Its Sunday morning and the cab is due at noon. We’re all a bit anxious not really wanting to contemplate saying our goodbyes. I’ve emptied my luggage of all the things I want to leave including some shoes I’ve been wearing all week that will be just great for a student without any. I do a final tour of the dormitory and receive a farewell rendition of the school song by the girls. I wish the 2nd and 4th formers well in their October exams and ask the 3rd formers to help the 2nd formers out as they revise. I let them know I’ll be looking out for the results when they are published in February. I head slowly back to the teachers house chatting with one of the more senior students in the dormitory, another girl called Ester. She’s a very headstrong young lady who chose O’Sambu as a place to attend secondary school as a way to prove to her father and step-mother that she could cope on her own. She is determined to make a way for herself and I tell her I am sure it will happen – because I am. We talk about job prospects and I give her a few tips on writing a CV. Back at the house I find that the TZ flag I purchased has arrived. It’ll be flying on Monday.

Now I’m packed, washed and ready to go when the ladies, two of whom are having their hair braided in the yard by a couple of the guy teachers, decide we need one last meal together. They rush to cook up the last of the veggies and potatoes and we’re just finishing up when the cab bumps its way to our door. With goodbye embraces complete, a few tears from little Janet and my much-reduced luggage loaded Mumbray, Rachel and myself clamber aboard. It’s a somber ride back to Arusha brightened up by a call from Mumbrays fiance. He’s a happy man.

Rafiki

With less than a day remaining in TZ to finish up a few last pieces of business and round out my notes on my journey this is where this incredible month ends. I’ve had the trip of a lifetime (again!) and enjoyed sharing it in this blog. I’ve gained a much deeper, more intimate understanding of Tanzanian life and culture. I’ve made some wonderful new friends and shared time with some very special people. I’m amazed at the steadfastness of the average person here, determined that come what may they will work hard and help others to help themselves. And honestly I can hardly wait to return to this land of hope and opportunity, to watch it take another few steps towards self-reliance and a better future. Its coming Tanzania. Your time is coming.

Thank you all for taking the time to read my blog and to staff at GPFD for making the trip possible and helping me post the blog. I hope it has inspired some of you to travel with us and experience some of these amazing things first hand in 2011. For anyone interested to dialog on any of my blog topics or for information on how you might get involved in the work of Global Partners for Development please contact me at jackyv@strategic21.com or contact the organization direct at info@gpfd.org. Asante Sana.

Today Madame Rachel and I forego our chores and head off with Ester to see Ester’s Mum Nia at their home just one village away. We arrive to some serious commotion and it soon becomes apparent that a small boy (Ester’s cousin) has fallen from a tree and seriously hurt himself. A man is carrying him to the road and a dala dala is waved down to rush him to the nearest clinic, fortunately only a few miles away. Ester is very distressed but calms once she has spoken with her mother. Nia welcomes us to her home and we spend a good hour just chatting, with Madame Rachel translating. Last time she was very timid as was I and I didn’t like to ask a lot of questions, but this time she seemed really comfortable as I quizzed her about her family, her home, her work and her aspirations.

Clockwork radio

I congratulate her again on taking the time to attend evening school at the age of 36, some 20+ years after her father had as she explains “sold her for cattle he had already eaten” – the dowery system is still in place today. I’ve brought a few small gifts and am really pleased with the reaction from Ester’s younger brother Simone as he accepts the clock-work, solar-panel powered radio I’ve been using throughout my journey. He listens attentively when Madame Rachel translates how it works and then with the biggest grin ever he demonstrates it to his younger brother. Mum Nia sees the joy in her hard working 11 year old child’s face. I see a young engineer in the making. I gratefully receive a bangle for myself, a small Maasai cross for my sister Sue who had been with me last time I visited, and a Kanga for my Mum Esther in who’s honor I had originally sponsored young Ester. It is a very special moment I shall cherish for a long time.

Nia gives us a plate of pilau and a bottle of cold Fanta each as refreshments. After a quick tour of her small holding containing one bull, one cow and one calf plus a clutch of chicks we walk a short distance to the shamba where Nia had leased some land last year to grow carrots, a renowned crop in this region. She pulls a handful for us to take with us and explains that she had to give up the lease because last years drought killed all her crop. She is now broke again and living hand to mouth trying to feed, cloth and school her 5 children single handedly. What a remarkable woman. Despite her misfortunes and dire circumstances she’s been able to find time and money to give us gifts and feed us. I am inspired and vow to do what I can to help her and her family find a way to self-reliance. Sponsoring Ester through secondary school would appear to be just the beginning.

Shamba Carrots

Back at the school house the ladies and I reflect on the shear strength of people like Nia all across rural Tanzania, determined to give their kids a better life than they have and working hard all hours to make it happen. We also discuss the challenges of not creating dependency in individuals and communities, something my British colonial ancesters were guilty of.

After our last dinner together I exchange gifts with each of my new friends: some jewelry for each of the ladies, a teddy bear for Janette and a reading light and toiletries for Sara. I receive a host of gifts from them including traditional Maasai jewelry, my own Kanga and a beautifully carved ebony bowl. Its been an amazing week, we’ve learnt a lot from each other, from the trivial to the critically important. We’ve had a great cultural exchange. We’ve learnt a few more words of each others language. Most importantly, we’ve formed new solid friendships that will stay with us where ever we go.