We have come to the end of our time in Tanzania. Despite
knowing it’s been coming – booking flights, selling everything in our house,
finishing up projects, saying goodbyes - it has still somehow come as a bit of
a shock.
It has been and maybe always will be impossible to summarise
our time in Tanzania. It’s been an incredible privilege and a fantastic
adventure. Shinyanga became home, to the point that daily life there became
normal...paying bills, going to work, shopping at the market, eating a
‘delicious’ chip and egg omelette.
As always, its people we’ll miss most. We made great friends
in Shinyanga and needless to say the goodbyes have been emotional. Paul’s work
hosted a goat BBQ for us complete with dancing, speeches and a classic
Tanzanian photo shoot. Lilliane and our ASMK friends had us over for dinner and
singing. Then there was ‘Shy-stock’, a day of games and sun and tears. Huge
thanks again to Opita, Moses, Liliane, Makwaia, Sabine, Koen and Jacqueline, Liam and Margaret, Nida, Tyler, Myles, Lucy
and co. You guys made Shinyanga home.
We’ve had our ups and downs but generally we’re proud of
what we’ve been involved in and achieved. Buhangija is a very different place
now and we know there are people who will continue working there. The Water
Project is progressing well and most of the construction is finished. In
exciting news, Paul has been asked to remain on the project team and so will
stay involved from Ireland (thanks, Skype).
We have constantly been struck by what an amazing and
beautiful country Tanzania is. Its mines full of gold and diamonds, parks full
of wildlife, lakes full of water and villages full of friendly, welcoming
people. Tanzania is a great place to holiday and explore a tiny part of this
vast continent, in short, go and visit! Take pictures, have fun, talk to people
and go home different.
Thanks to all of you who read this blog, and sorry it has
ended so abruptly – it’s been a busy few weeks! We’ll probably still post
things as we remember them or feel the need to share, but as we have only a few
more days in Africa, it probably is time to say goodbye.
