We then gathered at the "Library"( kudos to Bob for this moniker of our hangout spot, I will let Bob explain this himself), did some studying and then decided on a walk. It was nice exploring downtown Ilula in the sun. Walking through the village I was reminded of the similarities of this place with some villages I had visited and seen in my home country Nigeria. Definitely nostalgic for me.
Children screaming Mzungu (white person) at my colleagues, running up for hand shakes and gifts( Deann gave them some pens), wanting pictures etc.
We also walked by vendors with wares of interesting colors and types ; mostly legumes and hibiscus leaves. It was definitely interesting seeing the the variances in living conditions as you walked down a stretch.
Our walk gave us an opportunity for interesting conversations and exposure to the things around us. We bought a tub of mangoes, they looked too good to pass up so 10000 TZS( later we are walking home with 3 bags of mangoes. The group thought it was cool. We felt good about our decision and action.
I personally got to talk to family today. This made me truly happy. Spotty phone service and poor internet service has made it difficult speaking with family a shift from speaking with them multiple times a day. I was therefore stoked about my success.
Our trip for Iringa put a break in my communication today. I napped on our way there, but the tour around the industrial parts of the city as we sought for wares that would remind us of our time here was splendid. People sourced for Kangas , ketenge, massai beads, baskets, carvings etc. In the end everyone was satisfied with their buys and the cost of acquisition of each ware.
We then met up for drinks a local pub while we spoke with a USAID representative of her experiences working in TZ and other African nations she has had the honor of working in both as a peace corp member, an employee of Johns Hopkins and many other organizations she worked/ consulted for. The drinks were cold and refreshing, they also played Afrobeats reminding me strongly of home.
Our drive back was eventful as we trudged into a busy supermarket trying to replenish our snack boxes. Of note we also invested in libations from wines to whiskey, ciders, gin etc. We definitely are looking forward to weeks of bonding and relaxation post the hard work we do during the day.
In general, today was great. It was reflective of, and showcased the beauty that resides in rural life and living. As a group we continue to strive for balance and we seem to be doing a great job giving of ourselves, fulfilling destiny and dreams while also restoring our physical and mental bodies.
No comments:
Post a Comment