We’ve finally had a couple of free days to spend some time at the center. After breakfast the first free day I went straight to the Imbaseni Free Library right outside the center. It’s only a couple of small rooms, but it is well used by the community. A couple things they lack: there are plenty of English dictionaries but only one English-Kiswahili dictionary, they have only a few educational texts, they have only a couple English learning books, and no Kiswahili learning books.

We ended up checking out a Kiswahili children’s book to practice the language a bit. After about an hour and a lot of struggle we made it through the first few pages. A couple people went up and got an even easier book, Mimi Mkubwa Sasa (I am big enough), and translated the whole thing to English.

After, I finally got to stop in on the computer lab and a class taught by A. Mo. I was well received by the students, and helped a couple with attaching files. Then A. Mo had me read a section about browsers, showing the student’s what Internet Explorer is. In the class the students learn the basics of navigating a computer, basic computer terms, basic office skills such as word processing, and basic internet skills such as webmail. It’s great for the student’s, but once the 6 month class is over, they don’t have much access to computers where they can practice or continue learning. Even just one more public computer, perhaps in the Imbaseni Free Library, seems like it would make a big difference.

After class a few of us, mostly the translators, went to the Good Hope Orphanage for Boys and Girls. The children at the orphanage are between the ages of 4 and 14. We brought some school supplies, art supplies, and a soccer ball. The kids really enjoyed the chalk; there was a flat dirt yard out in front of their building, and most of the kids drew on that. After a while we sat the kids down to read the story we had translated. One of the children read it in Kiswahili, and I read it in English ( most of the children know some English from school). Afterward most of the kids went back to the chalk, or soccer.

I ended up sitting with one boy, Dickson, for a while reading him the story again. He then had me go through it with him, he reading in English, a couple of times. It was a pretty big challenge for him, but he loved it. Our visit ended with a game of twiga twiga simba, their version of duck duck goose. We made it back just in time for dinner.

Our second free day I began work on one of the projects I had wanted to do. The art shop and craft shop here host a couple local professional artists, but they don’t get much exposure. For example, to see most of Ice P.’s work, one of the artists, you have to actually come to the UAACC, meet him, then walk down the road to his studio. I’m working on getting together a simple website for the artists and craftwomen, complete with a gallery for them to display their work. For now, it is here. Someday, this may even have e-commerce capabilities.

In the afternoon a few of us took a hike to visit the homes of some of the volunteers, then a sawmill. We visited Tom’s place, Ice P.’s studio, and finally A. Mo’s place. These were all one room apartment style places with all the daily amenities.

The sawmill was a few villages away so we took public transportation. The walk to the main road in Imbaseni (our village) was about a 45 minute hike. The bus fare was 300tsh, about a 25 cents. From what I gathered, the buses are all privately owned. The aren’t really busses either, rather vans with about 15 seats. The catch is at any one time, there were about 20 to 25 people on board – it was packed, but thats how it’s done. The only really uncomfortable part about it, was when someone all the way in the back got off and we all had to move.

The sawmill’s and wood shops were worth the visit. A lot of the equipment was older and more rugged but the workers were very skilled with it. Some of the work being done was done with pride, and some of it was done to get it done. Regardless though, for the most part things got done when they got done. Interestingly, the foreman at the sawmill was a gal – a forewoman. Our guides said that wasn’t uncommon.

The ride and walk back went slow; the whole trip took maybe four hours! But, we did make it back for dinner again.

On Saturday we had our walking safari in Arusha National Park, which contains the summit of Mount Meru, a staggering 3801 m. The park has a lot to see: waterfalls, giant fig trees, lakes, the mountains, and Ngurdoto Crater. Our safari was a real walk through the bush. A lot of the land we trekked through was wetland. We saw giraffes almost right away! We saw maybe a dozen in all, it was pretty exciting.

Closeup:

After we went to another waterfall, this one cut back into volcanic sediment. Our walk continued through some wetland, and ended at a campsite. Our guide took us up a hill a little ways, and we saw some Calibus monkeys. Much of the walk back to our vehicles was along a road, but we caught some incredible views of Meru.

We drove to one of the lakes, Small Momella Lake, to lunch. Many of the lakes in the park are land locked and very salty. The picnic tables were on top of a little hill, here is a view:

Our drive continued to some more of the lakes, many of which were home to greater and lesser flamingoes:

We stopped at a small museum before continuing to the Ngurdoto Crater. The museum had samples of the birds that could be found in the park. At first, it looks like any museum back at home – birds behind glass, pretty standard. Then we noticed a set of drawers along one wall. In the drawers, free to pick up and examine, were bagged specimens. Some were small, some were big (the biggest I saw was a species of Ibis) – but they were all just sitting there.

The view to the crater was spectacular. This one was much much smaller than Ngorongoro, but still huge. At least here we could imagine it at one time being a volcano.

Crater:

The drive back was quick – the park is maybe 20 or 25 minutes from the UAACC.

Sunday was our third free day. We took the opportunity to visit Monica’s family again. We got to chat a while with Mr. Lukuta before lunch. He’d gotten a new curio cabinet since our last visit. I asked him a little about it. The wood came from his own property, but he’d harvested it and sent it to the sawmill about a year ago – adding to the ‘it gets done when its done’ mentality! He sent us off before lunch with a bag of lemons.

After lunch some others and I took a hike with one of the center volunteers up to a local reptile farm. Our guide was verrry well versed. He is looking for a sponsor to attend a wildlife school – about 3,500$ for a year.

They had a many varieties of some of the worlds deadliest snakes, some not so deadly snakes, turtles, tortoises, chameleons (mostly for export), crocodiles, and my personal favorite: monitor lizards.

Nonpoisonous Snake:

Tortoise:

Crocodiles:

Chameleon:

Monitor Lizard:

On the walk back we were waylaid at a local school, but got to meet some the teachers. We were invited back to teach English for an hour on Thursday.

That’s all for now!

Salama tu! (Only peace)

UAACC – The United African Alliance Community Center.

The center has a full history available here on their website: http://www.uaacc.habari.co.tz/History.htm

Here is a little photo documentary of it. It is a walled compound covering a couple acres. There is constant activity at the center, both from classes and the many types of visitors that pass through. Much of the wall-space and open areas, even outside walls, are decorated. There are several entrances and a water spigot for the community on the outside.

Main entrance:

Water:

Inside the main gate are some gardens and the office building, and Pete and Charlotte’s abode.

Some gardens:

Original office:

The main hangout for visitors and such is a pavilion and a stage. Meals, performances, meetings, arrivals, even movie showings take place here.

Pavillion:

Stage:

There is even a snakehouse for a boa. In the background is a new construction:

There are several types of housing. Group bunks, houses, and random rooms in other buildings.

Village castle one:

There are facilities for all daily amenities. The kitchen, laundry area, even a garden, and basketball court.

A shop where local crafts are sold:

Finally there are the classrooms.

Craftroom:

Computer room:

Studio:

Art room:

English class:

If anyone has any questions, things they’d like to see, or things I missed, leave a comment!

Well we are back from Safari! Our first night out we stayed in a Masai village(Boma), so I will start there. We left the UAACC after breakfast, travelling in land cruisers. As soon as we got off the highway Jackson, our driver, told us to take the top off! This was our first Safari-like experience. Driving through savannah, looking through the roof of your vehicle is wild!

We got to our campsite shortly after leaving the highway. I was expecting to really rough it; our tents were already set up, and lunch was laid out for us! The center had sent people ahead to take care of us. It was really nice, and they did an excellent job… but I was a little disappointed. Having camped all my life, I really expected something else.

We met the Masai, a shepherd people of East Africa, shortly after lunch. Our guide was Chakalito, Chaka for short. I never caught how he was familiar with the UAACC, but he was our interface with the Masai. We met the village elders, some of the villagers, and a lot of children – all beaaautiful people. It’s amazing how you can meet people, basically introducing yourself, without any common language.

A picture of the Boma:

A Family:

Chaka took us for a walk shortly after, with some of the villagers, to show us traditional off-the-land medicine. One of the neatest tings was the Masai toothbrush. Basically, it was a real stringy wood. Cut off a toothbrush sized hunk, sharpen one end for a pick, and shave the other end. Then bite that end a bit, and it makes a perfect brush. We also took back some of a particular root to make a herbal tea in the village.

The head female elder invited us into her home when we got back, and made the tea for us. Chaka explained a little about their homes. They all had the same basic layout: an entry room, followed by a common room for cooking and eating, then surrounding that room left to right a room for supplies and chickens, a room for the head man of the household and the boys to sleep in, and all the way on the right a room for the head female and the girls. The houses were built from a stick frame, covered in a mud made from fibrous cow dung, dirt, and water. They waste none of the resources available too them. The tea was different, but really good.

We then went to the Arpul, a type of religious site, with the male members of the village for something completely foreign to me. They had a goat sacrifice. I don’t really know what to say about this, but I will say that it was a real honor to be present for this. They made bracelets out of the skin for us, as a sign of welcoming us to their culture, and in turn our respecting it.

One of the Masai I met during the sacrifice really liked my camera.

Then we walked to a highpoint on the plain for the sunset (Engali light). Here’s a few shots:

After dinner at the campsite, we were invited back to the village to watch them dance – a real privilege. The dances they did were noooothing like the Ngoma dances earlier. It was a lot more full body motions than footwork. The song was different too. No intstruments were used. The dancers made a beat with vocalization, a throaty kind of noise, while one or two others sang in their language. We were fully welcomed to participate and everything; many of us did. The dancing went on late into the night, long after we headed back for bed. Chaka said sometimes they dance nearly until morning.

In the morning it was back to the village again, for goat and cow milking. Then we went to watch the sunrise – spectacular again. Next we divided into girls and boys to experience some of daily life with the Masai. The girls went to collect water, and the guys went to herd the goats. They’ll go out for the whole day with the goats. It’s a lot of walking and standing around – but for so long, it takes a lot of patience. We ended our visit with a walk back to the village where we had the opportunity to buy some of their beadwork. I got a few pieces!

After lunch it was back into the land cruisers for a trip to ngorongoro crater. We arrived at our camping spot, and again it was all prepared for us. This time we even had the opportunity for a hot shower; I declined In the morning we started our trip up the crater. We drove into the park, and into a cloud. The scene was beautiful, but we had no idea what we were in for. For all we could tell, we were driving through a misty mountainous bit of jungle. Little did we know, we were actually driving along the rim of the crater.

I got up close and personal with a baboon during a stop.

Once we broke out of the clouds, we really got to see the magnitude of this crater. The decent from the rim to the floor of the crater was about a third of a mile. The distance across was about thirteen miles. The crater was created by a collapsed volcano about 2.5 million years ago.

Down inside the crater we saw just about every savannah animal you can imagine, except giraffe. I took about 250 megs of pictures down there, but here are some select ones.

A Lion:

A pond FULL of hippos. These guys are naaaasty animals to meet. I guess they kill more people each year than any other large african animal. They stay in the water during the day to regulate body temperature and graze during the night. Once in a while one of them will roll over in the water (they’ve got really cute pink bellies):

Zebra and water buffalo:

And finally, elephants:

Here is a shot from where we ate lunch. Another bigger lake, and some wetlands. There are 4 distinct climate zones just on the base of the crater!

Here is a final parting shot from the rim of the crater! The views on the way back were stunning. This is what was covered by cloud and mist earlier.

The ride back went pretty quick. We were all completely exhausted.

Right now we are in the middle of a couple of free days at the center, working in classes and whatnot. I plan to do a post on the UAACC and the activities here soon!