Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
Imiliwaha!
Hi!
We are now in Imiliwaha! It was a longer trip getting here, and we had some unexpected surprises along our journey here. I'll start with last Thursday night and then finish to where we are today!
Thursday afternoon most of us helped in the kitchen to make a delicious treat called mandazi na ndizi. It is like a fried banana bread. Sister Claudia and Sister Didima helped us out. After cooking we all headed over to St. Laurent's and had a huge disco! The kids absolutely loved it and were going crazy!! It was a lot of fun, but after about an hour of dancing we were all exhausted. The dance went from 4-6:45, and then we went to our last dinner in Hanga. A group from Austria arrived the day before, and we had a special meal that evening with them and a few others. That evening we packed and played games before heading to bed.
Friday morning we ate and were on the road by 9:00! We were headed to Njombe and brought some seminary students with because they are now on their "winter" break! This part of the ride was uneventful, but the drive was very beautiful through the mountains. Once we got to Njombe we stopped for about 30 minutes, and then we headed to Nole, the water bottling factory for Hanga and a lot of the surrounding area. The factory had some new equipment that they showed us, and we also saw the dam that powers the factory. After the tour we heard there was not possibly room for us in Imiliwaha, so we stayed at the factory! Fr. Salvatori was extremely glad to host us, and we were all thankful for the hospitality. It was a very cold night though, and we were frozen!
Saturday we left at 9:00, and it was supposed to be an hour and a half until Imiliwaha. After two hours of what seemed like driving in circles we met some construction, and our bus decided it would be a good idea to slide off the side of the road and get stuck! The drivers, Br. Jacob, and some local people helped dig us out. It took about 30 minutes before we were back on our way. It took another 2 hours until we finally arrived to Imiliwaha! The sisters were very glad to see us, and they made us lunch. They made spaghetti and then cake for dessert! That afternoon we settled in our rooms and then took it easy the rest of the day.
Sunday morning we went to breakfast before heading to 8:30 mass. It was the mass of Corpus Christi, so after the nearly two hour long mass we all walked in a long parade route that the sisters had set up with flowers. The sisters sang the entire route, and it was really neat to see some of the celebrations here. After mass we had lunch, and then we headed to the orphanage. The little kids are all in matching outfits and were super fun to hang out with. They all wanted to be held, and some of them actually knew a little English. After the orphanage we walked to the lake that the sisters use for powering the hydroelectric dam. It is surrounded by mountains and is a very beautiful site. Afterwards we visited a school, had dinner (they had pizza!), played games, and then went to bed around 10.
This morning half of us got up to walk down to the lake and take pictures of the sunrise, but unfortunately it was cloudy. Nonetheless it was a good way to start the day. After breakfast some of us headed to the orphanage, others went on a hike, and Lindsey and I headed to check out the internet situation. We don't have much planned the rest of the day, and tomorrow is our last full day in Imiliwaha.
Ben is trying to upload the photos, so stay posted for that!
-Brandon
We are now in Imiliwaha! It was a longer trip getting here, and we had some unexpected surprises along our journey here. I'll start with last Thursday night and then finish to where we are today!
Thursday afternoon most of us helped in the kitchen to make a delicious treat called mandazi na ndizi. It is like a fried banana bread. Sister Claudia and Sister Didima helped us out. After cooking we all headed over to St. Laurent's and had a huge disco! The kids absolutely loved it and were going crazy!! It was a lot of fun, but after about an hour of dancing we were all exhausted. The dance went from 4-6:45, and then we went to our last dinner in Hanga. A group from Austria arrived the day before, and we had a special meal that evening with them and a few others. That evening we packed and played games before heading to bed.
Friday morning we ate and were on the road by 9:00! We were headed to Njombe and brought some seminary students with because they are now on their "winter" break! This part of the ride was uneventful, but the drive was very beautiful through the mountains. Once we got to Njombe we stopped for about 30 minutes, and then we headed to Nole, the water bottling factory for Hanga and a lot of the surrounding area. The factory had some new equipment that they showed us, and we also saw the dam that powers the factory. After the tour we heard there was not possibly room for us in Imiliwaha, so we stayed at the factory! Fr. Salvatori was extremely glad to host us, and we were all thankful for the hospitality. It was a very cold night though, and we were frozen!
Saturday we left at 9:00, and it was supposed to be an hour and a half until Imiliwaha. After two hours of what seemed like driving in circles we met some construction, and our bus decided it would be a good idea to slide off the side of the road and get stuck! The drivers, Br. Jacob, and some local people helped dig us out. It took about 30 minutes before we were back on our way. It took another 2 hours until we finally arrived to Imiliwaha! The sisters were very glad to see us, and they made us lunch. They made spaghetti and then cake for dessert! That afternoon we settled in our rooms and then took it easy the rest of the day.
Sunday morning we went to breakfast before heading to 8:30 mass. It was the mass of Corpus Christi, so after the nearly two hour long mass we all walked in a long parade route that the sisters had set up with flowers. The sisters sang the entire route, and it was really neat to see some of the celebrations here. After mass we had lunch, and then we headed to the orphanage. The little kids are all in matching outfits and were super fun to hang out with. They all wanted to be held, and some of them actually knew a little English. After the orphanage we walked to the lake that the sisters use for powering the hydroelectric dam. It is surrounded by mountains and is a very beautiful site. Afterwards we visited a school, had dinner (they had pizza!), played games, and then went to bed around 10.
This morning half of us got up to walk down to the lake and take pictures of the sunrise, but unfortunately it was cloudy. Nonetheless it was a good way to start the day. After breakfast some of us headed to the orphanage, others went on a hike, and Lindsey and I headed to check out the internet situation. We don't have much planned the rest of the day, and tomorrow is our last full day in Imiliwaha.
Ben is trying to upload the photos, so stay posted for that!
-Brandon
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Last day in Hanga
Today is our last day in Hanga.
We are spending it saying goodbye to people, packing, mentally preparing ourselves for another road trip tomorrow, and getting ready to DANCE!
at 4pm today we have set up a "disco" at the primary school. there is a DJ from the village who is setting up big speakers and will bring music so we can dance and have a little party with the students of st. laurents from about 4-6pm. that is...if we can find power. the monastery power is still on right now, but usually it is off in the afternoon until 5:30pm when it comes back on. so, we will see. maybe the DJ will bring a generator too? hopefully we can make it work.
tomorrow we hit the road at 8am (after breakfast) and will travel to Njombe and then to Nole where the monastery runs a water bottling opperation. then we will end up in Imiliwaha with the sisters where we will stay for five nights. i think we have a few extra riders with tomrorow too. some students who are finished with the semester and live near Njombe, some monks who want to travel this far so it is cheaper for them to get to Dar...we just say, "okay! hop in!" we are lucky to have such a nice bus that the ride will still be VERY comfortable. much better than the 6 hour ride in the land cruiser to Mbamba Bay!
thanks for reading. again, still working on the pictures. the camera pictures are just too big right now. we are trying to find a way to shrink them so we can upload them faster...keep your fingers crossed.
-Ben
We are spending it saying goodbye to people, packing, mentally preparing ourselves for another road trip tomorrow, and getting ready to DANCE!
at 4pm today we have set up a "disco" at the primary school. there is a DJ from the village who is setting up big speakers and will bring music so we can dance and have a little party with the students of st. laurents from about 4-6pm. that is...if we can find power. the monastery power is still on right now, but usually it is off in the afternoon until 5:30pm when it comes back on. so, we will see. maybe the DJ will bring a generator too? hopefully we can make it work.
tomorrow we hit the road at 8am (after breakfast) and will travel to Njombe and then to Nole where the monastery runs a water bottling opperation. then we will end up in Imiliwaha with the sisters where we will stay for five nights. i think we have a few extra riders with tomrorow too. some students who are finished with the semester and live near Njombe, some monks who want to travel this far so it is cheaper for them to get to Dar...we just say, "okay! hop in!" we are lucky to have such a nice bus that the ride will still be VERY comfortable. much better than the 6 hour ride in the land cruiser to Mbamba Bay!
thanks for reading. again, still working on the pictures. the camera pictures are just too big right now. we are trying to find a way to shrink them so we can upload them faster...keep your fingers crossed.
-Ben
Monday, June 4, 2012
Mbamba Bay
We made it to Mbamba Bay on lake Malawi!
We packed before heading to breakfast in Hanga this morning. When we returned after eating we found the land cruiser waiting for us. we piled in and began the journey.
about 45 minutes to Songea where we stopped at St. Augustine's college where Fr. Francis Shawa (SJU graduate from the school of theology and now chaplain at St. Augustine's) greeted us and showed us the college. We left Songea after that and arrived in Mbinga for lunch at 1pm. the road left something to be desired...but lets just say it was a lesson on how roads are made! we saw everything from bare roungh packed red african clay roads with a lot of washouts and potholes to smooth pavement. much of the road along the way was in various stages of construction. piles of dirt, big rollers flattening out the dirt, piles of rock, big boulders being crushed by jackhammers, oil trucks laying down the pavement, men hammering stakes to set up concrete molds, an actual cement truck pouring the base layer for the road, again, it was a lesson on how roads are made! never a dull moment looking out the window.
from Mbinga it was about another two hours to Mbamba bay where we arrived around 3:30pm. then we settled into the hostel (run by the sisters of Chipole convent...very nice place) and drove to the water. beautiful sights! we came back in time for sunset and had dinner at 7pm and now are just resting for the night and getting ready to head back to the beach tomorrow. we are getting internet from a USB modem that i bought in Songea two days ago that runs from the cell phone tower. this is the way to go! (no hope of an internet cafe in the village here!) happy to be able to share these thoughts with you all, though.
pictures will come soon. the beach will be beautiful tomorrow! we plan to have breakfast at 8am then head to the water to sit in our little beach hut and play cards, read, lounge, eat lunch, play frisbee, and just hang out for the day. should be good.
talk to you soon!
-ben
We packed before heading to breakfast in Hanga this morning. When we returned after eating we found the land cruiser waiting for us. we piled in and began the journey.
about 45 minutes to Songea where we stopped at St. Augustine's college where Fr. Francis Shawa (SJU graduate from the school of theology and now chaplain at St. Augustine's) greeted us and showed us the college. We left Songea after that and arrived in Mbinga for lunch at 1pm. the road left something to be desired...but lets just say it was a lesson on how roads are made! we saw everything from bare roungh packed red african clay roads with a lot of washouts and potholes to smooth pavement. much of the road along the way was in various stages of construction. piles of dirt, big rollers flattening out the dirt, piles of rock, big boulders being crushed by jackhammers, oil trucks laying down the pavement, men hammering stakes to set up concrete molds, an actual cement truck pouring the base layer for the road, again, it was a lesson on how roads are made! never a dull moment looking out the window.
from Mbinga it was about another two hours to Mbamba bay where we arrived around 3:30pm. then we settled into the hostel (run by the sisters of Chipole convent...very nice place) and drove to the water. beautiful sights! we came back in time for sunset and had dinner at 7pm and now are just resting for the night and getting ready to head back to the beach tomorrow. we are getting internet from a USB modem that i bought in Songea two days ago that runs from the cell phone tower. this is the way to go! (no hope of an internet cafe in the village here!) happy to be able to share these thoughts with you all, though.
pictures will come soon. the beach will be beautiful tomorrow! we plan to have breakfast at 8am then head to the water to sit in our little beach hut and play cards, read, lounge, eat lunch, play frisbee, and just hang out for the day. should be good.
talk to you soon!
-ben
Sunday, June 3, 2012
a note from Dawn
June 2
Our journey
to Tanzania took almost 2 full days of travel and we arrived early Wednesday
morning in Dar. While in Dar, we visited the fish market where we saw sharks
and the coastal scenery. The climate in Dar was breastly hot and the smell of
the fish market was unappetizing. I wonder how they sell fish with the smell
hanging in the air. We made friendship bracelets all day on Thursday, while Ben
set up our phone line. Our final day in Dar was spent at the beach. The Indian
Ocean is absolutely breathtaking and the water was very refreshing. The final
note about our time in Dar regards our new friends. They shared their culture
with us and taught us Swahili. We spent many hours talking with him about their
country and their lives. On Saturday May 26th we traveled to Hanga.
I was a 19 hour bus ride and we arrive at the Hostel (guest house) at midnight.
While in Hanga we have visited the
schools toured and worked in the dispensery,
traveled to Songea, climbed a small mountain, visited a large hospital
and made many new Tanzanian friends! It also seems that everyone is taking
turns getting sick and has their fair share of ‘issues’ all laughable in
retrospect. I have been fortunate enough not to be ill. A dog named samba
(lion) bit krystal, our joke is that she has rabies. Tulips stuff got lost on
her way here and she received her luggage yesterday. We made a new friend who
is called panga boolay. We call me Crazy Guy Maliki. He is the town drunk who
we run into once and a while. The finally funny story occurred while we all
were sleeping. I wanted to take a shower, but the water was not working. I did
not turn the water off however and woke up at 6 am to the sound of water
rushing from my faucet. I got out to bed to turn it off and found that my
entire room hallway and Tulips room across the hallway. Opps! Finally today the
national torch traveled through Hanga. It is usually on Mnt Kilimanjaro. We all
got to hold it!
Badi (later)
a note from Jake...
May 26th
Today marks
the day of our departure of Dar es Salaam in which we would travel to the
village of Hanga. Never, in one day have
I spent so much time in a vehicle. The
day started with us waking up at 4:00am where we found a surprisingly very nice
bus waiting for us! We piled in the bus
and were on our way. The sky was still
dark, but the city of Dar es Salaam was just as alive as ever, with people
everywhere on the streets. By the time
the sun was rising, we were out of the city and couldn’t help but notice the
breathtaking landscapes around us.
Throughout our journey to Hanga we passed through dense vegetation,
rolling planes, savannahs, and towering mountains. We also traveled through the Mikumi National Park
where we saw baboons, giraffes, elephants, gazelles, zebras. This was truly Africa at its finest! We ended up filling up for gas at least three
times and stopped to eat twice.
Unfortunately Tom was not feeling well for this whole road trip, which
lasted 19 hours! Finally, we had reached
our destination of Hanga at 12:00pm.
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