Hi Friends. Its week 3 of term 6 already! Life is flying by, just as the country side did several weeks ago. We had a fabulous trip to Tanzania after the end of last term. We traveled 3,432 km without any troubles at all really, I mean mechanically. While we were in Mbeya (our future home) Junio was bit by a dog, but not seriously, thank goodness. Annabelle got car sick several times, and threw-up on Lily, but that is relatively minor. Lily got a fever while we were in Dar es Salaam on the end of our trip which forced us to stay in hot hot Dar a couple days longer, but that was sorted before to long, so really no big problems.
One of the interesting things, was the amount of time we were stopped by police. This is mainly only because we had a Kenyan car. Understand this is not like in the US or elsewhere, where all the police have really nice cars you could never afford yourselves, with guns, bullet proof vests and flight glasses. These are guys dressed in white (unless you’re in Kenya then they dress in blue), standing on the side of the road, just hangin out talking to people and getting bored, so the step into the middle of the road raise their hand and motion somewhat nondescriptly for you to pull over. SO you pull over and if they are in a good mood, you talk for a minute they tell you how nice and cute your kids are and whatever else, then off you go. If they are not in a good mood, they try to find some way to ‘fine’ you; do you have your fire extinguisher? DO you have your emergency triangles (in case you have to stop on the road), your license? your insurance? And when they realize you have all your ducks (and children) in a row, they tell you how hot the sun is (even on this cloudy day) and how they are so parched and need some maji (water) or chai (tea), and ask if you could ‘help’. For those not familiar with this phenomenon this is code ‘for give me some money.’ And usually if you wait long enough, and be pleasant, eventually they return your licence and tell you to continue.Even if you don’t give them anything, which of course I don’t. Most of the time, completely harmless, and completely a waste time.
Every once in a while, they have speed guns, some which work correctly. If so, you can get stopped for going to fast and have to pay a fine. Usually, if you get a receipt then you pay the full amount (20,000Tsh about 15-20 USD) , but often if a receipt is not ‘nessacary’ the ‘fine’ is lower. Its all a bit funny really. But, often, the speed guns do not work, so you were obviously going 75km/h, and so was the big big truck coming up the hill behind you as well as that tree behind which the policeman was hiding with his radar gun. It just makes you laugh. At least it does me. I never thought I’d get used to being stop and talked to by police, but i don’t really mind it except it wastes time, most are pleasent and friendly and simply bored in the middle of no-where with no-one to talk to, so i don’t blame them in some sense.
This was our experience, in some fashion nearly 30 times on our last trip to Tz. And the rest of the trip was great. We say friends, checked out Mbeya, where we intend on living next Feb, upon returning from furlough. We got to look at some housing and we have some friends following up on that with us. Some really nice options. Of course a big highlight was reconnecting with Jamie’s friends of old, the pastor and his family whom she stayed with when she was given Junio (by God). They are our Tanzanian family, and we were so blessed with a warm welcome. So, all-in-all a great trip.
Now, let me see if I can figure out how to post pictures on my new blog………. Thanks for listening!
I think if you hold your cursor over the pic you get its title.
Our Saviour.............................................just kidding!
See...I was there!
Wow! this was the view out our hotel window the last night we were in Tz.
admin Family Life Family Life, Police checks, Tanzania
That Which They Said