John de Ronde, 3 Dec 2008 10:24 hours
Moshi town, Tanzania Singachini TTC 27th November
Singachini TTC nestles against the side of Kilimanjaro, on the opposite side to Marangu, just up from Moshi town. As you go higher, the weather becomes more temperate and like Marangu, this makes for ideal conditions to grow coffee. The hillside is covered with coffee plantations. Coffee plants also need a bit of shade so there is plenty of tree cover. Everywhere is a vibrant green in the sun – not like the normal picture of a hot, dusty Africa.
The climb by taxi became cooler and cooler as we ascended. Coming out of a hot and humid Moshi it was a relief and a surprise to be traveling so high up. The college, like Patandi is small and could originally have been a German settlement. The whole area was once a German colony, after all. The village has a large Lutheran Church and hospital, very convenient for emergency services to the climbers. The next village, Mwika boasts an exit gate for the National Park.
And like Patandi, I came to the college at just the right time to solve 3 out of 4 of the connection problems they had. I suppose, in a similar way to Patandi, the ICT programme will eventually succeed but critical mass is still a long way off. It makes me aware of the responsibility and necessity for volunteer intervention.
As everywhere, the people at Singachini were really grateful and pleased to have me visit. They were working hard to get this programme off the ground but they were frustrated by lack of experience. And again like Patandi, they asked when I was coming back.
On the way down, I walked part of the way because it was so pleasant. All the people I met (and on any of the roads there are always people walking) greeted me warmly, welcoming me to Tanzania. I caught a daladala about half way down. I’m beginning to dread the daladala as the drivers and conductors, working as a team, always consider their pockets before their passengers, so cramming the bus full to overflowing. However, this time, at the next bus stop an old lady wanted to get on. She could have been 75 or 105. She was all of 4ft 6, thin and sprightly.
The conductor got off the bus to help her on and a young man gave up his seat. Everyone paid her respect, as they all do here to older people and she beamed a broad smile showing all four of her teeth. She was a bright spark on the bus and chatted to anyone who would listen. She is one of these women who, having lived to a ripe old age, radiates warmth and generosity. In Moshi her destination was a church fete. The bus stopped on the opposite side of the road. The conductor got off and helped her cross the road, holding her hand all the while and stopping all traffic. This daladala became a traveling village and at the main dala stop I left it feeling good about this country.
Christmas hols next. See you then.
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