Film

We have tried to make a compost in our garden to make soil and to reduce the amount of garbage. We've had some problems making our neighbours cooperate about this. Lasse made a film about the results. 

ActNow - Hvordan lage pilau

We had a day off and invited two ladies to teach us to make Tanzanian food. Lasse made a video receipt.

Wall decoration

We just decorated our wall. Lasse was very hungry while we waited for our landlord and his wife to come for supper. In Arusha people are usually late for dinner appointments. So he started drawing pictures for the wall to forget about his stomack screaming for food. Not a bad idea.
Miljøoppgåve

Drawn by Åsmund

Drawn by Lasse

Drawn by Lasse

Drawn by lasse

Christmas holiday

We spent most of our christmas holiday in Kenya. First we were visited by the Hald-students in Kenya for some days, and then we took the bus to Mombasa together. We spent the days at the beach, vindsurfing, swimming and becoming red. It felt like we were sweating constantly from we arrived until we left the city. We also visited fort Jesus in Mombasa, that is a fortress built by the portuguese in 1593. After Mombasa we travelled to Nakuru to take part in Commission, a mission conference with participants from many african countries. There we attended seminars and meetings and met a lot of people from different nations. A bit exhausting, but also very nice. I like the way Kenyans celebrate new years eve (see Lasses video). After counting down, everybody ran outside and danced, sang and shouted for at least half an hour.

The next stop was Nairobi, the capitol of Kenya. Teachers from Norway gathered with all the Hald-students in Africa for an infield course. A day at safari was included. It feels good to be back in Arusha, even though it doesn't feel like home yet.

See more pictures in the web album

Sunburnt people in Mombasa

Safari in Nakuru national park

Look! It's a Zebra!

Improvised screen, scout style at commission

Ola cheks out a cannon at Fort Jesus

Lasse's last Videos

Long time since last post now. I am happy that Lasse is better at updating his blog than I am! 

Corrupt soldiers

Small-scale corruption is hard to avoid if you are staying in Tanzania for a long time. Today we visited Napuru waterfalls which is guarded by soldiers from the Tanzanian army. We made a shortcut on our way to the river, so we didn't pass the guard post. On our way back we met two soldiers who wanted our money. They accused us for going to the river without their permission, and they said we should have left our tickets at their post.

The soldiers are making money on tourists visiting this place.

We asked for apology and suggested to go to the post and deliver the passes we had bought at an office by the road. That was unfortunately not enough. We were told to pay contribution to solve the problem easily, because we had broken their regulations. They told us the money were used for cleaning the area. We had to tell them that we don't trust them because of corruption. That was the start of a long argue with four soldiers who were not 100 % sober. After more than one hour of arguing, and after we told them we would report them, they finally let us go. Avoiding corruption is never the easiest way.

Kenya trip

Last week I had decided to go to Kenya for five days. I took the bus to Nairobi and visited the four Hald-students there: Ola, Åsmund, Elisabeth and Ragnhild. We visited Mathare slum, MYSA (Mathare youth sports assosiation) and some farmers on the countryside outside of Nairobi. Then I went to Voi in southern Kenya to visit my friend Felix.

In Mathare I met people who openly told me about their lives; HIV-infected persons, young single mothers, people who lack school fees for their children. It was somehow a hard meeting with reality. People asked me for money because I am a white person. And I feel somehow ashamed of my own consume because these people can't afford to send their children to school. However, it is amazing how quick you forget about it some days later. We are not affected by the unfair reality if we don't face it.

In Voi it had been raining hard the week before I arrived. In fact it was the most severe rain in six years. The water had left its normal creeks and destroyed roads, houses and schools on its way to the river. It is terrifying to see how quick the water can destroy so much, and I think it wouldn't cost very much to build water pipes to avoid these problems. Anyways, Voi is a beautiful place. Felix took me to one of the hills in Voi where we could see big parts of Tsavo East national park and Voi town. In the evenings he taught me to make ugali, and I taught him to make waffles. We picked mango from the garden and enjoyed fresh waffles with mango jam. Yummy!  

See more pictures in SLIDE SHOW.

I and Ola are standing on the roof of the church where Ola works. Mathare slum in the background.

Some of the children at MYSA library knew some Norwegian words. We were impressed!

Need a ride? Enjoying a free ride with Åsmund and Elisabeth. 

Voi village

A primary school in Voi is damaged by the water.