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dik dik
the new primary school pet so quite a bit has happened in the last month or so. most notably is that supplies for the market have been purchased. this is very exciting. so building will begin soon. well. thats the idea. we were able to use trucks from the district. but of course these werent very good. so on thursday when we were supposed to do two trips of cement/wood/everything we could only do one because the axle? broke on the way back. so we did the rest on friday. but on monday i am meeting my mwenyekiti (chairperson) in town to ask for the use of a different car to transport sand/rocks/gravel to the construction site. but that stuff is located in the village. or close to it anyhow. so i think brick construction should be happening soon. if not as i am typing this up. its a relief to have that money out of my hands. i just hope nobody does anything stupid ie. steal supplies because that would not be a first. heres for hoping for the best...
in other news i have recently come back from my cos (close of service) conference. this is where peace corps puts volunteers up at
supplies
purchasing supplies a nice hotel and we talk about readjustment to the states. work opportunities in tz. resume building. the last few months of service. see everyone thats left. etc. in the past volunteers were put up in arusha at a super swanky place which was featured in a famous cowboy movie? we got the beach though. which was nice. except that its the rainy season in dar so that was too bad. and just because you are paying for fancy rooms dont expect your a/c to work, the toilet to flush, or the brand new flat screen tv in your room to have more than one channel. haha. tanzania. but the conference was cool. getting to see everyone. close things up. it feels surreal now. and the end is all the more close. so thats exciting.
ruka the dog is doing well. actually im not sure. i had a vet from town go out to castrate him. it was supposed to happen thursday but i guess that was just a preliminary so supposedly the guy went out today. and for awhile i was scared ruka had tvt (transmissible venereal tumor). but it turns out it is just penis inflammation. so
village officers
standing in front of the market site/sand for making bricks thats good. and easily treatable. i will be going back to site on monday hopefully so he should be on the mend.
still working a lot with the ngo solar aid. and we are going to be trying to find a replacement in my village to take over after i leave. which will involve talking with saccos-a micro finance lender. and choosing a respectable/business oriented person to continue. there will be a whole application process and it will be pretty cool. if i could just choose it would be my mwenyekiti. i entrusted him with 19 micro solar kits when i went to my cos conference and he sold 15 of them and gave me the money. and he has the respect of the villagers and knows everyone and is just a cool guy. but its not my job as a peace corps volunteer to choose. so we shall see.
as the end of service is slowly approaching, that means the world cup is as well. which is very exciting. and korie has found two other people to sell the tickets to. a volunteer who finished his service last year is living in dar and one of his
chairman's kids
always on the lookout for some pipi (candy) roommates is a british guy writing for a newspaper in dar. i think he and a friend will be going with us. and they also seem excited to go to zambia/vic falls as well. which is cool. and will just be nice to have more company. and i think korie and i will feel safer in south africa. although it will probably just be hectic all the same. its pretty crazy were leaving in about 6 weeks to go.
i will be having a womens seminar in a couple of weeks. whenever the grant money comes in. that should be good. im excited. i think the health mama i am putting it on with is excited as well. talking with other volunteers, counterparts make all the difference. like if this lady would have been in my village when i got to site (she just got here in december) i think i wouldve put on a lot more seminars with her. not that my doctor is hindering me. he goes along with almost everything i suggest, just the enthusiasm is lacking. but im just happy we get to do this one seminar. with 50 women. woo.
and i guess
i should also mention. our areas member of parliament promised the health center he would put up solar panels. just because we know member of parliament and how there words dont necessarily initiate action, peace corps had me put up solar on the health center. this covered 2 of the 3 buildings with 12 lights. well the mp actually followed through just a couple weeks ago. and a large panel was put up that now provides light for the sick ward and enough power to run the tv/vcr. which is fantastic. and i talked to the doctor about showing health videos once a week and he said yea i could organize it. and i was just like i dont need to do anything you have all the tools at your disposal. it kills me. he has videos ive given him and the power to do it. but just hasnt taken initiative. iguess thats where i come in. but i think i also might show the lion king at least once. i would like that.
hanging out at the primary school the other day. watching the kids (9 and 10 year olds) carrying knives to go chop down some plants
transportation
kama kawa. this is normal. kila siku. everyday. to make a fence. chatted with some of the teachers. i guess a student captured a dik dik (like a small deer). i didnt believe it because those guys are fast. but i went to a teachers house and indeed there was a dik dik. and i held it. and loved it. they offered to give it to me. it was a hard no. but they are building it a little house. and im just so shocked. shocked that the kids didnt torture it or kill it. that they are caring for it and seem to actually like it. i mean true according to the story it seems the little boy stole it from its mother but its not dead. and thats cause for celebration in itself. and until its house gets built it sleeps inside. because of hyenas. and leopards. i thought leopards were a joke. but apparently just recently around 10 pm one of the teachers and the guard on duty saw a leopard. please scare me the day before im supposed to wake up at 530 and walk in the dark by myself to the bus. and on that same day the guard of the village offices
rocks
transporting rocks to site. plus ruka. walked with me and helped me carry stuff. and i asked him what he did if hyenas came. and he didnt seem at all worried by hyenas. apparently they get scared off easily. but then he brought up leopards on his own. and how those guys are the ones to watch out for. god. i think everytime i go to town i age 5 years due to fear induced by wild animals. haha.
anyways i guess thats all. i will try to upload some pics.
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