Although we may be missing home we have had an amazing start to the trip and can’t wait to continue working with this inspring community.

 

We were going to say goodbye in Swahili but we have only had one lesson so far so, See Ya!