From Zambia to Tanzania

Yesterday we left Zambia.  The day  was spent traveling to Tanzania. We finished all the physical exams on Tuesday about 4 pm.  Our day ended with the sweet sound of the kindergarten children singing and playing games in the gazebo outside the clinic. These are the most beautiful, polite and well behaved children.

A lady from Dr. Elaine's church had sent a bunch of animal masks, the children we saw on Friday all were given masks and toothbrushes.  When we closed the clinic for the weekend, there were children asking if they were going to see the doctor on Saturday. They had to wait till Monday, but they all got masks and toothbrush.  The last group of boys were the oldest and busiest.   It is amazing to see how these children are thriving.

I love Zambia.  It was much greener this year than it was last year as it is spring and the leaves are coming out.  Despite very hot days, the evenings are cool.

 I did have a visitor at the guest house, a gecko.   I wanted to take his picture but he was too quick.   I was relieved that he didn't climb in our luggage for a free ride to Tanzania.

 We left the Village in Zambia at about 9:30am. We got to the Rafiki Village in Tanzania about 8:30 pm.

Our seat assignment was changed from Lusaka to Nairobi, they stuck us in the back of the plane and had us sitting apart.  We asked for better seats which turned out to be worse and beside the toilets.  Elaine went and talked to the flight attendant and was told that the plane wasn't full so we could move.  We were standing in the middle rows not too far from where were suppose to be seated when some guys traveling together came looking for their seats, one was beside me and one was suppose to be across from him in the middle row.  They asked where their seats were and I directed the one next to me  to his seat, the other guy moved into the seat beside him, taking my seat. Several people were asking me which row as they were  showing me their boarding passes.  Elaine's seat and the one next  to her got occupied. I realized why everyone was asking me where  their row was, I was wearing a red T shirt.  The flight attendants on Kenya Airlines are dressed in red.  I should have been quicker I might have got us into first class.

A group of business men were seated behind where Elaine and I had parked ourselves.  One laughed "only in Africa."  The attendants didn't seem to care where anyone sat.  That would have been a huge mess in America.  It is mind boggling to think that they couldn't give us our assigned seats.  I think they fill the plane from the back as people check in.  On our Tanzania flight we asked for seats closer up and we were toward the back.  The plane to Tanzania was a small turbo plane.  They  had to move a couple of big guys to the front of the plane to balance the load. A similar thing happened last year, we saw the pilot outside looking at the plane and then they moved a bunch of us forward.

The trip into Kilimanjaro was rocky for a good 20 minutes of the 45 minute flight.  Would you believe they served drinks and a snack on this flight.  It was not an 8 peanut snack but a nice bag of cashew nuts.

Elaine and I were first in line to get our visas and the last 2 to get out of the airport because the guy who was processing our visas was having all kinds of problems.  Then customs guy stopped us and hassled us about 33 cent toothbrushes.  We didn't confess to all the chocolate. Then there were all those children's  animal masks we were carrying!!!!

Today we got right to work.  We did get the physicals of the 24 children done.  Tomorrow we will do day students and teachers.  I spent part of my day sorting through medications.

Saturday ...............  Kilimanjaro.

The Village here is beautiful.  You can see Kilimanjaro from the Village when it is not covered by clouds.  I have yet to get a clear view of this elusive mountain.