Because of the long silence, you may have been beginning to think we really were lost. (see last blog post). We were beginning to wonder after two weeks with no internet and only very limited, intermittent times with it this week. We are glad to report that Africa is still in the world and life continues on from day to day.
Last week we did another trip to the border to apply for another business visa and again went to Uganda officially without setting foot in the place. There were some anxious minutes, while we waited for a decision about granting it was made, seeing the Regional Immigration Commissioner at the border told us that is wasn't really right to be given another one . A few days before we went, Kevin had been granted a work permit and whether this swayed the decision , we aren't really sure.
There were some prayers going Heavenward and we came away with smiling faces, grateful hearts and new visas - for a fee of course. 😄😄
We left Katoke just before sunrise and drove ourselves to the border so were able to take a few pictures on the way. As we drove through the Savannah areas, I enjoyed trying to picture all the animals that once roamed this area.
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A typical older style mud house. As the economy improves there are more
modern style houses being built on the outskirts of most villages. Bananas are an important source of
food and so are grown in every available space right up to the front door. They are mostly a green banana called Matoke which is cooked mashed and eaten with beans ,fish, rice or cabbage or ugali (a thick porridge made from finely ground corn) and meat if you can afford it. |
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| A modern village shop. |
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| A village market on the way |
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A typical countryside view. The road is in good condition but travelling is slowed by all the 50kpm
speed areas along the way. |
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| This grass is called Elephant grass and grows very tall and in profusion particularly in the Savannah areas. |
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The whole area apart from the Savannah plain is very hilly due to ancient volcanic activity.
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As you come into Bukoba, the largest city in the Kagera Region and where we do most of our business for the building it is very hilly.From there you descend to the main town centre which is on the shores of Lake Victoria.The major damage from the earthquake last year was up on the hills not down lower where I would have thought it would be. There is still evidence of it as many people just can't afford to repair their dwellings and so have to make do with what is left.
As you head from Bukoba towards Uganda , there is a very steep descent down to the Savannah country. The view from the top is rather spectacular.
Things have been a little unsettled at school with a new Headmaster and new Business Manager arriving and settling in. The students are in examination mode at present.Next week Form Four (Year 10) sit for their Government Examination. This is a very important exam because if they fail, they are never allowed to attend school anymore in Tanzania so you can imagine they are quite concerned. Security is very tight in all schools with police and security on site for the duration of the exams to ensure their is no cheating. The exams papers are locked in a security safe in our house and it seems we will probably have to move out so the supervisors can be housed there.The Library has been a hive of activity with a stream of students coming to study.
The building has been progressing rather rapidly . Kevin is expecting the arrival of the trusses and roof tomorrow or early next week. The workers are currently plastering the internal walls of both buildings while waiting for its arrival.
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| Moving ahead - staff accommodation |
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| Boy's Dormitory |
Can you guess what these are? They have a dual purpose. The rails on the bottom are used as a clothes line instead of spreading them on the grass but more importantly it is a gourmet food catcher. At a certain time of year the crickets hatch and these are used to catch them. A light is suspended above the funnel and when the crickets fly in they slide down the inside and are collected at the bottom. To eat them ,you boil them in water and then barbeque them. Delicious ( so I'm told).
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