3 Weeks in Dar

I have now been in Dar for almost 3 weeks. The weather here is definitely something hard to get used to, but having the ocean so close by has its perks.

Work here is very different to what I am used to. I feel like a data entry specialist (40 hours a week), and that is very hard to get used to. I love my laptop and all, but I cannot stare at it for that long. The data I am working with is also very hard to understand, either because of the language issue or because of the “issues” we have encountered. I was warned that this dataset might have to be “trashed” because there were many issues with it, but being who I am, I am doing my best to salvage as much as I can and make sense of the responses staring at me! I am not giving up yet, but boy is it tempting every so often. I wonder if the data collecting people realized how important their work would be, and how difficult it is to analyze their work if not done properly. I will keep this truth in mind in my own future data collection adventures.

As our ride to work has gone on holiday, Jamie and I have decided to walk to work. We can do it! It’s not that far! (So it seems-LOL) Jamie and I get to work in 40-50 minutes (when walking at a fairly slow pace) and manage to get there drenched in sweat. My pores are loving me right now. Our CARE colleagues cannot believe we would walk all the way, but Jamie and I both love to walk and have not officially exercised since we got to Tanzania. I need to shed a few pounds before I head back home!

The food has gotten much better for me these days. “My stomach is finally adjusting,” I thought to myself. Then I spoke too soon. Just yesterday I had to run to the bathroom to throw-up. I was doing so good since getting to Dar, but something went awry yesterday and has not gotten better.

I leave for my in-laws’ in a couple of weeks. (I hope they don’t mind me calling them that already.) Can’t wait for a change of scenery and activities.

I miss home. I miss my family, my love, and my cuddly puppy. Boy what I’d give for a calzone from Mellow Mushroom (mushrooms, spinach, and pineapple, YUM). Oooh, and a nice t-bone steak, how grand would that be? Maybe some pupusas, or lasagna, or my mother’s famous pepian. 28 days left, and boy am I counting!

Morogoro Visit during White Ribbon Rally

My visit to Morogoro was a great learning experience. There were many things that occurred that could have been better planned for, particularly the “masses.” There seemed to have been one system set in place to organize the people into the march, but it did not seem to be functioning properly. The crowds grew and grew and eventually became quite restless, either fighting for shirts or bottled water.

While it was amazing to see so many people turn out for the rally, it was depressing to see their reasons for coming. When they were notified that they would not be receiving the rally shirts, many of them simply decided not to march. Some of those who decided to continue on with the march without their shirts continued, but seemed to miss the point of the rally as they marched chanting “shirts, shirts, shirts.” In the end, it seemed we were marching for shirts and not maternal-child health. Did the message reach those who could not attend the ceremony to hear the actual speeches? From a bystanders point, it appeared this was not the case.

As it may be customary in Tanzania, there was a lot of waiting for “important” individuals. While the program was scheduled to start at 8 a.m., we were delayed almost 3-4 hours. The waiting was either due to improper planning of “minor” logistics that turned into major projects (such as t-shirt distribution and participant enrollment) or waiting for the guests of honor (a good 1-2 hour wait for each one). As the locals were more patient than I (the foreign bystander), the program continued as if nothing had gone wrong.

In the end, the speeches were delivered, and many stayed in the audience to actually listen to the true message trying to be delivered.