A Week of Finals

  Another week, another blog post

  This whole week has been a challenge. It's been on goodbye after another, filled with 'this is the last time I'm doing X.' There hasn't been a time on this trip I haven't enjoyed. Everything from the projects to the relaxing to the people I've shared it all with and I don't think I will ever forget this experience.

  Tuesday 22nd was a day of recovery. The bus journey on Monday really took it out of us so we stayed away from work and went into town in order to collect supplies for the journey to Kilimanjaro Airport and beyond. A number of us got talking about how close the end of this Tanzanian adventure was. It's so weird how close all of us have become over such a short span of time.

  Wednesday 23rd was my last day working at the school. I put in the extra 20% and managed to complete the concrete slab covering the toilet hole! Working on the toilet hole has been a 2 month challenge which I have thoroughly enjoyed. From digging the hole, building the foundations and, finally, laying the slab. It was sad to leave it but I feel that I have left the project in a suitable state for others to come and carry on the good work.

  Thursday 24th and Friday 25th have been days of community project work. Myself and the other campers who are leaving at the end of the month have been getting involved with small projects in the local village. The activities ranged from re-learning how to cook Chipattis and Vichettis to cutting firewood alongside the women of the village. I also took part in weaving grasses in order to make items for sale, such as hats, mats, food covers and an all manner of different things. All the way through there were little children coming to to see what we were up to and playing around us. It was a wonderful two days of interacting with the local community.

  Saturday 26th saw me and the  friends I've made this trip go to one the local restaurants and have a nice, fancy meal together. We enjoyed a balcony view as we reminisced about the last two months together and began to arrange plans to see each other again someday. A great deal of travelling is going to end up happening so I can meet all the wonderful people I've met here.

  Sunday 27th went by far too quickly. I made my goodbyes to freinds I'd made in the village and visited Balah, one particular gentleman who lost his working goat when we were working in the village. Alongside other people in the camp, I helped to buy Balah a new goat so he would be able to buy new clothes for his infant son, Duma. It was such an experience seeing the new goat, Gemima, and knowing that we had done something to make at least one family's life better.

  Monday 28th has been tough. We made our farewells to the campers who were staying for the third month and set off for Moshi. Saying goodbye to those guys, people I've shared two months of my life with, choked me up. I'm so lucky to have met people who have made me think of Camp Tanga as my home, a place of friendship, love and trust that made me feel so safe to be in. I am not going to forget those guys any time soon.

  I wish that I was able to stay for the next month with all my new friends. At the same time I cannot wait for the next step in my journey, South Africa! Very soon Julian will be a running feature of my blog.

See you all on the flipside!