We finally settled down into our apartment in Iringa. We had a great spaghetti dinner last night that Dan McIntyre made while we were on safari. Dan has been coming here to the area to install computers at the high schools sponsored by the Lutheran Church. He installed computers at a regional school last week and is back until he departs on Monday for the U.S.
This morning, Dale, Dan and I headed to Tumaini University to look over the place and get our bearings. Most of the staff was not there but we did meet with the head of IT who was there for a planning meeting of the new Science Building. After that, we returned to the apartment and walked over to the Neema Craft center for lunch. This is a center for disabled folks to make weavings, paper, and other crafts. They have an Internet Cafe, a gift shop and work areas. After lunch we headed to the farmer's market for staples and food. We bought tomatoes, potatoes, rice, beans, garlic, peppers, and such from the stands and things like toilet paper (not supplied in public rest rooms by the way!) at the mini-market. I will put up some pictures later but it is a fun place and the sales folks are very helpful and eager.
We walked all of those things back to the apartment (about 5 blocks) and loaded up the car with empty bottles for a run for beer and coke. I stayed back as the car is very full with 8 people. Dan McIntyre went with to give them directions so they might make it back. They will also be looking for fabric for Sharon to start sewing and other gift items that Carrie's folks might want to bring home.
Our housekeeper, Grace, arrived this morning and we met her for the first time. We know she was here because the laundry was done and some cooking was prepared. She is cooking up dinner right now with supplies on hand and things we just brought back from the market.
It is finally nice to be settled in and know what is going on here. We were at a loss when we arrived because Dan wasn't here, Grace wasn't here and we didn't know what was what. We now know the routine (and we have plenty of beer, yogurt and coffee). The weekend will be ours to explore and perhaps go out to Kihesa Church (where we stayed our last visit) for the Sunday worship.
Right now we are using the Bega Kwa Bega coordinator, Tom Nielsen, and Dan McIntyre to help us get thru these next few days. After that we are on our own. Carrie and Sharon are learning the ropes in the farmer's market and I am figuring out where all of the cash machines are to keep them in shillings.
Our group of 13 from Fish Lake will arrive late Monday afternoon and we have made all the arrangements we need, I think.
No comments:
Post a Comment