First Few Weeks in Rock City

So,  it's time for an update.  My transition to life in Mwanza has been going well.  The apartment I'm staying in is lovely, and the family that manages the property is wonderful.  Last week , when I finally met the landlord, (who is the brother of the man who manages the apartments) I found out he works for a Lutheran Organization based in Germany that works on climate change issues.  Well, I've obviously landed in the right place.  :) He is a solar and wind energy consultant.  I'm glad the money I'm spending on my apartment is going to support him and his family.

He is so nice and had some stoves he brought from the Congo to test out here in Tanzania.  They run off a car battery, fan, and charcoal chips.  Apparently the charcoal chips are free, but if this takes off, I'd imagine that would change.  Here are some pictures.  Lazaro, the apartment manager is in the orange.    The landlord explained to me that it's much cheaper than buying wood to cook with, and it doesn't cause eye problems for the women and children, that the smoke from burning the wood does.  They get red eyes and are sometimes accused of being witches. He said hopefully this could help with that problem.  He is marketing it through an organization that promotes small, sustainable businesses.  Martha, an aunt, is the one cooking.  She's one of the sweetest, gentlest women I've ever met, but was just visiting for the weekend unfortunately.

Work is going well.  I've been revising the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan since last week, and also working on various other little projects.  This Thursday and Friday the M&E specialist and I will conduct a training for the agricultural extension officers and community health workers who will have to fill out the forms to monitor the program.  Luckily they speak English, but I'm sure there will be some translation happening.

I've been making some good friends, both European and Tanzanian, and they've been showing me all the hot spots around town.  It's been really nice to feel so at home so quickly.  Well, "at home" might be a bit of a stretch, but I'm definitely in a very comfortable apartment, and the family that lives on the same property is so great.  We're becoming close already, and the mom, Christina, took me to the market the other day to buy food to cook a meal together.  We made fish, amaranth greens and I had my first ugali ever.  The meal was so good, and I learned how to slow cook the fish with oil, onions, tomatoes, bell pepper and lots of salt.   We ate it all with our hands, which is why it's a tradition at restaurants here to have someone come around with a basin and pitcher of warm water and soap for you to wash your hands before your meal.  It's really nice.  As we ate, I thought of all the times I've heard American parents tell kids not to eat with their hands.

Last night, Christina invited me for dinner, but I wasn't sure what time, and I went up to the house once but didn't see anyone outside and wasn't sure what to do, so I went home.  Just when I was about to go back to check, her two littlest girls show up on my doorstep with my dinner, all in nice little containers.  It was so sweet.  I'll have to cook a meal for them this weekend....any suggestions?  

Maggie adding water to the fish.  

Love this picture of Christina.

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The two middle sisters.  Maggie and Suzy.  

Posing.  Don't mind my hair...yikes.  

Maybe if we hold our mouths just right, this ugali will be easier to stir...or maybe not.

I was hopeless with stirring the stuff...you can see her laughing.

That is some seriously thick, stick-to-your-ribs, food right there.