An end in sight

Well, our time in Haydom is wrapping up, but in true Tanzania fashion, not without a few bumps along the way. I finally finished collecting data yesterday, but have yet to enter it since the electricity in town has been out for more than 2 days. We’ve been saying good-byes to people we’ve met in Haydom. Although we will miss people, we may not miss the meals they serve us. This weekend we were invited to various people’s houses to say goodbye, and served various types of meat (we think goat and beef) from various parts of the animal – definitely some tubes, maybe a bit of tongue, and something that was a texture similar to lizard skin that I didn’t really know existed anywhere in mammals. But, being polite guests, we choked it down and smiled.

We’ve made fast work of the Christmas boxes, and had better leave Haydom soon, or we’re going to be back in the barren snack-wasteland that this town is. American food (and fiber) has made us feel much better – both mentally and GI-tract-wise!

We said our goodbyes at morning prayer at the hospital this morning, and we (when I say we, I really mean Ryan) were awarded with a coveted HLH heart. Not just everyone gets one of these. We’ve only seen one other person in our time here be awarded one, so we’re among the elite few, I think. The rest of the majority of our time has been spent trying to figure out how to get out of here, and the best way to get to Kigoma. We’re half way across the country now, so it doesn’t seem to make much sense to go all the way to Dar on the east coast to get to Kigoma, which is on the very western edge of the country. ….although, logistics and lack of roads make what should be a pretty simple thing to do, nearly impossible. I think our plan now is to hire a car, drive to a mid-way city which has a paved (possibly gravel) road, and take a bus from there to Kigoma. In theory, we will be able to get there in one day….

Well, sorry for the somewhat boring update, we should get a lot more interesting in a few days!

Betsy

(Photo: Apparently, after their Orange Bowl win, they Hawkeyes have become so popular they have fans here in Haydom! Who would have thunk it?!)