So it is an everyday occurence to get approached by people. Mzungus (white people, said with out an ounce of malice) are a rarity...I don't really realize how much we stick out until I watch people look at Nell and Pearl. Yes...at times jaws drop. Interesting to be the minority...such a lesson to the way we receive people and how much we can express just through open faces. The girls actually love the extra attention....
I got sidetracked....Jimmy Carter, I don't know if you know this but he is a short Tanzanian man who sells batik for a living. He really wanted me to slow down and look at his work today....I had to catch myself from laughing outloud when he introduced himself....didn't dare ask after Amy.
I also met Micheal Rasta today...he is one of the partners in a group called Kilibikes....Samantha ( who arrived last night with macaroni for the girls) and I are planning trips on bikes for Global Alliance for africa. These 3 guys have started a mountain bike company that does trips all over this area. They have a pretty impressive array of used mountain bikes. We are going to do a sample trip with them in the next few days. Sam has lofty ideas of planning a Sea to Summit trip...climb Kili and ride to the coast. Think I'll leave that one to her...I was thinking a more casual cultural trip around the base of Kili visiting the mountain villages and seeing both Tanzania and Kenya. But this meeting got our wheels (pardon the pun) working....we need to ship NEW mountain bikes for our trips in the next container leaving Chicago in a month...anyone wanna head this endeavor up? Having good bikes here would ensure a safe and comfortable trip for our friends and clients. I don't know if you know this but I am here to develop the Travel Initiative for Global Alliance for Africa. We send trips of people here to raise money for the several programs GAA runs here....orphanages to Woman's cooperatives. Check out GAA's (new almost I think) website to get more info. The basic idea is that everyone who travels here with us fundraises a certain amount which goes directly to the women and children we serve here. I saw a few programs 4 years ago when I climbed Kili with GAA. Those images and the power of their programs have never left me. I rarely turn on a water tap in my house in Chicago without thinking about the fact that I have a clean ENDLESS water source....and that my children have a safe clean home in which to live....GAA's work is moving to say the least...thus the main reason we are here.
Anyway...I ramble....anyone have any ideas about getting some decent mountain bikes donated? We have a container coming...so that part is taken care of....any thoughts appreciated. Alex....what about Orbea? Just a thought....
well...need sleep, wonder who I'll meet tomorrow???
Peace....
Sarah
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