A week at MS-TCDC

Tanzania, day 8.

So I came to Africa because I felt the urge to sense the pulse of this continent.

Having started out in Arusha at the MS learning center was a smart move; during my stay two courses have been taught, and I have had the pleasure to stay and live and socialize with people from all of Central Africa.
They are all involved in projects which benefit the development here, ranging from women working with the UN peace corps in South Sudan, to men coordinating the buildings of simple water dams that can contain rainwater just below the surface of the sand, to nurses and medical doctors leading local education in hygiene, to guys providing materials for school sanitories, to people being involved with political infra structure, etc - in a mix of faithful Christians to dedicated Muslims to tribe people and atheists.
It has simply been an amazing experience!

I skyped with my kids a couple of days ago. Every so often the connection is lost, because internet connection is just as unstable as the electrical supply, but we managed. They are asking me about my days, and this is how they have been spent ...

MS is a beautiful center with huts for the students to live in, small gardens to hang out in and very good teaching facilities. There is a restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner - which is all of delicious standards. There is always access to coffee and tea and soya.

Due to my tendency to wear out fast and my greater need for rest, I sleep in till 10, and therefor miss my breakfast. But everyone is telling me it is good. I wouldn't know - it is served at 8, and I haven't made it once :)
But I meet all the students for the 10 o'clock tea and I have had some wonderful and eye opening encounters here. Every one shows interest in every bodys being, and the atmosphere is open and welcoming.

As they go back to classes, I go to my hut and do research.
I have a new project that I am researching, and so far I am the only one involved :)
I research, I write, I think, I rest, I fall asleep and over again, only interrupted by the afternoon break, where we all meet for tea and coffee again. It is wonderful to have all this time to my self.

I have been so fortunate to make friends with one of the facilitaters (teachers) who has kindly taken me for afternoon rides in his Landrover, shown me the roads, the town, taught me on the way of living, introduced me to the American administrator of the nearby Arusha University with whom we had a long and very interesting visit and shown me a five star golf resort placed in the middle of the jungle.
Thank you Christopher!
At first I was a bit intimidated by this intelligent, loud laughing, pitch black, somewhat overweight man, who, with no blink of the eye sat next to me and ate the INTIRE leg of a chicken - the sound of his strong teeth crushing the bone teared my eyes - but once getting to know him, he turned out to be the sweetest, most helpful man one could imagine.

Apart from two Italian NGO's I am the only white person here - it gives me a good sense of being a minority. Although I am pretty ignorant to what is going on in this part of the world, everyone has shown what appears as a deep and sincere interest in my well being. I am amazed by the way they treat strangers. The only thing I have had a hard time getting used to, is the Imam shouting his prayers five times a day from right next door. And shortly after his last daily prayer, someone, seemingly in the same building, but probably not, turns on loud African music to entertain for the evening. Diversity lives.

Joseph from the main office is in charge of transportation here. When he heard that I am a self funded curious first time visitor to his country, he decided to help me to a less expensive deal of transportation than what the center normally arranges. So today I met Peter, a "younger" man who owns a very well kept huge Landrover, and who has spent the last 15 years as a Safari guide. Peter is a friend of Joseph, and he will drive and guard me through the tough roads of holed out asphalt and plain dirt, in escorting me from Arusha to the Ngoro Ngoro Crater over the next four days or so.
On our way I have planned to drive by a Danish owned Coffee Estate, visit some small coffee farmers, a couple of women educational centers and an orphanage among what ever else we run into. Of course I have to see a few of the expected tourist spots as well.

When I return I will write you more about my trip. For now, I will start packing up my room, as I listen to the hammering of "the short rain" and when that stops, I will see into the possibility to skyping with my kids.

Life is good.

Tanzania, day 1.

Warm and humid air struck my face when leaving the air craft. It smelled like Asia, but bitter sweet in a way I did not recognize. Apart from the lights from the airport, it was dark. Dark, silent, humid. I immediately liked it.

My driver met me with my name sign. He was short, built and friendly. He took his time, greeted a uniformed friend and spoke with him while I waited. I did not understand their Kiswahili. Then we walked to his car.
He told me his name is Ndjao, that the car is his own, that he has three kids, the youngest only a week old and that his wife is a good woman.
I asked him what he finds specifically nice about Tanzania, and he started telling me about great water falls, huge savannahs and Mount Kili.
I looked at him and asked if that was what he personally found the best about his country and he smiled back and replied "no ... it is peace. I like that we have peace. We just had election last week, and we still have peace. This is not to be taken for granted in Africa".

When asking him what he found to be the worse he said "corruption".
I asked him to define corruption and he said "it comes in many ways and it has many faces. Some people are in politics just to gain power because power is money. Some people are in Aid and work for organisations paid by the western world - these people make sure to never end their projects, because if they do, they also end their income. This is not helping Africa".

I asked him if he had an education - he seemed pretty well informed about things.
He smiled again and said "no ... I am the driver".

In being thankful ...

... I see a much bigger part of myself, which is good.
I get the sense of freedom, from letting go of what lays behind that has been pulling on me.
I feel sun and wind and weather in my face, and I am ready for it, just to enjoy the growth this brings us living plants.
I recognize my ability to fly, to walk on water and to settle where I want, for as long as I want, by myself or with who ever I choose to share my moments with.
I am able to mow through deserts, knowing that my water bag and my own will through the grace of God and a good heart is enough to survive on,
and all this makes me enjoy life to the fullest, in being thankful for what ever is, because it makes me realize it is what it is and that this is ok!
So my hopes for a grounded, sky rocking, humble attitude magnetizes my life and only draws to me what is good and yet gives me the capacity to graciously feel and be with those who, for their very own and very legal reasons, are not presently there.
And at times I fall - cause everyone does. And when that happens, God gives me friends to listen and lift, and I rest in the invisible arms around me and I feel love because it comes from within, and then life is still good, periodically in a different way - because falling gave me the opportunety to sense what is around me, in a different way.
And it makes me love life for as long as I have it. It makes me treasure each moment because I have been taught it is not to be taken for granted. Each moment.
And through this love for life, I find those to share this love with. Those who can appreciate this all by themselves, because they are where I am. And they might be so different from what I always expected them to be. Because a grateful mind made me realize that getting what I want might not always be the best for me, because the path is so much broader, the horizon is endless and the love of God so powerfull that I will find happiness in what He gives me. And all I have to do is receive.
It brings me magic. 

If the world would all think like mothers ....

... no one would go hungry to bed, because moms make sure that everyone gets a fair share of what is there,
... no one would get killed, or raped, or beaten,
... no one would be allowed to fight with each other

... every one would be taught how to read and count,
... every one would have clothes and shelter, and the possibility to sleep.

No kids would have to work.

We would all debate and negotiate and find agreements and solutions on the issues we do not initially share our opinions on.

I travel the world.
I eat with high and low and I see, that no matter where in the world I am, the big decisions are taken at the kitchen table. Men might be the head of the family, but women are the neck that turns the head.

So we need to take ourselves really serious.

We need to get involved with all the issues that matter in this world.
What matters is that every child is fed! Then taught the basics school skills. Then further educated to survive, and to help on.

Mothers, we need to change this world.