Back to the Village

Well, tis been a little while since I have written. And it feels that it has been a little while since I have been at site(ie my village). As an example I was thinking of a good friend in the village Eli Mcharo, he is my fundi ( a word that means a person with skill, ie carpenter, tailor or builder, he is a carpenter). I originally went to his house a few times in my first week in Ivuga, I ordered some furniture: a couch set, table and 6 chair set, and a little bedside table thing. At this point in time I have only recieved my couch set, and thats only because my Headmaster/Neighbor thought that I needed something for people to sit on at my Halloween Party. But the classic village delay aint the reason I was thinking about Fundi Eli.

He was one of my first friends in the village, I would walk over to his place to visit, see how my work was comming, more often than not -it was not started- or to go walking together. We walked through the forest next to his place back during my first month at site, him working as my guide to local flora and fauna, as an environ-MENTAL volunteer I need to learn a lot about this still to this day. But all in all we were friends, I say were because I have only been to his house twice in 3 months. I do not say that we are not friends any longer, but that my situation has been strained. I have been going to trainings and I left my village for a little bit for the New Year. I feel that my projects and work has slowed, although I am working to improve my own knowledge so I can further help my village. But with travel taking so long in this country (as in a full day to get to my bank, and further trip to get to the nearest internet) having seminars in the middle of the country adds a little bit of travel time.

At this point I wonder what my villagers think about me. Whether I am still viewed with respect and assimilation as a member of my community or just seen as some guy that came learned what was what, and then left not having done too much. This I hope to discover and remedy in the next few weeks, being that I for see only leaving the village twice between now and mid May. I also hope that Eli has finally finished my table and chair set, which he promised to have finished by now - just like he promised to finish before Christmas time. Oh... TANZANIA, TANZANIA!