Well, this blog is being written by a much much cleaner Joanna having spent a few very comfortable nights in the Jacaranda hotel with my friend Helen who was back here for a visit. Quite a lot (to say the least) has happened over here since I last wrote. Does it ever not though?! The following events are written in no particular order. This is partly because there is no point trying to put any order to this chaos and partly because it has been such a whirlwind week that, even if I wanted to, I am unable to remember the [View Full Entry]

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Hello again! Well, I'm kind of on holiday but I feel like it has been quite the busy week! On Sunday I went to Ebenezer school and a party that was being held to say thankyou and goodbye to my fellow volunteers, Jenny & Sally. Unfortunately Jenny was still sick (extremely) and couldn't make it, so I went instead. Little did I know I was going to be dressed up as a Maasai warrior! Like I say next to one of my pics, how come the real Maasai ladies look nice and elegant and me and Sal end up looking like [View Full Entry]

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Where do I start?! So much has happened over the past week or so. One week in Africa feels like a month I'll tell you. First off, I have extended my stay for the one extra month. It will be difficult to summarise all of this but over the past week my general feelings on this whole situation have changed several times. I have been quite upset and confused. I was sitting outside the school on Monday and just suddenly felt like the whole situation here is hopeless. Dennis was on my lap (on one of his bad, sad days), and [View Full Entry]

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(I have returned!!!!) Habari Asubuhi/Alasiri/Jioni (wherever you may be and whatever time of day it is where you are)! Sorry it has been a while since I last wrote. The blog site has been down. I have also lost almost all of my entries :( Mum and dad - I'm wondering if you have by any chance kept copies of the ones you have been printing out??! I have much to tell you about. First off, my plans may be changing. I am currently seeing if I can extend my stay in Tanzania an extra month so that I would fly [View Full Entry]

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Kids kids kids Africa » Tanzania » Arusha By Into_East_Africa July 26th 2007 Joanna RaesideHi all Not long at all since I wrote but I went to town with my camera today at the school so I thought I'd post some more pics for you..... Hope you like them. joanna x [View Full Entry]

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Hi all! I realised I have posted quite a few pictures of the kids but hardly any of day-to-day life here in Africa. I think people in our neighborhood (and my work neighborhood) are starting to get used to me being around. There are less stares and 'mzungu' calls! This is the reason I do not like to suddenly produce a camera and start clicking like a tourist. However, I decided I would try and do it subtly, just for you (no - don't thank me) ;) Actually, many of my pics were taken on the bus to Dar so [View Full Entry]

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What can I say, apparently life is never going to be boring here!!!! I guess I should start from last Sunday, and my church invite. I was invited to the church by Joakim (project coordinator), so that he could introduce me to the community (and I was introduced as principal of course!). I took a few other volunteers along with me - Sally, Jenny & Nicki. I managed to fill 5 pages of my journal for the time in church alone so I'd better summarize a little bit. We are all glad we had the experience of attending the church [View Full Entry]

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Jambo! Well, I was thinking I didn't have much to write about this time but when I started thinking more about it all I realized I actually have A LOT to talk about. Life is definitely feeling kind of routine here but then when I think about all the things that are happening it sounds far from it. It has been a strange week, and certainly not my happiest. It started off with a visit to Joakim's house. Joakim is the project coordinator for LETOA. The first thing Joakim did was show me 'our land'. Anyone fancy coming out here [View Full Entry]

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Hi all Just a quickie here, not much time. I just want to give you a wee bit more information on any donations you might want to send out here (quite a few of you have had a few questions). Just to tell you a little something.....a couple of the other volunteers here took in the box for the world map jigsaw puzzle that I had (that was donated by one of Helen & Mike Ross's friends). Just the box, and the teacher and kids were absolutely fascinated. The teacher had never seen a map, did not know where Africa [View Full Entry]

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Apparently I will be able to say this in the near future. Do not ask me how this happened. We will all own part of this piece of land as it is being given in thanks for the time and money that has gone into the new day care centre. I thought this was a joke but no - Joakim (LETOA project coordinator) is deadly serious. I am not sure what is to be done with the land yet but it will be worked on and (again apparently) we will all have a place to stay should we want to [View Full Entry]

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