Thursday 1st MayFirst day at SchoolI was so nervous especially because my first day was a wet one. A walk down in the rain, walking boots, plastic mack and walking stick. No lesson first thing, but we need to be in school from 8am to 2.35 (when lessons finish) of course the kids get in earlier and leave later so they can clean the classrooms. Difficult subjects - std III are at a unit 'It belongs to / They belong to', which will be 2 weeks work (they have 2 40 mi...

Sunday 29th April.  We went to see Lydia a woman who had given birth on the day of Margaret's party. She was still in bed, but that didn't stop us being invited in - apparently they love getting visitors they almost feel honoured. (do we think that it our culture?) her mother was there and her sister and a whole crowd round the little room (hut) just big enough for the nursing bed, 2 tiny stools we were sitting on and a small table, but still we got ...

Friday 27th - Margaret's Party. We had been invited to a baby's first birthday party - and had no idea what to expect. It's not that common in Tanzania to celebrate birthdays, but this one was special because Margaret's mum - Clemencia - had lost her first baby - we think maybe still born - but had had problems since then, so Margaret was a blessing.  As for the celbrations - well there was the bucket drumming of course - expertly executed ag...

Thursday 26th AprilThis seems like an age ago - sorry I haven't managed to type it up until now!Where do I start with the experiences of this day? Shall I talk of the disabled seemstress, the children in dirty rags who smile & laugh, my attempts at pressing sugar or pounding corn - I think I'll start with Mama Sophia.Mama Sophia (so named - did i say? because her first born was called Sphia - so I would be Mama Matthew - how cool would that be!) Mama Sophia w...

Tuesday 24th   The drive to Yamba.  Heaven knows how far Yamba is from Dar es Salaam,but we got up at 5am, and didn?t reach the village until evening.A coach ride, and hours on a dirt track ?.   Extract from journal- The Welcome   We left Milingano and started really climbing ? so now we use the 4x4 a dirt and rocky track up the mountain.  Cooler, but cling on tight. Very steep ? up and down.  Sttill light but gone half 5 not much lightle...