First Weekend in Mwanza

After Mr. Zagalu dropped us and all our stuff off, Megan gave me a tour of the house.  It is set in the Isamilo district of Mwanza which is slightly outside of the main part of the city.  It's lovely!  I've got a bunch of pictures to post of it later in another entry.

The lime green abode!

I got myself somewhat unpacked in my new room and had a snack while Megan talked about life here and how the study was going.  I'm not sure how much sunk in!  

It's semi-tradition to take the new person out for dinner on their first evening in town. After a shower (felt soooo good!) and a power nap, we went out for dinner to the New Mwanza Hotel.   

The New Mwanza Hotel now with Club Fusion!

I met Emily and Susan again who are WHE interns that I had done some training with back in London.  There was also Ally (Minnesota) and Jessica (Kentucky) who are in the Peace (Global Health Service) Corps and are assigned to the Baylor College of Medicine International Pediatric AIDS Initiative.  Sarah (New York) who is here doing her PhD research on the impact of breastfeeding on maternal health.  She has a cute little dog named Tito!  There was also Liza (Florida) who also works at Baylor but I didn't get a chance to ask her what she did  *Note: I've had to facebook stalk to get some of this information because I couldn't remember it all.*

There is a distinct Indian influence on the food (and maybe culture) around here.  I had the chicken tikka masala with Naan and it was quite good.  As was the company.  They have all been here for months, if not years, so have a good grasp on the city, what to do and what not to do and travelling around Africa.   *pic to follow - internet being stupid*



Paying for dinner was an adventure.  They missed items, added items, overcharged for items and its all on one bill - it is a disaster!  You really need to watch what you are charged down here - there are two prices - the price for the Tanzanians and then the mzungu (white person) price.   We headed home soon after in a taxi - no walking after dark around here - esp a mzungu. 

I spent a few minutes before going to bed (with my head lamp on!) writing down a few thoughts on my first day.  It was so overwhelming and I really just couldn't believe that I was here! In Africa!  There is so much to learn about living here, Megan's study and the language! I'm still concerned about the language...I can't even seem to get a simple hello right...but then there are no simple greetings here! It's a process.  One day I'll get it. 

I woke up the next day from a very disturbed sleep.  It's quite noisy around here - nothing like in the city itself - but I still found it loud.  Dogs (packs howling and barking), chickens, vehicles, people, birds, the mosque call..etc...

We headed into the city, about a 10min walk, to the market area.  I find it hard to distinguish the market area, it ALL seems like a market to me.  There are shops everywhere and people selling food all over the place.  I'm not sure who is buying it all as there aren't many tourists and people are pretty poor here.  Sunday is the food market and other days is it mostly clothes and housewares and shoes, I've never seen so many shoes!  Beth, don't get excited - not the good kind!

I am not sure how to describe the feeling of walking around here.  The Tanzanians look at you, no, STARE at you, and it is thoroughly unnerving.  It's not menacing but not friendly either.  There is a general dislike, I feel, and a small amount of fascination especially by the children - I had a little guy come up and touch my leg one day.  One example of the dislike I feel is that we were walking through an area and Emily, another Western intern, was walking with us and she was shoved by someone for no reason.  Another day, Megan was buying something and while Susan and I were waiting we were splashed and I'm sure it was on purpose.

From men, and sometimes woman, are the catcalls of 'Mzungu, Mzungu' or 'Sista, Sista' and random English greetings they have picked up said with sarcasm.   A few times we get the calls of 'mchena' with them making 'chinese' sounds - they think we are Chinese!  It's just bizarre.  And the crazy thing is there are lots of actual Chinese people around.  

The market was the worst for me.  I hate markets in Canada that you can barter in and here with the language barrier it is even worse!  I really need to get a grasp on the numbers in Swahili and that will help a lot.  Megan has made me a list of what all the fruits and vegetables are in Swahili as well.  I'd love to take pictures of all this but it is very hard.  I already stick out like a sore thumb and a mzungu with a camera pointed is even more rare.  You are supposed to ask if you can take their photo as well.  Megan says you also get swamped because they want money for it.  So I've taken a few pictures of the market but surreptitiously from my phone.  

After doing some other random shopping and showing me the best stores to shop in, Megan, Susan and I retired to the roof of the Gold Crest Hotel for a refreshing beverage in the shade.  The view is magnificent!  

The Gold Crest - one of the nicer and newer places in town.

Megan, me and Susan enjoying some local beer(s).

 I've got some photos of the view of the lake that Mwanza sits on but I cannot seem to upload any photos at the moment without the internet disconnecting.  I'll figure that out later.  

I've been here one week!  Off to the Sunday market again for some fresh produce...ah!

Badaye!

Day 3 - Into Africa - Part 2

When it was time to board the flight to Mwanza via Kilimanjaro, I finally uprooted myself from my seat.  I managed to find a washroom to take off my sweater and jacket so I wasn't so hot.

As I walked down the ramp to the tarmac, I got my first taste of African air....hot and windy but not unpleasant - it was downright nice!  But I needed shorts and sandals STAT - which are in my checked bags.  And then my carry-on handle broke.  It will not be making the return trip home - RIP and good riddance!

All kinds of little mobile units around the tarmac and prop planes everywhere!

The last bird for this trip.

There seemed to be a lot of people and vehicles wandering around the tarmac and no one really doing much of anything.  We walked out to the turbo prop and took our assigned seats.  There were about 20 of us.  People near the front, including me, got asked to move to the back for some reason...just sit anywhere...odd....I know they often redistribute for weight allowances but there was no mention of where, just 'to the back.'

I lightly bumped my head while moving seats and the steward seemed very concerned.  Turns out he was just a huge flirt!  He kept asking me if I was texting my boyfriend (I was texting Megan) and he kept saying "But he is so far away and I am here."  Ya right buddy!

I believe this was my first time on a turboprop and I was surprised at how smooth the ride was.  It was quite nice as these planes don't fly as high so you can see more of the scenery.  The pics aren't great but you may be able to get the idea.  

I believe this is Arusha or Moshi.  At the base of Kilimanjaro.   

Colourful patchwork

Mountains.  SNOW!

We touched down in Kilimanjaro (I don't think i saw the mountain.  I was on the wrong side of the airplane) and we disembarked as they were going to refuel.  We loaded back up less than 15min later and added some more passengers.  

Last flight of the trip - thank goodness!

 As a lady behind me loaded in, I noticed she was wearing a wrap that looked suspiciously like one my mom had. It is from a independent designer in British Columbia, Chloe Angus Designs .  OMG! A fellow Canuck!  We exchanged pleasantries and continued the flight in silence.

As we landed in Mwanza,  we unload from plane into a tram.  The B.C. lady, Susan, sits beside me and asks what I'm doing here and such.  So I ask in return.  She is opening a school she has fought to start here.  She then whips out an article written about her and her trials and attack on her LIFE.  Thanks..JUST what a needed!!  We then get off tram to the shittiest building I've ever seen (not since tho) and stand around waiting for baggage (I see MEGAN - YAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!).  The trolley rolls up to the hole in the wall -  literally -  and people start grabbing their bags.  I see mine but when I go to grab them I'm told I can't have them.  But...but...but...everyone else did!  They then put them in another hole in the wall and tell me to go to customs. Oh..right...cool...I get that!

Susan was watching my carryon at this time and as I go to get it to go to customs she says 'Don't let them make you pay anything."  Thanks..again....As you are walking around, there are people everywhere touching you asking to help you with your bags.  Go away...

I go to the immigration area and I'm shaking as I try and fill out the form to submit with my passport and visa.  Thankfully that goes smoothly.  Someone guides me to the way I came in and through to the customs area - and I use that term very very loosely.  A table and a guy.  I put my carryon on the table and he asks - anything to declare? and I say no....off you go...

As I walk through, I have no idea where my other bags have gone!  Megan goes off looking and I can see them where they were to begin with!  So confusing...and I think they make it so on purpose!  We finally corral my bags and I'm with someone I know.  I'm a freaking mess!!  Why did I agree to this again? I must be insane!

I surprisingly don't look as terrified as I felt.

Megan has arranged for Mr. Zagalu, a local store owner and taxi driver, to pick me up.  He shook my hand and gave me a hug...ok, I like this guy!  He drives us back into town and I get a taste of the driving situation.  Lord. Have. Mercy.  But more on that later.....I'm currently in complete culture shock.  Megan is trying to tell me 'up here is this', 'down this road is that' - nothing was sinking in.  

We stop at Mr. Zagalu's shop for soda (yes, they say soda here and not pop) and for internet vouchers for my phone.  I can't wait to be back in touch with Canada!

We finally get to the house...it's AWESOME and not at all what I was expecting.  But that's another post....

Day 3 - Into Africa - Part 1

After a long and boring day at the Schiphol (I'll never spell that without looking it up!), we finally boarded flight KQ117 Kenya Airlines "The Pride of Africa" at 8:40pm to Nairobi, Kenya.  

Boarding was a breeze and we were on time.  My seat mate this time was much calmer than the drunk couple!  He was very very tall though and I'm not sure how comfortable he was on the flight.  Even I could have used more leg room!

The second plane of the trip

I discovered in short order that my headphone jack didn't work - always my luck -  but I plugged into my iPod and promptly passed out.  I woke in time for dinner - ~10:30pm.  I opted for the vegetarian option.  It was that or 'fish'.  I'm up for trying new things lately but not a random airline fish dish!  The lemon dessert was the best part of the dinner - you will sense a theme here!  Valeria, I was looking at the map while we were flying and we flew down the length of Italy....was very cool!

I managed to doze on and off for the next 6hrs - hard to believe that is possible - until I woke up to this site.  Amazing....just amazing.....the sunrise over Africa.  And I'm not sure what mountain that is but there were a whole bunch of smaller mountains peaking up through the clouds.  So amazing to see...especially since the only mountains I've ever seen have snow on them.

We arrived into Nairobi on time and to the sunrise still continuing....

Taxiing into airport.

So beautiful.

Once in the airport, it hit home that I wasn't in Kansas anymore...and I felt very overwhelmed. I sat in the same seat for 3hrs until my next flight came.  Thank heavens for wifi and friends who can talk you down off a ledge!  

The flight to Kilimanjaro and then to Mwanza in Part 2.  

The next plane. Turboprop.  And just all the random people hanging out on the jetway - no big.  

Day 2 - Amsterdam

Hallo!

I had a 13 hour lay over in Amsterdam and the plan was to go into the city and do some sightseeing.  Since I didn't sleep too well on the plane I was very tired and it was also pretty cold in Amsterdam that day.  Not having worn or packed my winter coat, I decided against the trip into town.  Besides, I've got a couple of days there on the way home.  

So let's find some wifi and keep connected, right?  Well, it's only 1hr FREE at the airport!  Totally sucked.  So I decided to try and catch some sleep.  I heard you could buy a lounge pass so I went to the lounge that did so....30Euro for max 3hrs and no where to lay down.  Crap.  So I found a lounger and napped for an hour or so.  Once I woke, I was starving so I went to try and find some Dutch cuisine.  

I checked out the Grand Cafe Amsterdam for a ham and cheese omelette.  It was delicious!

Yummy yummy cheeeese!

I then went in search of internet and paid for some time.  No way I was surviving without it!  Then I realised that my power converter/plus adaptor was conveniently stowed away in my checked bags - which i wouldn't see again until Mwanza.  Boo!! 

By this time, the lack of sleep was really getting to me and I needed to lay down.  On my wanderings, I'd seen a hotel in the airport that you could get for 4hrs.  So I checked in there for 4hrs and had a wonderful nap and shower.  Much better than the lounge!

My cute little room. 

The hotel Mercure

Super Cute! And as big as some full hotel rooms in Germany!

 

So after my refreshing nap and shower, I headed off for some more exploring around the airport.  It was pretty boring.  One can only look at so many bottles of perfume and alcohol.  I decided to get something to eat since the flight from TO to Amsterdam didn't have dinner until quite late and I was hungry. I needed to try these fries everyone talks about!  I even put the mayo on it - and liked it!

My burger, fries, salad and Heineken.  Yummy!

After this is was time to wander to the gate, with a stop to buy some stroopwafels for dessert (and to share with Megan).  At the gate, there was a whole platoon of Dutch soldiers heading to Burundi for some training - they filled the rear of the plane.  

This flight was unremarkable but I'll talk about it next post.  I've got some good pictures of the sunrise from the plane.  

Tot ziens Amsterdam! Until April!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Karibu!

This is the first post to my new blog about my travel and adventures, AKA Shannonigans, in Mwanza, Tanzania.  

I'll try and post in order of my days.  I've been writing my thoughts down as I go but haven't had a chance to put them to computer.  

I'll write a whole post on WHY I'm down here another day.  It's not complicated but I've got to wrap my head around a few things before I can explain it well.  

Day 1

Flight 692 from Toronto to Amsterdam (6173km btw!) at 6:35pm arriving in Amsterdam at 7:40am.

Jordan, from the lab, and who has just recently returned from Mwanza, was kind enough to drive me to Toronto in his shiny new ride - a Volkswagon Jetta.  Sweet ride!  And the tunes were bumping. 

Me and my luggage - with Beth thinks isn't enough for three months.  But I was actually underweight!  Shocking!!  But I'm finding things everyday that would have been useful to have brought.  Oh well....

So we load onto the plane, biggest plane I think I've ever been on. Anyway, the seats beside me were empty for the longest time and I was pretty stoked about that.  THEN, sigh, then...the drunk couple shows up and the woman nearly falls into my lap as she gets into the seat.   As they settle in, they are kissing and he's rubbing her leg and she is all the time holding onto the barf bag - not a good sign - ANY of it!    Things are ok for a bit and then she throws up...thankfully into the barf bag!  And throws up A LOT.  And her partner, such the gentleman, holds her hair *insert n'aaaaawwww here* as she does.  And they are being very low key which means they've done this before and perhaps gotten thrown off because of it!

My bird

The stewardess finally notices she is 'unwell' - and also notices they've brought their own alcohol to their seat - which she disposes of and supplies some more barf bags.   We then get the awesome news we are going to be delayed for take-off for about 45 minutes because we have to be de-iced.  The lady beside me starts with the dry heaves and then throws up again...and thankfully passes out.  If she hadn't she would have puked on the take off - a tad bumpy!

I catnapped just after take-off and dreamt of eating - I was starving.  Dinner finally came around 9pm I think.  It was some sort of Oriental chicken with rice, carrot salad and a yummy cake for dessert.  Loved the hot towels!

I didn't sleep much as I couldn't get comfortable - turns out my seat wouldn't recline and instead I watched The Dark Knight.

We got into Schiphol airport ahead of time even with the delay because of a strong tail wind. 

Amsterdam....another story for another post and another day!!

Asante sana!