mvumi

We have had a brilliant weekend at Mvumi. On Friday night there was a disco
at the secondary school, and although too old by about twenty-five years I
mosied on down there with the chicks from our group, and indulged in a heady
mix of hip-hop, garage and reggae for about an hour (see the blog). Julie
was the only wallfower and resolutely (and perhaps wisely) refused to strut
her stuff. A highlight of the evening was an exhibition dance by one of the
female high-school students, after which a cold shower was most definitely
required.
On Saturday we had a choice between cooking and brick making. I learnt how
to make Ugali ( a sort of thick porridge made from Maize flour), and Mlenda
(a thick gloopy green substance made from peanuts, dried aubergine and
spinach, which renders the Ugali edible in the absence of tomato ketchup).
The boy refused to eat mlenda despite third degree persuasion and had to be
let off. My attempts at brickmaking resulted in something not unlike a
cowpat. In the afternoon we visited Andrea Katikifu (St Andrews), where we
heard four beautiful choirs. It is my impression that more people here have
perfect pitch. That would be a very interesting subject for a research
project one day. Certainly it makes their choirs quite wonderful to listen
to. Their newest choir has apparently been called after me (eat your heart
out Howard Wallace!, I didn't even have to found this one)
Today I picked up Jack's trousers from the tailors: two trousers taken up
and one repaired all for less then a pound. After this we headed off to
church via the house of the catechist (lay reader), Amos. Amos fed us a very
sustaining breakfast, after which we attended harvest festival. During the
service we subjected the congregation to violins and singing, then back to
his house for an even more sustaining lunch. As in 2002, I suspect we may
leave Tanzania heavier than when we arrived.
Tomorrow we are off to the secondary school where we hope to speak to some
of the students and help them practicew their English.

John

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