Sorry to our readers for not posting as often as normally in the past week. It's 70% due to the power outages and 30% due to being out shopping for souvenirs, art pieces and bags, and getting dresses made (Jeff is excluded in the latter, but he's been so patient with us girls in our shopping adventures. Thank you!).
It's getting down to crunch time. We only have 2 more weeks of placement left. Jeff and I have been busy following up on our clients in the community and preparing our final presentation, which will be next week before Albert, one of our preceptors, takes his well-deserved vacation. On Friday, the CCBRT staff threw a goodbye party for Augusto, a previous program manager who has dedicated 16 years to CCBRT including at the headquarters in Dar es Salaam and in Moshi. A whole goat was roasted in his honour. The staff also prepared a DANCE and a song for him and his wife. Augusto is a well-respected figure and if you meet him, you'll understand why so many people praise him. He has done an outstanding job managing the CCBRT centre in Moshi. He takes his time to greet and say "hello" to everyone whenever he is at the centre, and he is always concerned with your well-being. Despite the fact that he is no longer the acting program manager and is in the midst of moving, he still finds time to stop by the centre and ask how Jeff and I are doing. When you talk to him, he really puts you at ease and listens to you.
Jeff and I also threw a dinner party for our CCBRT colleagues the same night. Jeff & I collaborated in the kitchen and cooked a feast. The menu for dinner was crackers & guacamole, garlic bread & chili, fried rice, mashed potatoes with bacon bits, sweet & sour pineapple chicken, steamed veggies, banana & hazelnut bread, crepes with ice cream, and fruit punch. The DANCE party started when all the guests left except for one of our preceptors, Neo, and her kids. She is such a wonderful mom, and her kids are adorable! We taught them the macarena and YMCA DANCE, and we all had such a blast.
Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. According to the UN, the Day aims to "promote a better understanding of disability issues with a focus on the rights of persons with disabilities and gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of the political, social, economic and cultural life of their communities." The Tanzacrew participated in the march and festivities while representing KCMC and CCBRT. None of us have heard about this Day prior to coming here, but it's such a great cause. We hope that wherever you are in the world, you are celebrating this Day and recognizing the importance of inclusive societies. Of course, no celebration is complete without some dancing. After lunch, we danced with the kids and attempted a local line DANCE. I think we've got it...and we can test it out tonight when we go dancing.
Tonight's destination is Club La Liga, the largest club in Moshi. We are going with our CCBRT colleagues: Neo (my preceptor is taking us out, that's how cool she is!) and Masue (expert wheelchair technologist and the best fundi in Moshi). Let's DANCE the night away!
UPDATE: Sadly, Masue didn't join us but we had a blast at La Liga and felt the after effects Sunday morning. One of the highlights of the night was jamming in the car with our cab driver en route to La Liga. Jeff and I went to Mama Alex's house for lunch the next day and ended up drinking with her and her husband until early evening, with the company of our dear preceptor, Neo, who acted as translator. Apparently the best cure for a hangover is some good Tanzanian food and more drinking. And when the powers went out, I put on some tunes on my iPhone and we DANCED. It was one of the best Sundays we had for sure!
-E
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