Our last few days in Mbeya have found us involved in a number of activities. A household full of boys is always a busy place and this is no exception.
On our first day here, we celebrated Daudi's birthday with a beautifully decorated cake created by Sharmala and Jan. We had spent about an hour with the boys watching and "filming" (via our camera videos') them doing cartwheels, back flips and leaps all with amazing agility. There is a huge pile of rice husks not far from here where they are able to take off and land w/o injury. The most spectacular leap had Daudi and Dick each running, taking off and then sailing over not one or two but 5 little kids all lined up just past the take-off point. When we returned home, Jan sketched a drawing of these "gymnasts" which Sharmala then reproduced with icing on D's cake! A unique cake indeed.
It's been fun having the boys show us the various creatures that live within the compound's yard - lizards, mama frog and her little ones, 8cm long snails, moths with lovely symmetrical patterns, spiders, and dead wasps.
Jan, Sharmala and I share a keenness for birds and have spotted an iridescent backed sunbird feeding on a nearby "bottle brush" tree (with it's gorgeous scarlet bottle brush-shaped blooms); small groups of small red finch-like birds that might be African fire birds (we've got a Peterson's book of birds for Eastern Africa to help ID them); and just a short while ago I saw a medium sized bird flying to a tree across the yard and it had an enormously long tail. Jan thinks it might have been a widow bird. I couldn't detect any markings w/o binoculars ---- sure wish I had brought a small pair with me.
Last night guests came to share a tasty meal with us.... roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, stir-fry veggies, potato-leek soup, green salad & for dessert homemade chocolate chip ice-cream with scrumptious fudgie brownies. Sharmala's dear friend Minakshi, who lives and works here in Mbeya came with her friend Neeta who is visiting from Dar. We all enjoyed sharing stories and news across the candle-lit table in a combination of English and Swahili. M. told us about the textile factory where she works managing the inventory. We found out that the cotton is grown not far from here and processed completely here at this factory...from the spinning of the thread to the weaving of the material. Minakshi is also part of a group of local woman who are trying to start a local "cottage" industry which would create batiked fabrics.
As you can see, adjustment to Tanzania life has not been difficult!
I'll try to send pictures so that you can see the boys and some of the beautifull surrounding countryside!
Last night guests came to share a tasty meal with us.... roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, stir-fry veggies, potato-leek soup, green salad & for dessert homemade chocolate chip ice-cream with scrumptious fudgie brownies. Sharmala's dear friend Minakshi, who lives and works here in Mbeya came with her friend Neeta who is visiting from Dar. We all enjoyed sharing stories and news across the candle-lit table in a combination of English and Swahili. M. told us about the textile factory where she works managing the inventory. We found out that the cotton is grown not far from here and processed completely here at this factory...from the spinning of the thread to the weaving of the material. Minakshi is also part of a group of local woman who are trying to start a local "cottage" industry which would create batiked fabrics.
As you can see, adjustment to Tanzania life has not been difficult!
I'll try to send pictures so that you can see the boys and some of the beautifull surrounding countryside!
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