Homeward Bound pt. 2

Dear Reader,

I survived the wait in Dar without having to go back outside for a drink.  I was disappointed when I realised the price of Tanzanite in the duty free shops was almost double the cost in Moshi. Good thing I'm  going  back to Moshi (smile).  I saw a cute Tanzania tank top, typical tourist wear, which I figured would be a nice article of clothing to remind me of my time here.  It was $30... as in US dollars.  I probably wouldn't have paid Tsh 30,000  for it on the street so I had to walk away from that.  I have many memories that I'm positive will last a lifetime so ridiculously overpriced tourist trap, you may keep your shirt!
The flight to Dubai went faster than expected. After some rest and a refreshing shower I'm ready for my day of wandering around the Dubai International Airport. Maybe I'll find a camel for Baby Oz... it is Hump Day after all!

Homeward Bound pt. 1

This morning we left the resort at 8:30am for the first leg of our journey home.  After a quick 20 minute flight to Dar es Salaam we were not thrilled to find out that check in for our Dubai flight wouldn't begin until 1pm... that left us with about an hour an a half to sit in limbo. We're currently in a seating area between security and the check in desks.  There are no shops (tragic) or anything. Having ditched all liquids back in Zanzibar I'm feeling a little parched and now debating if I feel like going out and looking around (which may lead to hassle from local merchants) and then coming back through security... we'll see what happens

Hakuna Matata -15/08

Today was a lazy day.  I pigged out on breakfast, went for a swim on the beach, enjoyed a late lunch, took a swim in the pool, got a henna tattoo in a thatched hut on the beach, had dinner on our patio and watched some of the Olympics before packing and getting ready for bed.
Nzuri sana! (Very good).

Prison Island - 14/08

Word of the day: recalcitrant.
Prison Island was originally used to detain recalcitrant slaves before being a quarantine station.
I took a guess using context clues and then looked it up... my first thought was I'm pretty good, second was wondering if I could use that word in either parent communication or report card writing hehe. I doubt either one would be given the okay.

The main attraction on the island these days are the giant tortoises which we were able to feed.  Aren't they cute in their own special way?  {{Photos to follow}}

Next up: Next Paradise - 13/08

Yesterday we checked in to Next Paradise Beach Resort... it's a big change from our time in the bush!  Things like air conditioning and continuous power supply were amenities I'd forgotten all about over the past month.
The resort is beautiful, our bungalow looks out to the pool and just over the hedge- the white sand beach.  I've already dipped my feet into the Indian Ocean! 
Rest and relaxation will be the name of the game for this leg of the trip. I'm looking forward to it.

The Nature Walk - 12/08

At 6:30am this morning Neka and I went for a nature walk/walking safari with Eric and an armed guide.  I have forgotten how to pronounce his name so we'll call him Mr. M. We were given clear instructions to stay behind Mr. M. at all times and to let Eric know if we wanted to stop to take photos- basically for safety reasons we needed to stay as a group. 
We learned a lot about trees, animal habits, dung, insects and birds. My nerd side was in its glory. We were able to get a lot closer to the giraffes and impala than we were in the jeeps.
There's a reconstructed hippo skeleton set up which was interesting to see. I picked up one of his thigh bones and a tooth for closer inspection. You can tell it is the skeleton of a male by the narrow pelvis.
{photo will go here}
Still no leopard, but I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be with a leopard without the safety of the jeep. Eric says if I saw all of the Big 5 I wouldn't need to come back, so this means I'll definitely want to come back to Africa.  He's so right.

Fine Bush Dining pt. 2 - 11/08

This morning we headed out for an early morning game drive.  We shared the drive with a French couple and it was our first shared drive of the trip - we've been pretty blessed to have private drives.  That Maasai bracelet must work for some things 😉.
We drove through an area that the leopards apparently like with no luck and then Eric got notice of a lion with a young buffalo kill.  We we heading to see that when instead we got the treat of finding two lionesses and two lion cubs!!!! Who was excited - me, of course!  Neka was too. The lions were literally walking on the road and we followed them.  The road was my least favourite type in the Park- black cotton soil that is sticky mud during the rainy season.  Thanks to the countless hippos and elephants that trudge through the mud, it dries as a ridiculously bumpy and hard surface.  There's no rushing on these roads.  Eric always jokes that we are getting a free massage...I guess that's one way of looking at it.
Back to the matter at hand we followed the lions until they stopped for a rest in the grass.  I can't wait to share the photos with you! Thanks again to my Auntie and Uncle for my amazing camera!  I can't imagine my trip without it.
Once it was clear that the lions were settled in we continued on our way... the only thing growling now was my stomach!  Eric took us to a picnic area near a giant baobab tree and set up our Fine Bush Dining breakfast. I was happy to see that pancakes were on the menu.  They were a hit with everyone - between the five of us we devoured all of them.
We checked in on the lion and his buffalo before driving back to camp for our siesta  and lunch. 
In the afternoon Neka and I had another drive, this time around two of the lakes.  We got up close and personal with some hippos, saw plenty of crocodiles, a wide variety of birds, vervet monkeys and the usual giraffes and impalas. This will be our last safari drive. 
Tomorrow morning we're heading out on a nature walk before breakfast and we leave camp after lunch to continue our journey to Zanzibar.

Fine Bush Dining -10/08

Today we experienced what I have dubbed "fine bush dining". Typically my previous safari drives came with a packed box lunch including a sandwich, fresh fruit, veggies, hard boiled egg, snack (i.e. cookie), juice box and often a piece of chicken or some other savory baked item like quiche or samosa.
I was in for a surprise today with our personal table, chairs and proper plated meals!  Thankfully they also got our meal restrictions correct- no pork or pineapples for me, no meat for Neka. We enjoyed our meal and conversation with Eric while taking in the beautiful surroundings.

{{Photo to follow}}

Almost Kind of Counts 10/08

This morning we *almost* saw a lioness hunt a zebra. She was hunched by a tree intently watching the zebras grazing nearby and calling for her pride.  We waited for a while, drawing the attention of a few other safari jeeps but despite her calls the other lions did not come... I think it's because there was so much traffic. So even though the saying goes "almost doesn't count," for today I'd have to disagree. I, for one, enjoyed my almost-kill experience.

{{Gorgeous photo of lioness to come- check back in a few days}}

Baadae Ruaha -09/08

Today was our last day in Ruaha. The lions had killed a buffalo and were guarding it.  The kill was fresh so it did not have a smell.  Word on the bush-vine was that there were some lion cubs around but we were unable to find them.  Apparently we also missed two leopards who had disappeared into the bush. Honestly these leopards are so elusive! We were able to see some ostriches though so that was nice. We ended our game drive at the airstrip.
We took our packed lunches on the plane and headed for Selous. I had taken some motion sickness medication in addition to my usual strategy of wearing my acupressure bands.  Thankfully we were the first stop on today's flight route.  I slept through most of the flight and awoke in time to see our approach to Selous Game Reserve.
We were greeted by Eric, our new guide,  who happens to be friends with Doto! After a very short drive we arrived at the camp where we met Henri and Pita. Once we had checked in, completed the safety and information introduction we dropped our belongings off in our tent (yes, tent.  I'll post photos later) and then set off for our afternoon boat safari.
We saw plenty of hippo, crocs and a wide variety of birds.  One of my favourites so far is the bee-eater. It's not as stunning as the superb starling, which is my new favourite bird, but it is quite beautiful.
We're all set for a full day safari tomorrow but for now- dinner and then bed!
Oh,  I should mention that the service isn't great here so I'm planning on being off grid for the next three nights. Try not to miss me too much!

{{Photos to come}}

Circle of Life - 08/08

This morning's game drive started with a visit to the hippo and crocodile pool.  We were able to see many hippos and crocs basking, swimming, eating and sleeping before continuing our drive. 
We saw some vultures circling and a few others perched in a tree so Doto, our driver, took us to check out the area.  When we arrived we saw jackals and hyenas hanging around as well.  Doto pointed out the lion prints to us and said by the amount there was a large group of them.  We soon found a young male lion guarding the kill- another giraffe. We spotted more lions in the bush and when we got closer I was amazed at the sight of the largest pride I've seen so far!  There were 9 lions resting in the shade and another male resting in a shady spot a little further away.  I got some great photos!  So even though I haven't found that leopard yet I've had some really priceless moments on this safari already.  One day left before we head to our next camp... I hope they can meet the high standard set by Candy, Graeme and the Ruaha River Lodge team!

{{Photo of lion and the kill to follow}}

Simba Sunday -07/08

Today's game drive got off to a slow start but by the afternoon we had seen 9 lions!  For those of you blissfully unaware, simba is the Swahili word for lion.  As such I've decided today was "Simba Sunday"...
Yesterday the lions killed a giraffe and today we saw the hyenas, jackals and vultures taking advantage of the spoils.
Did you know:- hyena droppings are white because their diet contains a lot of bones.
You probably could guess:- that a decomposing giraffe smells foul!

The Chunder Bag - 06/08

Last night I met my friend Neka in Dar es Salaam. This morning we were scheduled to fly into Ruaha National Park for our first safari. The flight was delayed and when we finally took off I wasn't as nervous as I expected to be.  The flight was going to take us group by group to the different parks. I was unaware of this arrangement.
For the first two stops I was alright but by the third stop I was not feeling good at all and wondering what I was going to do as I didn't have any plastic bags. Thankfully there were some bags in the seat pocket labelled "The Chunder Bag" in English and "Mifuko ya kutupikia" in Swahili which apparently means "vomiting bag".
I used all three and was feeling less than fine when we landed in Ruaha. I wanted to cry when Doto, our driver, said we'd be going on safari before heading to the camp. I wanted to go to bed!
The drive was good though- saw a few elephants and lots of Maasai giraffe.
The lodge is breathtaking.  Our banda  (room) is quite impressive. Minus the unwanted guest - two geckos that Neka has named Tim and Albert, I have no complaints. I'll be sure to post pictures at some point.

{{photo to follow}}

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye - 05/08

Starting yesterday with Mama Thea's heartfelt thank you to all volunteers during reflection session I've been fighting off tears but this evening I couldn't hold it any more. 
The goodbyes to my students went pretty well - most  of them didn't understand that I was leaving.  Many of them calling out "See you tomorrow!" as I walked out the door... I wish that were true my little love bugs!
The goodbyes to my CCS Karanga Familia were notably harder... I'll truly miss everyone there.  Lots of hugs and well wishes were exchanged.
This was a lot harder to walk away from than CCS Bangkok... and I loved it there.  Is there anything deeper than love??
I'm not sure, but I think it's fair to say I left a bit of my heart in Moshi...

Farewell Friday - 05/08

This morning was a bittersweet one... the children are used to my style of teaching now and they've really made progress with the goal I set of being able to identify and not just recite the numbers through 100.
Unfortunately because it was so cold and overcast there was no assembly this morning, which meant no chance for me to record the children singing the national anthem for you. There was some playtime which was good fun. 
I had a special treat of chocolate pinwheel cookies for the children- they had to answer a question correctly to get them but of course I matched the questions to their abilities so it all worked out.  I was a little sad that Jesca and Julias were still out sick so we didn't get to say goodbye.  I gave Karim a hug when I saw him in the morning but unfortunately I didn't see my little darling Makee.
After lunch Teddy washed my hair for me before we practised baby wearing.  I'm feeling confident about my ability to wrap my future niece or nephew when they arrive (please wait a few more weeks, Baby Oz).
Once I finished packing I took a few more photos of Home Base and then played cards with the boys until dinner...

{{Photo with class to follow}}

The End Approaches - 04/08

Don't be sad that it's over, be happy it happened.  - Tasha, my favourite sister

It's her take on the Dr. Seuss quote "don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened".
It's starting to sink in that my time at CCS is quickly ending.  Even though I have an awesome follow up vacation planned, I'm still too caught up in this moment.  In actual fact, I'm almost 94% sure that if I wasn't meeting a friend for the next leg of my adventure I'd probably have cancelled it by now and figured out how to stay here in Moshi longer!
Here are a few updates:
* The number lines are being used with success by more students (yayness!)
* The teacher seems to like and have embraced the phonics based method for reading English
* Snapchat filtered selfies make excellent time fillers at the end of lessons but before lunch
* I know most of the words to the National Anthem of Tanzania and thanks to the local volunteers I understand the meaning (Shout out to you guys- Keydo, Nixon, Lordy and Teddy!)
* I have given suggestions on things I would do if I were staying at the school... hopefully some are feasible and practical and can be implemented
* I have once again fallen in love with the children and people I've worked and lived with for the past three weeks...

The Day I Was a Failure - 03/08

Okay - I know that title sounds harsh!  But man, oh man, was it intense! 
Picture it, Moshi, 2016...
A group of 8 volunteers is ready for the dancing lesson, accompanied by local volunteers.
Well... this little island girl stands out amongst the 'mzungu' {foreigners}... and for today not in a good way.  I guess the assumption was I would have a really good sense of rhythm and be able to pick up the steps easily... (not exactly). As we were learning the steps I was following along, marking the steps. I guess the correct thing to do would have been to go all out each and every time because I was soon yelled at for standing too stiffly... holding my hands across my chest...
Things got worse when we switched over to the singing part of our lesson. It appeared the assumption this time was I should know the words to the Swahili song we were singing! It was kind of funny the way the older man was getting frustrated with me. Oh well. .. Hakuna matata!
Even though it was good fun, I'll stick to my F3 classes instead of picking up African dance!

Visit with Bibi - 02/08

Today we had our community exploration outing. Lordy, Keydo, Teddy and two mamas from the village led the way as we walked to the nearby water source which provides water for our neighbourhood as well as Moshi town. 
The scenery was absolutely beautiful!
Our next stop was to see Bibi. Bibi is Swahili for grandmother and we had the privilege of meeting with the eldest couple around to hear about traditional marriage.
After the initial pleasantries, we sat around  Bibi on a selection of wooden benches abs stools. Keydo did a fantastic job translating for us. 
Bibi is now 100 years old. Her and Babu had 12 children, yet sadly they only have three living children. They also have many grandchildren.  He didn't talk but he kept the goats under control while Bibi told her story.  Perhaps that's the secret to a long and happy marriage!

{{Photos to follow}}

One Drop - 02/08

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. -Mother Teresa

Today Lewis completed his addition sums using his number line! 

You might be thinking that isn't a blog-worthy post, but it was a huge deal for me. 
It was the only thing I was holding on to about today because as a teacher it can get you down when things don't go as planned- with a little pep talk from my sister friend Jasmine, I was reminded that no matter the outcome in regards to my goals, I'm still doing a great thing by being here.
{{Photo of Lewis to come soon!}}

Amani means Peace - 01/08

Today we visited the Amani Centre for Street Children.  It is very close to our Home Base and can actually be used as a reference point for locals. 
We drive across it often but today was the first time inside for many of us. 
It was an impressive facility once you entered the main building, but it was the programme itself that blew me away.
The goal of the Amani Centre is to reunite children with their families and they have an over 90% success rate. 
Children are expected to follow the rules and schedule of the Centre while there and they have a team of social workers, teachers, staff and volunteers supporting them. Along with their education and basic needs, the children also develop life skills while in the programme.  Families of the children receive support to help achieve the goal of reuniting the children into their families - either immediate or extended.
After our tour we had time to hang out with the children.  There was a football match, some magic tricks and lots of selfie action! 
I am really interested in the 6 month English teacher/librarian position that's available... I'm just going to leave that there and see who actually reads the blog ;)