Coffee Anyone? Week 6 Blog

Kilimanjaro from Alex and Lorena's farm

The Super Moon on Full Moon night

My apologies for a late post for week number 6.  You will see that there was and is such a lot going on that there was no way to sit down to write and post.  As it turns out, my knee exercises and treatments take most of my day.  It is getting better and that is the blessing but such a lot of really hard work.  It really makes me cry for a little nap.

My week began with the last 3 of the Saa Moja's (seven o'oclock swimmers)  My instructor Sabini, Sophya, and Eric.  We are a very complementary group and having fun while working hard.  My knee is better I think mostly because of Sabini and my PT Dee Dee.

Sophya, Sabini, and Eric

That night was both the super moon and our planned with dinner with one of our adjunct DGHI professors Abu from Shanghai.  We had a good dinner at 10 to 10 pizza, even though only one of us Frances (our admin. director had pizza!)

John Abu Frances Dorothy Trish

Abu was presenting research that he had been involved with in Shanghai regarding smoking cessation and the huge success they have had with this campaign.  I found Shanghai to be lovely and not nearly as polluted as Beijing, but it was definitely a city of smokers.  So three cheers to Abu's work.  Can we replicate it here at KCMC?  We shall see.  Thanks Abu, and such a charming man. We headed home and I took about 30 pictures of the super moon, as you can see up top.

On Tuesday I headed out with my Dada's group to my Dada Agnes' home.  There we had Agnes to greet us but also her husband my dear friend Baba, and her daughter Yusra who has turned into a stunning and very sweet, smart young woman.  Wow!

Dada's and Baba!

Dafrosa being silly!

We had some very traditional Wednesday Pizza night, Bob, Pastor Tony, and then Greg & Nikoli but wait.. Terrie had just returned  to Moshi from a 6 month stay in the US.  She was repairing their house and going to horse shows it seemed, but fortunately the house is much better, and it is great to have her back. She says going back to African time is a bit of adjustment.  Goodness so busy.  Friday night was play night at International School, and who should be the stars, but our "God child" Nikoli and his good friend Ita.  The play was he "Delicious Death" and it was a Miss Marple adaptation.  Our friends Phil and Sara who run Rafiki foundation's eldest daughter Lydia directed the show in less than 5 weeks.! The whole group was quite good but I of course thought that Nikoli and Ita were terrific.  We sat in possibly the worst chairs in the world in the Gym, all of which made the acoustics and the back and knee comfort tough.  But it was worth it to see how far in theatre Nikoli has come, and to mention how tall. But, on to Saturday!

Trish giving presentation about Mother to Child HIV Transmission

Trish and Yusra at Social Work Meeting

Saturday was the all day Regional Social Workers meeting.  I was delighted to be asked to give a presentation on the PMTCT cascade and the "leaky PMTCT cascade" It was well received even though a great deal of the the time of the meeting involved fees and social workers not paying their membership fees. I was driven home by Agnes daughter Yusra and we had a chance to talk together about her hopes for the future.  She loves Math!!! Can you imagine. I think she has a great future ahead of her!

Finally Sunday and the hash.  Coffee anyone?  It was located on a farm in the upper part of Kibosho and the farm is run by Alexandro and his wife Lorena.  They are both originally from Columbia where coffee is a huge business as well. They have two sons who go to ISM even tough it is a 30 minute drive to town.  But the beauty of the farm and the delicious coffee they grow is worth it.

Levi John and Lorena arguing over end and beginning of hash

The hash had its issues, for though John, Levi and Lorena set it carefully with lots of flour, some children must have been watching and made all sorts of false trails with bits of the carefully laid flour, so everyone got off a bit and some even a bit lost.  It was crazy.  But everyone was back in before dark...altogether good fun.

When they were back, I explored the coffee and the house with my camera.

Alex and Lorena house

Some favorite flowers though I don't know their names

beautiful falling geraniums around the house

coffee beans close

Do you know that as high up as this farm is in Kibosho, it takes 32 days from flower to bean, and then another maybe 2 weeks before red and then just a short time to pick.  Down lower the beans come much quicker.

Flowers and hash flour

landscape with coffee mimosa & Acacia trees and flour for the hash

coffee flowers

coffee flowers up close

Funny black bird fluffing like crazy  S/he had a nice call

And after the hash we drink beer and catch up.  I took pictures of an amused Leonard (who was a hare) and one of the local lawyers who usually walks with me.

Amused Leonard--who is a manager on the farm & was quite amused by all the shenanigans of the group

Handsome Ralph who has a wonderful family home in Uwo & is a lawyer

I miss run/walking with Ralph.  He was a constant buddy.  I hope so much I can do it again

The last of the weekend photos are around our house back in Moshi at our beloved #A-5

Rangoon Creeper and Mangos

Cannot keep that creeper out, but it is sooo wonderful beautiful & smelly!

Graduation Weekend KCMCollege, Moshi Tanzania

Dedication of 3^rd Floor of the College to John, MEPI team party, Night of Inspiration

Plaque Veiled

Plaque unveiled

I could write a long blog here, but instead will mostly post pictures.  Yesterday was a full and amazing day.  My heart is full yet again for the friendships that John and I have developed here in Moshi over the past 10 years (for John 13).  We have a marvelous team in the Collaboration with the leadership of Dr. Blandina, we have the best accountants in Frank, Francis & Vera, and team of researchers and lab research team, students and staff are skilled in handling the Standards of Practice that are required by the National Institutes of Health.  It is not easy to handle dollars converted to Tshillings when the conversion rate changes daily.  It is not easy to provide excellent quality control quality assurance when the research protocols add amendments, require drugs that come in the milligram sizes not available anywhere in this country, lab results when the power surges fry even the best surge protectors, the browser corrupts and looses data for months, the toilets break, the mud is thick, the best vehicles have a hard time getting to the field sites, the babies are born at midnight, and some staff are injured in motor vehicle accidents.  This group laughs hysterically and then puts the hard work of figuring out the way around.  What a blessing.

John with collaboration and MEPI Team

John with Plaque

Black dots are Nairobi Fly

At the presentation, there were so many of these horrible Nairobi Flies that they were falling from the ceiling and like a moving carpet on the floor.  In my sandals, I had to walk on my toes to try to avoid any of them crawling across my feet and wash my sandals when I got home!

The Bishop gives a short word of thanks to John

Ahaz and others in the dedication

The young MEPI gang

Something funny at the end keeps us laughing

Just what is going on?????Sijui (I don't know)

Carol our fab driver takes the MEPI Bus for students to go to the field

Then the MEPI (medical education partnership initiative) team, led by Ahaz Kukulanga the DeputyVice Provost is just amazing. Most are young and energetic.  They grew up in the age of the internet,and that gives them something the rest of us could only dream of. The older folks had to learn after years of hand-writing or if lucky, typing.  Raised during or just after colonialism, they were forced to work harder, prove themselves more, and know what it was to deal with struggles every single day. I am quite sure that thoughts entered their heads of giving up, but they did not.  To see them celebrating again, and to be in some way the focal part of it was really incredible, and humbling. 

A Toast to the MEPI team members who are missing

Because some team members are studying abroad, or busy winning the "best poster award" (AKA Charles) the team toasted them saying "Mitwara" for the best beef sausage around!

Each department in MEPI described John in relation to their speciality

Ahaz notes he bought penny loafers to look like John

The cane award

John and I had a happy day

Our lovely MEPI team

I even got a Kitenga and toast!

 The changes at KCMC College are equally astounding.  It is true that the MEPI NIH grant supplied the cash for much of the infrastructure development, but it was the vision of the Provost Kessy in particular and Professor Shao in the early stages that allowed the dream for the college to become a reality.  Their sometimes brutal honesty is actually a huge relief in a world that often puts roadblocks in place for more transparent people.   

Ha--It is time to start + 30 min.  The platform is not yet built!

As usual timing is everything in Tanzania.  It all started 2.5 hours late!

The MC's were great--even though they broke the steps to the platform

John, Kessy & Shao discussing.  Note Sprite bottle

Dr. Mallya, Blandina and William will debate specialities soon!

Rose and Dean Deo sharing a word

Prof Lavina shares life as she studies in Russia!

Prof Shao shares life as he studies in Cuba

Provost Kessy's Chagga Name "Kazi Ngumu" Work Hard!

 The first speaker Provost Kessy, shared his life as boy in Mamba in a one room hut with 8 brothers and sisters, school barefoot and being caned for nearly everything, but his passion for Math and Medicine.  The second speaker Prof Dr. Msuya spoke of her growing up and her training in Russia where she had to learn the language, and cope with the cold and her passion as one of the first female MD's in Tanzania.  The third, the Honored Guest Professor Shao, spoke of many challenges from boyhood to adult, but each with a message of hope and determination.  "What I learned, What message can you take?"  I am so eager for someone to write a book about the life of Professor Shao.  His experiences are incredible, unique and ground breaking.  Life in Castro's Cuba, life in Uganda, experiences with Apartheid Africa and Steve Biko.  Just incredible.

The medical students and the faculty who spoke at the Night of Inspiration were both hysterical and seriously amazing.  The Rappers, also medical students were creative and funny.  Whether you like rap or not, you would have to be impressed by their ability (even while secretly thinking that their parents are so glad that they finished medicine and have a great career ahead of them). And the MC’s were perfect, playing off each others’ strengths and providing just the right amount of humor.

The MED Boys Dream of the Night of Inspiration

The MED girls describe the first autopsy

 Faculty Prof Mallya, Prof William and Prof Blandina nearly took the house down describing why they deserved the one parachute as their theoretical Indian AirLines plane crashed.  Their ability to think fast is legend, but we were all astounded!

Children will lead tomorow

You have to walk to run (fix the broken bones)

I am the one up here who took care of the Pope

My John gave an equally inspiring talk, using parallels from his parents and us, and as well the love of Global Health and seeing the changes that have occurred despite the challenges.  I agree with Ahaz, that his ability to put the perfect “spin” on something that seems impossible is unique.  And, if he promises something, he will deliver, and if it is bad news, he will give it honestly but kindly.

Ahaz introduces John

The screen for the slides is behind--No slides

 Note that the screen for the slides was made from 4 sheets pinned together and as the wind blew the sheets billowed, the slides disappeared. Not to mention that as the wind blew, the projector reverted to "input A"

John really inspired

So the day of the plaque, and the night of inspiration were an event that even as I become more forgetful, I know will be with me forever.