Moshi Week 8

Moshi Week 8 -What is a Hash?

The week has been interesting hot and as usual with ups and downs.  The downs:  John had to return to the US for a 6-day adventure with two meetings.  Fortunately, the meetings went well, and he was able to stay in one hotel in Washington in an area that we love, and also to see his brother, sister and family.  Really nice, even though he had just come back from a week in Atlanta and was “all done in” as we say in the South.  It will be wonderful to see him shortly as he has just texted that he has landed in Kilimanjaro and is on his way home.

 

That being said, I had a great week with the lovely Malcolm and Lyn, and said a fond farewell to Peyton (or an until we meet again).  Peyton was a trusted companion while John was traveling everywhere and a true gentleman in helping in any way he could during this time.  Malcolm and Lyn were great fun, and all of us enjoyed the Daily news article about the Tanzanian twins who traveled to Mars, returned and shortly after performed 8 surgeries in one day at an Arusha hospital and the very same day moved on to Moshi to perform one 8 hour brain Neurosurgery at KCMC, and then traveled to meet with the President of Tanzania to discuss their impending trip to the USA to study at Harvard.  We have been waiting with bated breath for pictures and a follow-up, which they reported was top secret but an update would happen after the meeting with President Kikwete. Sad to say, no news at this time, but will report back when I find anything.  Of course, if it is printed in a newspaper, it must be true. Right?

Agnes after being selected to represent the Clinical Scientific Subcommittee

I had a wonderful time meeting with some of our Moshi CAB members who have traveled, and we have had a time to talk about what they have learned and what they hope to learn.  Sweet Agnes M. is so excited about her trip to the US and about becoming involved in the “women’s health initiative”.  She is really pumped up and excited. I love her enthusiasm.  And she left shortly after the marathon and just jumped into Atlanta.  YEA Moshi CAB.

I wanted to put some pictures about today’s hash, because I handed my camera over to a great friend Elsa.  Now, Elsa is someone who has been really around the world. (Meaning from one side (Aussie) to US to Africa) and has many stories to tell and lessons to share.  She is one of those people who is incredibly fit, has been in really awful situations and made the best of them, and always seems to have a smile on her face and a “charge on” mentality”. My goodness, thank you for that Elsa! And no picture, but I will make sure that the next week will have one! So…the nice thing about walking is that you can carry a camera, and you can take random pictures.  I was thinking about walking just so I could take some, but then my desire to get my exercise got away from me and over went my camera.

A short thought about running or walking

Chat with friends before hash

just about to set off!

For those who have not “hashed”: This involves a “hare”. This hare of course volunteers not only to set the “hash” but to provide bites and beer (and sodas as well in our case) at the end of the road.   

Bob, the penultimate hare, figures he has set 16 hashes at least.

We all pay Tsh 5000 for all we can eat bites and as many beers as we feel we can safely manage and drive down dirt, turny roads onto treacherous Tanzanian highways nearly after dark or just after dark, and not have to stop to pee.  That is the hash in a nutshell.  The nuts and bolds however include the “hair” setting a path with flour. 

Flour on the Machame trail

 Luckily for us, these are usually in beautiful areas of hills and valleys around Kilimanjaro (the mountain).  You set it with four, dots here and there until you decide to frustrate everyone with a big flour X.   

At that point, everyone (or the runners) fan out and look for more flour.  This is approximately 50 meters. Sometimes if you are wicked, you set false trails, which means that you pick up a trail after a cross, follow it and come to a big F.  Then you have to turn around and go back to the cross and then start looking for flour again!  You almost always have water to cross, either on rickety bridges, or in water or on stones.  My own stone hopping is no longer safe and unless they are very close, I am an “in water crosser”. 

Stone leaping or in water crossing?  I am in, so was my friend Jean

Significant hashes get their numbers.  We are now at 265!

You also frequently go up and down incredible hills and valleys, mostly hanging on to what ever you can find, and even sometimes resorting to sitting down and sliding.  There are many running pants I own that have been torn out by just sitting and sliding when the steep was too great.

A welcome to Machame, and buy your Zantel internet stick

Young hasher

Beautiful flower

Rickety bridge crossing

Beautiful Deadly Nightshade blooms all around water

walking hashers

oops a chicken hashing

what you see hashing, interesting houses

Old Lutheran lodges, no longer used(or ever?)

A big UP

A southern US ex-pat with a sense of humor

The down must happen

Eventually you find your way to the end.  That is unless you become hopelessly lost, your Kiswahili isn’t good enough to find the path, and/or the local wonderful folks think this is a big joke and give you the wrong directions.  Thank goodness I have never been in that group, but it is a bit scary as the sun sets in this beautiful area.

I started “running” hashes not quite 2 years ago, and I find that though I don’t take pictures, I much prefer it.  It is really hard and scary. I still climb up and skate down holding on.  No running, and no running on rocks, through water…but on the paths and the more or less level ground, it is so much fun.  Boys and girls start laughing at this old lady and running with me shouting “pole Pole (slowly slowly) , mamas shout (to my Pole or Poleni (sorry sorry to you all) Na we we pia and oh mama, unachoka sana (you are very tired {because I am very red} and we all laugh. Some of us fairer mzungu (white) women turn red within 5 minutes and that is that.

At the end is beer, wonderful chats, and the feeling that you belong.  So, welcome back John, Nearly 21 years of marriage! Happy Birthday Isaiah, Ella and Lexton, and Go Blue Devils (hang in there after the loss).  

At the end, good company beer, chips and chatting.