no longer "Illegal Alien" in Tanzania

Finally, after waiting for almost 5 months, I’ve got my Certificate of Exemption which validity is until 05 February 2013.  Now, I am free to move around.  After my entry visa expired last May, I had apprehensions every time I go out from my house.  Although the Program Office assured me that their Immigration Authority is not doing a random check on visa, I was still paranoid. 

am now legal!

I think visa (work permit) problem for volunteers is common in any placement.  When I was in Bangladesh, I never had a work permit during my stay there for 1 year; only entry visa extensions for every 2 months.

This issue reflects that good governance does not still exist in developing countries – but a bureaucratic system that never ceases.

My 3rd house

Karibu! (Welcome) - that's my door

Since I arrived in Tanzania last February, I moved to 3 different houses in 4 months.  The first time was in a budget hotel in the city center ;  I stayed there for more than a month (that’s why I called it my house).  Second, was outside of the city center; still part of the city but it’s known as suburb area.  After more than 2 months, for the 3^rd time, am back to the city.  I have no idea if there’ll be 4^th time, hope not.

neighbours in the compound

My new house is in a compound where there are 7 single-door apartments.  I am occupying one of the units.   It’s not a luxury apartment.  Basics are there (to be considered as liveable).  

What I’ve learned while doing long-term volunteer work is to live simply –things that I thought as necessity are luxuries when you are in Bangladesh (my 1st volunteer placement) and Africa. 

the tiny kitchen

the living room - the couch is one of my luxuries here

the bedroom - the bed is another luxury

“It was luxuries like air conditioning that brought down the Roman Empire.  With air conditioning their windows were shut, they couldn’t hear the barbarians coming.” Garrison Keillor (American writer and broadcaster b.1942)

I’ll get by with a little help from my friends...

What do I do when my love is away.
(Does it worry you to be alone)
How do I feel by the end of the day
(Are you sad because you're on your own)
No, I get by with a little help from my friends,
Mmm, get high with a little help from my friends,
Mmm, gonna to try with a little help from my friends..

These are lines from the song of Beatles “With a Little Help from My Friends”. The chorus part was played in my mind several times last week. 

Ate Mina and Juanito from Philippines

Eva from Kenya - she was also a fellow volunteer when I was in Bangladesh

It was not a good week for me. My brain was preoccupied of issues and challenges that I am facing in my placement .  But then, it seems that my friends here (Tanzania) - they are also fellow volunteers; sensed my dilemma.  I’ve got unexpected calls and sms from them asking my condition.

With Bryan (from Canada) - during our ICT (In country Training)

I was not able to give them specific answers.  They know that I have trouble of weighing possible options.  But I am definite that whatever decisions I’ll make, they will be there to support me.

I am grateful that I have them.    With their help and encouragement, I’ll get by for sure.

"Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait for the answer." ~Author Unknown

some ordinary days in Dar

One of my strategies to distract myself from getting impatient while commuting in Dar es Salaam is taking pictures.  These are some that I’ve got.



There are parts of Dar that you need to cross the sea by Ferry



Passengers crossing the sea



this is public beach - everybody is allowed even these cows





while waiting for a ride at the bus station from my place of work to the city



A Tanzanian who sells stufftoys at the busy road of Dar

 

beside the busy road in Dar_pic1



beside the busy road in Dar _ pic2

  


A man who has its own way to wear sandals**

  

**my apologies. my arrow drawing on the picture was pointing at the wrong direction.:-)

"You can’t control the length of your life, but you can control its depth."

=Source: Philippine Star; Word of the Day; 20 June 2011

temporary escape from living like a poor in Dar

Last weekend (Saturday), after the battery of my laptop was exhausted (no other way to recharge it since the power was still out), I decided to go out, brought a novel (this was a gift I got last Christmas 2010 but it was only yesterday that I started reading it), camera and a bottle of water.  I went to Slipway – (this is a street name and it is along Msaki ward) there’s a hotel, restaurants, shops and African crafts stalls in the area.  Most of the people that go there are the expats, tourists and some locals - who are from the middle-class or upper class (?) <– just a presumption>; for obvious reason – it’s expensive (for a Tanzanian that earns USD 200 - 300 a month). 

the middeteranian-style building at the Slipway

A scoop of ice cream is TSH 4000 (almost USD 3), a bottle of soda is TSH 1000 (price is doubled compare to ordinary stores) and a decent meal is around TSH 10,0000  (almost USD 7).  The price you pay is actually for the comforts of staying there – away from the discomforts of living in Dar.  



There is a corner which is called “Streetfood at Slipway” –  the food are cheaper (mostly grilled) but the  stalls start to open at 6pm.  Loitering there during day time is allowed while the stalls are still closed yet be responsible not to litter.



some shops and restaurants



I was lucky that I found a shaded place to stay; with my novel, the bottle of water and something to chew (bought some at the supermarket there).  I was intently reading when I noticed that there’s an Asian guy (East Asian national) sitting at the other side of the bench where I was.  At first, I thought that he was trying to get a signal from his phone while moving towards my direction.  Then I realized he was taking my picture through his phone.  He did not say anything.  He smiled at me and fled. He speaks Kiswahili and he was telling his local lady companion that I am his fellow Chinese.  I don’t know why - my eyes are small but not like his and the color of my skin is also different from him.  I don’t want to spoil my serenity so I continued reading.



the playground



I was glad that I stayed there for few hours.  I was relaxed and my thoughts were distracted from whining.  Lately, I am unhappy of what I am doing due to some unmet expectations, disappointments and frustrations.  I was thinking that I am disillusioned of making a difference by doing a volunteer work.   Until now I haven’t sorted out my brain yet – it’s still manageable (I think).  Besides, what I am going through right now is nothing compare to a poor Tanzanian (30% of their population are living below of the poverty line) who struggles to work to have a meal in a day.

the indian ocean

While watching the sunset, I was grateful that I had the opportunity to appreciate God’s creation.  I spent almost USD 10 for the day but the inner peace I had at that moment was priceless.



the sun still shines behind the dark clouds





the beautiful sunset





too much Kiswahili!

Some of the locals speak English in Kiswahili way.  I have heard these words during some of my conversations with the locals around me. They add “e” but they pronounce it as “eh”- soft “e”.

• friendeh – friend
• househ - house
• hoteleh – hotel
• bageh – bag – “bage” is actually the Kiswahili of bag
• stoveh - stove
• magazineh - magazine
• restauranteh - restaurant
• foodeh - food
• milkeh – milk
• cleaneh – clean
• breadeh – bread
• turneh – turn
• righteh - right
• magazineh – magazine

So, the first time I’ve heard these words, I thought I haven’t heard them right.  Some of my “Kiswahnglish” (Kiswahili-English words) moments.

How are you my friendeh? 

Sorry, that’s not my name. (my reply)

Do you eat breadeh?

Is that a food?

Where is your househ?

My househ? Who is that?

You go righteh (when I asked for a direction).

Sorry, is that a street name?

I will hold your bageh?

Hold what?

Kiswahili references provided by the Program Office

I’ve been here now for more than 4 months.  My ears have learned to decipher Kiswahnglish vocabularies.  I hope that when I am going back to my home country, I will not speak English in a Kiswahili way.

“Listening is the beginning of understanding”.

Philippines in Tanzania

The Filipino Community in Tanzania (FCT)

Last weekend, Saturday night (11 June), I was with fellow Filipinos to celebrate our Independence Day.  The FCT (Filipino Community in Tanzania) was the organizer. Based on our History; the first Philippine declaration of Independence Day was on 12 June 1898 (113 years ago) – the independence of the Philippine islands from the colonial rule of Spain (Philippines was under the colony of Spain for more than 300 years but defeated during the Spanish-American war - the reason why Americans are always the hero of some Filipinos). 

In Tanzania, Filipino community celebrates this day yearly and that night was the 21^st.  According to a fellow pinoy (means a Filipino in our lingo), there are more than 400 pinoys in Tanzania; around 30-40% are in Dar es Salaam (am not sure if that includes me).   My attendance was through the courtesy of Abeth.  She’s so generous to shoulder my registration fee (thank you very much Abeth!). I’ve met her for the first time during this event.   We have a common friend in the Philippines who introduced us to each other via internet chat. 

Abeth beside the FCT logo - the logo represents the flags of the Philippies and Tanzania, the famous Luneta Park in the Philippines and the Mt. Kilimanjaro of Tanzania

The celebration was a relief temporarily from my home sickness.  The venue was packed with almost 200 pinoys.  They are from different walks of life.  Some of them have established their lives in Tanzania together with their family members.  My fellow volunteer Filipinos were not around so, I tried to fight my anti-social personality (not really - I am actually shy! <blushing>) by mingling and did some small talks to few. The bad thing about me is that - I have a difficulty remembering names (but I can easily remember faces), as a result; there are only 4 names that were stored in the data-base of my memory bank after the night.

During the singing that National Anthem, I have observed that all of us sung it by heart – or I was just sentimental?

The Tanzania Dance Troupe- with 2 Filipino members

After the programme – the protocol delivery of messages, entertainment and dinner, it was dancing time for everyone but it was too late for me to stay.  Instead of going back home by taxi cab, Abeth demanded (take note -not requested -hahaha!) a fellow pinoy named Alvin to drive us (with Thess – a newbie like me in FCT).  

While in the car, we had the opportunity to talk about what we are doing in Tanzania – reason/s why we are in Africa.  Me, a volunteer, Abeth works in a local NGO, Thess; a development adviser of an International NGO and Alvin – not sure but I think he works in the energy sector.  He corrected me when I asked where does he work – it was in Taglish – (Tagalog <major dialect in the Philippines> and English) that when it is translated to English – it would be – “What is the name of your company?” It makes sense that his answer was – “I don’t own the company but I work for the company”.   Yeah, you’re right! J He also gave me a classic pinoy puzzle or a joke (?) – translation of “good road” to my dialect.  I was not able to answer it.  The answer is “okay nga road” – you are really smart eh! (thank you so much for taking us home safely Alvin!)

Interpretative Dance = "who I am"

I was back home.  I was again alone and the silence was deafening.  The limited number of my neurons have digested this – from one of the lines of the message of our President Aquino that was read by the representative of Philippine Consular’s Office in Kenya – “I hope that we (Filipinos) have the same vision for the Philippines – a country that is free from poverty, corruption and apathy”.   I was trying to process the message until I was sleepy and my little brain was too tired to think of anything.

Not so Filipino food - oriental dishes- noodles, spring rolls, vegetable and pork  saute'

Filipinos with their friends

the "hot babes" dance group :-)

while watching the "hot babes" - not everyone was happy?