Returning to Babati – July 2

I am scheduled to be back in Babati for a days work by 9am, so we head out at 6am to ensure that we are at the bus stop by 7am – the morning is freezing, which is good as it makes us trek a bit faster. Howling (the guide), Mr. Marceli and I get on the “bus” – the minivan, where I ride up front with a woman headed to Babati to sell mats and a young man with his chickens ready for the market. About halfway to Babati, the young boy asks the bus to stop and for the woman and I to hold his chickens as he jumps out for a quick wee – so my first time traveling with chickens on public transport turns into actually holding them – the woman and I laughed the rest of the way home although we did not understand what each of us were saying. Chickens and all we arrive on time and meet Julian and Fiona for a quick chai before heading up to Waeingwaray, the school and farm with Living Stone Tanzania Trust (3 days without running water but hey whats one more).

We get to work with the goal of finishing the gates for the new water irrigation system and to start refurbishing 3 classrooms, one of which needs a majority of the walls rebuilt. We get to work on the gate and it is quite hysterical - as I like to call it 3 blind mice – given that none of us know carpentry in the least bit. 3 hours later and a lot of repairs we have completed the gate putting the finishing touches of “doo doo paint” – a thick black paint that prevents the termites destroying – luckily its lunch as we need a much needed break from the hammer and saw.

We hit the local café – the only restaurant in walking distance. It seats 4 unless you are willing to squat. The food is homemade and delicious – steaming hot chai, chapattis and “samaki” baby fish with pepper sauce. Back to work as we have a lot to accomplish this afternoon on the 3 classrooms and the outside walls.

Jason Kehembe, the local project leader and myself begin rebuilding walls while Julian and Fiona begin the painting. We make a lot of progress and are quite clever working without proper tools – you can’t imagine how you can fill walls with your bare hands! Needless to say we will have a lot sanding to do in the morning. We get through all the filling and I survive a few battles with a few spiders who are not happy about leaving their corners (and not to pretty too look at). A good day all and all a great day.

Once back in town, we celebrate with a cold Kilimanjaro at the bar next to the guesthouse. Off to dinner at the local restaurant which we refer to as Mary’s, where everything is homemade and Mary the manager is amused at our obsession with samasosa’s and chili sauce. I may have met my match with the chili sauce, as Fiona and Julian like it just as hot – no wonder we are all getting on! And this may be one of hottest I have had (interestingly it seems to get hotter every time we return – a test – ha!)

We have an early start Saturday morning so we have an exciting game of yahtzee – who knew how hard yahtzee could be. After losing in a row, I head to bed in a haze of yahtzee defeat.