Tanzania 2010

Overweight again!

Ruth:

Jambo Good Friends,We left Vancouver January 6th. Two ‘FranticFriedas’ with Christmas scarcely passed - weworried and fretted about new ying rules,storms in Europe and of course the weight of our suitcases! The bags are stuffed with schoolsupplies, special books and materials unavail-able in Tanzania and CHOCOLATE. Maskingtape and duct tape were longed for luxuries lastyear (got em), a stapler too, puppets and manilatags etc.etc.. Homemade laminated big bookslled with photos and stories of the childrenin Mundi will become treasures to be pouredover. We paid the ‘excess weight bribe’ andwere on the plane with departure delayed onlyone hour.

Lo o k i n g a t t h e b o o k s

Anne:

We’re up and away again. Contrastsmark the beginning of our trip fromstark winter landscapes and snow on thebuildings and streets of Amsterdam (wherewe transferred planes) to the sultry humidair and torrential rain on Arusha’s lushvegetation. It feels GREAT to be back inTanzania. At Kilimanjaro Airport Ruth isstopped by customs. I quietly head for theNothing to Declare section but am haltedby a nger waving custom’s ofcer to joinmy friend. They want to know why we havesuch large bulging suitcases.Ruth wisely answers, “We’re going toMundi where we need lots of warmclothes.”I add, “Even Canadians need warm clothingthere.”“Ieeee, even Mundi is TOO cold”, nodsthe ofcer and waves us on.PHEW! We’re saved from opening ourbaggage stuffed with piles of books, schoolsupplies, teaching materials, puppets,tasty treats and many more questions fromcustom ofcials.

Packing puppetsthrough Customs