Jane in Tanzania

Katie’s got it right - Sept 1st, 11:59 pm. I’ll be there, and hopefully someone else will be also to help me carry all my stuff!

Sorry about the lack of updating and emailing. I’m here, and I’m CRAZY busy. Life seems like it’s in fast forward and I have no idea how to stop it!

Been thinking a lot about development - particularly what type of development this area needs. In my mind, there are two sorts of NGOs; those that will eventually morph into businesses, and those that will only run with donor support. The difference between the two lies primarily in the location of the NGO. Does that region have enough potential to support these NGOs cum businesses? Does that region have enough to become self-reliant and self-sustaining? If the answer is no, then what role do donors have in those organisations? Should time and effort be dedicated to using money that will eventually run out to helping people right now, or should that effort go into making the NGO long-lasting, even though that is a difficult task?

I feel that this town, and this area, does not have a lot of potential. So, then I am torn - do you just straight out rely on donor support, or work towards the sustainability of the NGO?

In an ideal world, there would be no NGOs, only businesses that help a countries economy flourish. It seems that here, NGOs are merely businesses that can not stand on their own two feet. I feel I am definitely in a role that, if it were transferred back to Canada, would be a business position (except for writing funding proposals).
I’d like to see FADECO succeed, but I don’t know if this region is the best to help it grow and be maintained.

Hmmmm…………

The past few weeks have just flown by. I really wish I knew where all this time went to. I’ve been learning so much, and being challenged a lot. And what have I learnt from the past few weeks? That development is tough. Tough and difficult but very rewarding. It’s like the ultimate word or math puzzle that you used to fight over in the Saturday morning cartoon section. Except here the smiles aren’t on paper, they are all around you. I’ve come to love this place, and feel at home. Sure, I still am very different, and when I leave that disparity will only intensify, but I feel comfortable. I share in joys and am a part of the pain.

Speaking of joys, it is raining right now! My heart almost lept out of my chest when I first heard the pitter-patter on the tin roof. It’s so beautiful and smells like freshness. The dust mixed with water is going to mean I’ll have some hell-ish washing to do, but I’d rather have that instead of dry days. You can really see spirits pick up here when the rains come… it’s such a sight.

I spent the last few days at Joseph’s home village, just helping out around the house. It’s an interesting place - no grid electricity or running water, but Joseph has been really innovative in his methods. He has used roof top rain water harvesting to collect water into a big tank (despite it being the end of the dry season, there was even a little remaining!) and bought wind turbines to provide electricity to a battery that is used for the very few lights in the house. It was a busy week, but incredibly productive. We built a solar cooker, put up another wind turbine at the training center, and helped the Kenyan students preparing plots for organic farming. Even got to go for a run through the hills!! Yay

I think the physical labour hurt my shoulder a bit, but I’ll rest it for a little while. Not that I really have that much time left - I leave in a very incredibly horribly short period of time. I got my class schedule (thanks Nichols!!!) and it scares me. I’m totally not a computer engineer. I really think I’d prefer civil or biosystems after this. Maybe I’ll take two Engg degrees? It’s a tough decision - and one I REALLY probably should have made earlier.

Anyway, there is way too much work to do before I leave!! So I must away, and back to some productiveness.

*hug*

P.S. Eli is now in TZ!!! YAY FOR CANADIANS TAKING OVER TANZANIA!

Holy shit cakes, the past two weeks have gone by like ridiculousnes. So many crazy things have happened. But, on the whole, they have only been insane in retrospect. I’m quite proud of myself that I’ve gotten a handle on this African time thing…. well, kind of, it throws me for a loop sometimes.

I have less than a month left here, and oh man, that month feels like about three days. I’m scared to leave, and excited to come home. I feel so lucky to have been given such an amazing opportunity, and I can’t believe how welcoming everyone here has been.

Sure, there have been some hiccups - when the “honeymoon stage” was over and critisms and frustrations were the only things that were on my mind. But thanks to the words of some amazing and intelligent friends, I was able to refocus and develop plans for myself for the rest of my time here.

I have so many thoughts about development and Africa running through my mind, but I can’t find the motivation to write about them, when I can DO them. So, I’ll leave that as a teaser to make sure you want to take me out to dinner to hear my stories!

*hug*

So, I’ve bowed to peer pressure, and here are a list of some photos!

Fun times!

Be warned, they are huge.

Oh, and Christina - have a FANTASTIC time!! Be wonderful, as always.

Seriously, I think something died in Steve’s stomache. That boy farts up a very stinky storm. I feel rather sorry that John has to live in the same room as him. Steve needs to look for a wife with no olfactory nerves. Oh yeah, and he sneaks into my room to steal my chocolate!