Kwa Heri, Africa

As I write this post, it is 1:30 am.  Brent is sleeping beside me and I am up doing some last-minute reservations and clearing off my work laptop.  Before I hand it in tomorrow and we head for two months of nomadic adventure, it felt appropriate to write one last blog post.

It's been an emotional week of goodbyes.  Tonight we put our hands on the "helping hands" wall, listened to some speeches and songs from our volunteer friends, and then went for a final feast at the auto-parts-shop-BBQ-joint we so love. We felt blessed and loved by those around us. It has been harder to say goodbye to our Tanzanian friends, knowing that our friends from England, Australia and the US might be able to come visit us some day but the Tanzanians probably won't be able to.  As one teacher told me, "I feel like a small fish in the big pond of your life plans." Brent and I have the luxury of traveling around the globe, meeting people, and leaving when things aren't great.  Most Tanzanians don't have anything near that luxury.

We are excited for the next phase of our adventure.  But we are also so, so grateful for our experience here- for the people we've met, the gorgeous scenery we have encountered, the bugs and reptiles we (Brent) have followed around, the babies we have cuddled

and the lessons we have learned.  I think we are both walking away from this year with more questions than answers about this world, but this is a good thing. Kwa heri (goodbye), Tanzania.  We hope to see you again one day.

I was going for an African sunset... unfortunately some green spilled in the yellow.

Brent will paint a little maple leaf in the middle tomorrow morning after the rain stops.  What a patriot.

The fabulous "vollies" we have come to love- (from left): Monique, Nigel, Jane, Helen, Pat, Brent and Rachel.

Lillian's Easter Lunch

Lillian is the cleaner who cleans my office.  Since the day I arrived, she has come in with a bright smile and made it her goal to help me practice my Swahili.  A great teacher she is, each day she would present me with a different topic of discussion, to help me practice different types of vocabulary.  "What are you cooking tonight?" "What kinds of vegetables did you buy in the market?" "How many children do you want to have?".  I think she has become one of my closest friends here... we have shared many laughs and heartaches as we have gotten to know each other.  On Easter Sunday she invited us over to her house for lunch with her husband Andrew and baby girl Rufi.  Her house is a small concrete block with two tiny rooms.  She had cooked for us over the fire a pot of plantain and beef stew, as well as pilau- both foods that are reserved for a very special occasion.  She and her husband had saved up all month for this meal, which they shared with us and any neighbour who walked by, and then put in containers for us to take home!  I was humbled.  If a family whose combined monthly income is less than I make in a day could lavish such generosity on me, why are we rich folk holding on to our money and possessions for dear life?  Lilian's Easter lunch seems like some parable Jesus would tell about the kingdom of God.  I have been humbled to be the recipient of it, and to have been given such a friend.

Lillian washing all of our hands before the meal- a Tanzanian tradition.

Brent enjoying the feast.

Me, Lillian, Rufi, and Andrew.

The door on the left is their house....