liz.vso-stories.net : Working abroad as a VSO volunteer. The stories.

Liz.vso-stories.net

Jambiani, Zanzibar, Tanzania 10:52

Messages
Pictures
Chatbox

Give extra pictures to Liz

Message

liz, 7 Oct 2009 14:50 hours
Jambiani, Zanzibar, Tanzania

The final, final message.

I have just returned from a holiday in Plymouth. I had forgotten that I would be coming back to the hot season and arriving in Jambiani was quite a shock. It is impossible to be inside without a fan whirring away, even at night. The neighbours keep telling me that it is hotter than usual and they are certainly not venturing out in the midday sun.

I managed the journey from England in 2 days, arriving at Dar at 7.00, catching the 10.00 ferry and then the 1.00 bus to Jambiani. It takes longer to get by bus from Dar to Mwanza than it did to get from Plymouth to Jambiani. I arrived home to find that I had hardly any water and that everything was sticky with sand. I also discovered that I had no food and that the local shops were closed. There were only a few tomatoes and bananas at a small stall, so I had to go to town the next morning to get some food.

I went to town without breakfast and without any money at all apart from my fare in, as I’d also run out of money. Sometimes the cash machines don’t work and so I spent my time on the bus planning what to do if the machines weren’t working (panic basically) but they did and I was able to get plenty of money and then get some breakfast. I’d caught the 7.20 bus in and the 11.00 bus back as I had nothing else to do apart from buying some fruit and veg. About 6 hours travelling and less than 1 hour shopping. I am used to the daladala being crowded but it was exceptional. There were 60 of us on a bus officially seating 24. The aisle was jammed with little children all returning to Jambiani after the Eid festivities in town. There were little elbows and knees everywhere, as well as our luggage. The journey took nearly 3 hours and so by the time I got home, I needed a good rest. On Sunday I caught a morning bus from town and I presumed it would be not quite so crowded. I was wrong. I travelled with an entire local football team and their supporters as well as the usual passengers. Sometimes tropical island living is not quite the gentle paradise that people imagine but then it’s never boring either.

School closed 4 weeks ago for Ramadan. It will open Monday for one week and then close again for 2 weeks because of Form 4 National Exams, the equivalents of GCSEs. We are to produce a play with Form 3 students that has to be ready by the beginning of November as we are presenting it at a seminar for local youth leaders. We have to read the text book, write the script and get it ready for performance. Slight problem.

Even with school closed, I am busy. I am teaching a set of seminars at the local teachers centres during October, working with the students on the play, teaching my community English group, doing some computer training at the village health centre and making even more soap. I love making soap. It is so satisfying. The method here is really easy -2 parts coconut oil, one part water and one part caustic soda. Stir with the nearest available bit of wood and voila! I am working with the students and we are experimenting with colour at the moment. My favourite comes from the blue powder that goes in with the sheets to make them white. It makes the soap a rich blue and if we then add clove oil, the soap goes sage green. I wanted to get palm oil to improve the soap and I presumed that we must have palm trees here and so I went off on safari, into the darkest depths of Stone Town to find the oil. People kept telling me to go to the chemists but the people in the chemists shops simply looked blank. It turned out that I needed to go to the shops selling “local” medicine. The “local” medicine shops sell all manner of lotions and potions, even strange dried things that I am a bit wary of investigating too closely. In the first shop I couldn’t find the owner until he popped up from behind the counter where he had been down on the floor, giving a customer a massage. The palm oil was far too expensive but he had all manner of little bottles of perfumed oils that might be useful. I have to go back with some empty bottles and my dictionary.

The other day, I decided to buy some fish for a few street cats that I see regularly. On the way I spotted another tattered little cat and thought it might like a little fish. When I got to it, its eyes were out of its head and the fish was definitely a bit late. I didn’t stay to watch the poor thing’s final throes. Stone Town is full of cats, from starving, mangy animals that I’d rather not get too close to, to great fat fluffy lumps that have adopted a local food stall. Forodhani gardens are a big tourist attraction (set between the Old Fort and the sea) and we sometimes go to eat there. Every night dozens of food stalls set up, the chefs all in their “whites”, hats and all, and the choice of food is amazing, with more varieties of sea food than I ever imagined. And every night the place is jammed with cats.

I am finishing in Jambiani in December and that will be very sad. I love living in the village and I will be leaving many friends behind. The neighbours are already eyeing up my possessions and I shall need to have the judgement of Solomon to parcel out all my plates and bedding and assorted clutter without offending anyone. One friend is desperate for my food blender which seems a bit strange as she has no electricity in her house. Sadly even old shoes with the soles falling off and chipped plates have a market here. I have long since learnt that even those things that I am embarrassed to offer, will find an owner if I leave them on the garden wall.

I am still negotiating about what I shall do when I leave Jambiani but I am hoping to stay in Tanzania.

Pictures from message

boys look...	Memories ...	Palm trees?	Just a be...
A class o...
And some ...	The soap ...	Obviously...	Definitel...
Day out a...
The day out

Pictures »

Reactions to this message

kadsaerara

8 Oct 2009 00:31 hours

Hello. And Bye.

kadsaerara

8 Oct 2009 10:27 hours

Hello. And Bye.

Xtravelos

8 Oct 2009 11:02 hours

Article is the best what I saw before. Thx u a lot

neuptenrill

8 Oct 2009 15:38 hours

Microsoft pushing Bing.com! Any ideas if it is good as they say? or is it active to available like VISTA?

kadsaerara

8 Oct 2009 21:22 hours

Hello. And Bye.

roorpopsymn

9 Oct 2009 02:11 hours

I inhibit a write down up baby more hither BING and its late features! but I dubiousness they purpose attired in b be committed to any sip over with google! what search contrivance are you using?

kadsaerara

9 Oct 2009 11:36 hours

Hello. And Bye.

Grairee

10 Oct 2009 04:28 hours

Deutschland sucht den Superstar und das Supertalent:
Wer steckt wohl hinter den ganzen Bohlen-Sprüchen aus den RTL-Shows, DSDS usw.?

Es ist kein Geringerer als Gerd Graf Bernadotte af Wisborg, der Dieter Bohlen diese Sprüche in den Mund legt!

Graf Bernadotte ist langjähriger Berater des Poptitan Dieter Bohlen und lancierte auch schon Nadja Abd el Farrag (Naddel) auf über 1000 Schlagzeilen.
Seit Jahren ist Gerd Graf Bernadotte für die Sprüche des Pop-Titanen verantwortlich.

Wir dürfen uns über weitere Sprüche des Grafen Bernadotte freuen und hoffen, dass Dieter Bohlen
noch viele davon einsetzt.

Gruss

Ken

Bernadotte ist der Name des regierenden Geschlechtes des Königreichs Schweden. Gerd Graf Bernadottes Großvater
wurde bekannt durch den Umbau der Insel Mainau im Bodensee in ein Blumenparadies, das jährlich von über einer Million Touristen besucht wird.
Gerd Graf Bernadotte erwartet einen zufällig entdeckten Erbanspruch, welcher auch in die Formel Eins fließen soll. Laut Notar handelt es sich bei dem Erbe des
Königs von Schweden, Gustav VI. (bis 1973) um 25 Millionen Schwedische Kronen. Hochgerechnet zzgl. Zinsen bei der Svenska Handelsbank in Stockholm handelt es sich
dabei um ein Sümmchen von 55 Millionen Euro.

TjTGjwmJmtFofdURtN

11 Oct 2009 15:51 hours

awegaw1.txt;2;5

Galion

13 Oct 2009 09:50 hours

Can discuss this subject in another place, why blog foul.

Tilespace

14 Oct 2009 02:54 hours

I was thinking it was time to join and here I am.
This will keep me busy at night.

Tilespace

roorpopsymn

16 Oct 2009 05:19 hours

Impartially really enoyed the altered wab babesandbillionaires dot com....dont fantasies to spam it but was surrprised that I had a chance to talk to a rou‚ model! It was awesoem incident! at least for me

AVerniks

16 Oct 2009 14:38 hours

As for me, everything is fully satisfied.

kadsaerara

16 Oct 2009 15:33 hours

Hello. And Bye.

kadsaerara

16 Oct 2009 22:39 hours

Hello. And Bye.

vellseasexy

17 Oct 2009 07:32 hours

Hi People
How are you doing?

kadsaerara

17 Oct 2009 10:32 hours

Hello. And Bye.

kadsaerara

18 Oct 2009 06:01 hours

Hello. And Bye.

kadsaerara

19 Oct 2009 23:56 hours

Hello. And Bye.

Merlin48

22 Oct 2009 14:50 hours

October 2008 at 9:35 pm Dear Mr Goldstein,I work for the brazilian magazine and i´m interested in writing about your experiment. ,

kadsaerara

22 Oct 2009 21:38 hours

Hello. And Bye.

Pol73

23 Oct 2009 13:28 hours

Would you be interested in going to that meeting, whenever it happens? ,

kadsaerara

23 Oct 2009 20:03 hours

Hello. And Bye.

kadsaerara

26 Oct 2009 06:58 hours

Hello. And Bye.

kadsaerara

26 Oct 2009 09:42 hours

Hello. And Bye.

buy hoodia

27 Oct 2009 15:22 hours

lo polela konekto fasto

kadsaerara

28 Oct 2009 14:25 hours

Hello. And Bye.

Fierce

29 Oct 2009 09:27 hours

Competently make a blog, and information picked up by tematike.Avtor fellow!

LaptopAces

30 Oct 2009 20:29 hours

Thanks! Its realy cool. I think you make realy hard work.

Frexgetle

31 Oct 2009 03:27 hours

An antidepressant is a medication used primarily in the treatment of depression.
Depression can occur if some of the chemicals called neurotransmitters in the brain are not functioning effectively.
There are three specific chemicals that can affect a person's mood
Antidepressants affect one or more of these chemicals in different ways to help stabilize the chemical imbalance often seen in depression.

wppppppzpppp

2 Nov 2009 02:17 hours

Âûðàæàþ àäìèíèñòðàöèè ñàéòà ñâîþ áëàãîäàðíîñòü! Ñïàñèáî Âàì, Óâàæàåìûå, çà ïîëåçíóþ èíôîðìàöèþ! Áóäó ïðèõîäèòü ê Âàì ÷àùå, åñëè áóäåò ïîÿâëÿòüñÿ íîâàÿ èíôà )

rekrassylis

3 Nov 2009 22:00 hours

-Äåëàþ ñàéòû îò 30$ áàííåðîâ îò 10$
-ðàññûëêà ðåêëàìû íà 30000 ôîðóìîâ 20$
-íà 10000 ýëåêòðîííûõ äîñîê îáúÿâëåíèé 7$
-ðåãèñòðàöèÿ â 6000 êàòàëîãîâ 7$
-ðàññûëêà íà òåìàòè÷åñêèå ñàéòû (ôîðóìû, äîñêè, êàòàëîãè, íîâîñíûå è ò.ï.) - ñáîð áàçû
+ ðàññûëêà 60$. Âñå ïîñëåäóþùèå ðàññûëêè 10-20$.Ñîáðàíûå áàçû îòäàþ Âàì.
-ðó÷íàÿ ðåãèñòðàöèÿ â ëþáûõ ðåñóðñàõ 0.2$ çà ðåãèñòðàöèþ (ìèíèìóì 200 ðåãèñòðàöèé Wink
-êîìïëåêñíàÿ ðàñêðóòêà ñàéòîâ 1000$ ðàçîâî + 200$ â ìåñÿö çà ðàññûëêè èëè ïî äîãîâîðåíîñòè.
-äåëàþ ñáîð áàç ëþáûõ ðåñóðñîâ ïîä çàêàç
-ïîèñê èíôîðìàöèè â èíòåðíåòå 10$
E-mail: frol45@mail.ru

gytaresa

6 Nov 2009 15:59 hours

Hi to all
Please visit some great sites

gytaresa

7 Nov 2009 04:27 hours

Hi to all
Please visit some great sites

screamerct

7 Nov 2009 07:37 hours

What's up? Been lurking for a while and decided to sign up and post.

Umm so like does anyone know how to unblock facebook from school?

gytaresa

7 Nov 2009 12:03 hours

Hi to all
Please visit some great sites

gytaresa

8 Nov 2009 02:27 hours

Hi to all
Please visit some great sites

gytaresa

8 Nov 2009 15:24 hours

Hi to all
Please visit some great sites

gytaresa

8 Nov 2009 21:13 hours

Hi to all
Please visit some great sites

gytaresa

9 Nov 2009 13:16 hours

Hi to all
Please visit some great sites

gunsvd

10 Nov 2009 01:31 hours

Àâòîð, Âû äîñòîéíû óâàæåíèÿ!

gytaresa

10 Nov 2009 12:28 hours

Hi to all
Please visit some great sites

Pirvozz

10 Nov 2009 14:38 hours

Greetings,
We have prepared a contract and added the paragraphs that you wanted to see in it.
Our lawyers made alterations on the last page. If you agree all the provisions we are ready to make the payment on Friday for the first consignment,
We are enclosing the file with prepared contract.

peter.morrison2010@gmail.com
jerryleavinglasvegas@gmail.com

free keno

12 Nov 2009 11:01 hours

some very interesting points... but i think your research and bias leaves a lot to be desired... then of course, that's just my opinion...
have a great day... definitely a thought-provoking post!

eburgmap

15 Nov 2009 19:22 hours

Ñïàñèáî çà ñòàòüþ Wink

reklama

19 Nov 2009 20:15 hours

Ãàçåòíàÿ ðåêëàìà íå ýôôåêòèâíà?
Òåëåâèäåíèå è ðàäèî äîðîãî?
Ãäå ìîæíî äàòü ñâîþ ðåêëàìó, ÷òîáû åãî óâèäåëè è çàãîâàðèëè î íåì?
Äà òàê, ÷òîáû ïîëó÷èòü ýôôåêò îò ðåêëàìû ñðàçó?
Îòâåò îäèí ýëåêòðîííàÿ ðàññûëêà !
Î Âàñ óçíàåò áîëüøîå êîëè÷åñòâî ëþäåé, íå òîëüêî â Ìîñêâå, à òàêæå ïî âñåé Ðîññèè !
Âîçìîæíû âûáîðêè êàê ïî îòðàñëÿì,òàê è ïî ãåîãðàôè÷åñêîé ïðèíàäëåæíîñòè !
Íàøå êà÷åñòâî ïðîâåðåííî âðåìåíåì !
Îïûò ðàáîòû áîëåå 9-òè ëåò !
À íàøè ñåçîííûå ñêèäêè Âàñ ïðèÿòíî óäèâÿò !
Çàêàçàòü ðåêëàìó ìîæíî ïî òåëåôîíó: 8-495-729-29-85

emefiammept

20 Nov 2009 02:48 hours

Could not find a suitable section so I written here, how to become a moderator for your forum, that need for this?

plewmecubbence

20 Nov 2009 15:19 hours

...please where can I buy a unicorn?

Valerygek

21 Nov 2009 08:45 hours

Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!

BooxHoite

24 Nov 2009 18:42 hours

Îãî/Íè÷åãî ñåáå

werlinks

25 Nov 2009 03:13 hours

- èçãîòîâëåíèå ñàéòîâ îò 30$, áàííåðîâ îò 10$
- ðàññûëêà ðåêëàìû íà 30000 ðóññêîÿçû÷íûõ ôîðóìîâ - 20$
- ðàññûëêà íà 10000 ðóññêîÿçû÷íûõ äîñîê - 7$
- çàðåãèñòðèðîâàòü ñàéò â 6000 ðóññêîÿçû÷íûõ êàòàëîãàõ - 7$
- ðàññûëêà ðåêëàìû íà 30000 àíãëîÿçû÷íûõ ôîðóìîâ - 20$
-ðàññûëêà ðåêëàìû íà òåìàòè÷åñêèå ñàéòû (êàòàëîãè,äîñêè è äð.) - ñáîð áàçû
+ ðàññûëêà 60$. Ñëåäóþùèå ðàññûëêè 10-20$.Ñîáðàíûå áàçû îòäàì Âàì.
-ðàññûëêà ðåêëàìû â ðó÷íóþ íà ëþáûå ðåñóðñû èíòåðíåòà 0.2$ çà êàæäóþ ðåãèñòðàöèþ (íå ìåíüøå 200 ðåãèñòðàöèé Wink
-êîìïëåêñíàÿ ðàñêðóòêà ñàéòîâ 1000$ ðàçîâàÿ + 200$ â ìåñÿö çà ðàññûëêè èëè ïî äîãîâîðåíîñòè.
-Ðàññûëêà íà E-mail (òîëüêî ïî Âàøèì áàçàì ïîäïèñ÷èêîâ Wink 20$ íà 150000 àäðåñîâ. Ìîæíî íà ìåíüøèå îáúåìû íî íå ìåíüøå 10$
-ñáîð áàç ëþáûõ ðåñóðñîâ.
E-mail: slava2764@mail.ru

unicumasd

25 Nov 2009 08:21 hours

Íîâåéøèå Óíèêàëüíûå ñåðâèñû !

cantralor.ru/?pid=3613
pouskovik.ru/?pid=3613
dadimsexa.ru/?pid=3613
alenaka.ru/?pid=3613
vkcontrol.ru/?pid=3613

arh-map

26 Nov 2009 15:02 hours

Ñïàñèáî Wink

emefiammept

27 Nov 2009 01:15 hours

Could not find a suitable section so I written here, how to become a moderator for your forum, that need for this?

emefiammept

27 Nov 2009 15:24 hours

Could not find a suitable section so I written here, how to become a moderator for your forum, that need for this?

healthbase

27 Nov 2009 19:47 hours

Ñïàñèáî Wink

reklamaa

28 Nov 2009 02:32 hours

Ãàçåòíàÿ ðåêëàìà íå ïðèíîñèò äîëæíîãî ýôôåêòà?
ÒÂ è ðàäèî äîðîãî?
Ãäå ìîæíî äàòü ñâîþ ðåêëàìó, ÷òîáû åãî óâèäåëè è çàãîâàðèëè î íåì?
Äà òàê, ÷òîáû ïîëó÷èòü ðåçóëüòàò îò ðåêëàìû ìãíîâåííî?
Îòâåò îäèí ýëåêòðîííàÿ ðàññûëêà !
Î Âàñ óçíàåò áîëüøîå êîëè÷åñòâî ëþäåé, íå òîëüêî â Ìîñêâå, à òàêæå ïî âñåé Ðîññèè !
Âîçìîæíû âûáîðêè êàê ïî îòðàñëÿì,òàê è ïî ãåîãðàôè÷åñêîé ïðèíàäëåæíîñòè !
Íàøå êà÷åñòâî ïðîâåðåííî âðåìåíåì !
Îïûò ðàáîòû áîëåå 9-òè ëåò !
À íàøè ñåçîííûå ñêèäêè Âàñ ïðèÿòíî óäèâÿò !
Äåëàéòå çàêàçû ïî òåëåôîíó: 8-495-729-29-85

DimaSpacer

3 Dec 2009 10:42 hours

Ñîáñòâåííî ñàáæ, íèêàê íå ìîãó íàéòè áëèí
ïîäñêàæèòå ïëç...

Hecereupt

9 Dec 2009 06:04 hours

toradetle https://launchpad.net/~buy-ativan-without-prescription - buy ativan Ativan https://launchpad.net/~buy-codeine-online-without-prescription - buy codeine Codeine https://launchpad.net/~buy-bactrim-without-prescription - what is bactrim Bactrim https://launchpad.net/~buy-ambien-without-prescription - ambien online Ambien

watch movie online

10 Dec 2009 09:38 hours