Old Friends Goodbyes New Friends and ? What

Bob giving detailed instructions for the Hash

Wonderful Hash, Good Times with Friends, Hard Work, and Wageni

Our last weekend and this week have been filled with adventure and fun. Four more visitors to the KCMC site arrived to spend the week with us. For them it was packed. They started the week with a “Hash”. As most of us know who have been in Moshi for any length of time, The Kilimanjaro Hash House Harriers are a group of people who walk and run for about 2 hours all over the area (see previous posts). And, just as a side light, generally, they love beer, wine, and maybe sodas for the kids. A highlight hash is always up in Machame, not just because it is exquisitely beautiful, but also because it is usually hard and a bit treacherous. When our friend Bob sets the hashes you can be sure to be sore and tired at the end, but hopefully without broken bones. Bob always has a twinkle in his eye as he explains the hash rules.

Our friend Simon Mtui and John

X marks either the beginning or the change in the path (all flour)

All very steep look down, look up!

Into the Woods


You cannot tell, but this was a terrifying log bridge that had two logs widely spread apart and everyone was terrified to cross. For those (like Simon) who knew, there was a proper bridge just to the right that went to exactly the same place only quicker and easier! But on the other hand, Simon was carrying the Aiden (3) and Tara was carrying the baby, so cut the breaks...soon enough Simon was carrying both, but only on the way up. Boy is Tara fit!


Over the rocks and then up? So I think down is worse, but I confess that I think I will have a heart attack going up. Heart attacks don't seem as bad as a fractured hip!

Uphill was to most people a total killer because it came at the very end of the hash.

This was another particularly bittersweet hash as the group bid adieu to a very good old friend Kermin. Kermin had been in Moshi for about 6 years, and when his contract ended, he made the decision to return to France and move on. His quirky Irish girlfriend Sarah who is also a good friend had left in December. It is always hard to say these goodbyes. But, one of the rules of the hash, is that you don’t spend a lot of time with tears, but you wish the departing person an “on on” and often have something special. In Kermin’s case, Cuban cigars and champagne appeared, and all had a jolly time.



For our visitors, I think that the hash was a bit of a surprise, especially as they were all suffering a bit from jet lag, and while we explain that the walk can be rigorous, these walks generally exceed the expectations of the uninitiated. But, at the end of the day, everyone made it, arrived in tact, and was ready to face the week ahead.

I really have been with John in Moshi all this time!
Exhausted, we did the trudging back to Moshi with a feeling of great satisfaction.
It is not exactly easy to maneuver these potholes on the road to KCMC.
There are more adventures that these MEPI guests had... as they not only toured KCMC, met with nearly everyone to discuss needs and accomplishments of the school, but also journeyed with the public health groups to the rural areas of Kilimanjaro. They left with stacks of information for “MEPI” (the new grant) and many ideas about how we can work in conjunction with and as equal partners with (pamoja na) our sister medical school.
We call this the "kiti moto" as the Executive director had asked a question of all surgical department heads that was quite delicate....

Biotech Lab & our great new director Shanette


This is the new si-com cable we hear so much about. It is to be the fastest internet and with MEPI money we and KCMC will wire the whole campus.

In addition to all the work, we went to our fav. spot, Mkulima for "nyama choma" barbecue--beef, chicken, and goat... One of the best parts of our return to Moshi is to see Ahaz again (far right). Now Deputy Vice Provost, he has moved into his role with grace and full transparency. We are very lucky to have him working with us again.
Kelly had already worked her way through Kilimanjaro, Tusker and Nduvu before trying out "The Kick". Strong Constitution.
Charles cooking Pilau
John stirring Charles' pilau

We also had two great dinners at home. Charles (piki piki ndogo) cooked delicious pilau (fresh goat with sauce and spices) and Mukesh catered a fabulous chicken curry meal. The best fresh food around with these two-

For me, it was also quite a week, I met with my little granddaughter and her mother again. Faraja is growing like a weed. She loves to kick and smile and use one leg to turn herself. She loves the stimulation of the shop where dad Omari and Cipe run a lively and successful curio business. She even gives in and allows her American grandmother to hold her and tolerates me for a good while. (Let the spoiling begin).
KIWAKKUKI DADAs were doing "safe sex" outreaches..Note the boxes and boxes of both male and female condoms.

I also had a great opportunity to participate in the second meeting of the Tanzanian Association of Social Workers (TASW) in the Kilimanjaro area. The meeting was facilitated by leadership from Dar Es Salaam. At this meeting, officers were elected, social work goals and what it means to be a professional social worker were discussed. It was lively and was gratefully in English. My great friend Agnes Urassa was elected the chair, and when the meeting was over, I felt that I had made friends for life. (though I believe that the chairs in Moshi are the absolute most uncomfortable and horrible for my back that have ever been.)


(The end of the Social Work Conference--How is it...Fine)
No new boots appeared on the car, the gate is holding on the back, and we have dispatched our guests and friends back to the states. I think they are all eager to return. That I believe is a sign that things have gone….. ok.