Father and Son what is the relationship?
Posted by Clare Whittle on November 16th, 2009 filed in God Stuff2 Comments »
My Father keeps trying to make me accountable to this blog which I have abandoned now for a number of months. Today I was challenged while studying the healing of the man by the pool in Jerusalem (John 5) and I thought I would blog a little about my thoughts and share a prayer from my diary, I think this passages wants us to get a clear picture of the relationship between the Father and his Son and so I intend to explore this. Any thoughts on my below discussion please add, as they are just my own working through the passage and I am of no qualifications on the matter.
You know the story of the healing, where the man who had been ill (probably either blind, lame or paralysed) it doesn’t go into the detail of his illness. I think John probably leaves it out for a purpose as he wants us to focus on the fact that the man is ill spiritually and physically. Really the only reason why we find out about this ill man (unlike many other healings Jesus did that are not recorded in the gospels) is because of the day that the healing took place, the Sabbath.
And its not even the healing or the Sabbath or the persecution of Jesus by the Jews that makes this story worth Johns record (this is in my view – although of course there is merit in the fact the Jesus has compassion), it is Jesus’ justification of his actions at the end of the healing where John draws us to focus. The Jews were already furious that he had broken the Sabbath but in response to this Jesus makes himself equal to God by saying ‘My Father is still working, and I also am working’; you can imagine the Jews response.
What is Jesus actually doing here by calling God his Father, and then justifying his actions because of his authority as Gods Son?
The Jews claimed that he was making himself equal to God. This unity of the Father and the Son is hard for me to get my head around (please comment) but is obviously essential for the substitution of Christ to have any value. Jesus fleshes out himself over the next following verses (19-29), unlike the healing story these verses are not easy reading.
I love v19 where Jesus says “The Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise”. This creates 2 pictures in my head one of a new born baby that is reliant on its mother for every need and the other of a small child who in their development imitates everything that the adults around them do. Just like a child learning to talk can only make sounds that are imitations of those the adults around him/her make, likewise Jesus can only do things that are imitations of God. We are not born being versed in several languages we can only speak that which we have seen/heard, so Jesus can do only things that God himself is, he can’t possibly display any wrong doing or evil. This really helps me to understand the unity between the Father and the Son, as we are human we have evil in our hearts from the time that we are born, but Jesus has only God as his mentor. There is so much shared between them that makes Jesus so unlike us (holy and perfect) yet still man.
So I really need help getting my head around this unity as we see in v21 that it enables Jesus to have the power to give Life just like God. And because of their equality God in v22 has given all judgement to Jesus. If we see then as not united we would almost see the cross as punishment on Jesus; this is where we must be clear that they don’t act independently.
Then we come to this tricky verse that says that the judgement has been given to Jesus by God so that ‘All may honor the son’, but by honoring the Son we are honoring God. Again coming back to this unity. So I think this verse is saying to me that we need to give honor to Jesus who is where we go to get life, but he is not just Son of Man but part of the trinity – God.
There are other privledges of being Gods Son and having unity with God which are expressed in v26-27, Jesus is granted life in himself, and authority to execute judgement.
This morning I have only been looking at Chapter 5 but I know that just a little further into John in Chapter 10 Jesus says ‘The Father and I are one’.
So I am at the moment exploring the relationship between Jesus Christ and God, any thoughts? I read in John Stott’s book ‘For Christ is not an independent third person, but the eternal Son of the Father, who is one with the Father in his essential being’. This unity is definitely a mystery that is impossible for me to grasp in its intirety but is one I must have a fundermental understanding of if I am to comprehend the full extent of the Cross.
My prayer is this: ’Lord help me not to desire things of this world (possesions/humun honor), please put my desire in heavenly things. Set my eyes towards you, as you are the life giver. Give me understanding as I read your word, so that I can have a better grasp of the honor that I owe you. Lord you are my Saviour and Reedeemer you have rescued me from condemnation, the judgement due me. Just like you do whatever the Father does, may I imiate you Jesus (v19); thankyou for your example of compassion to the ill man by the pool’. Amen.
How joyous it is to know that we are united to Jesus Christ in his death, lets give honor to him.
In London
Posted by Clare Whittle on August 31st, 2009 filed in UncategorizedComment now »
Today is the last day of Doxycycline (antimalarial), which the doctor required me to take for about 2 weeks after I left malaria. This means two things, one I have been on an antibiotic for 6 months and two we left Africa almost 2 weeks ago.
So what have we been doing in the last two weeks? I have picked up a nasty cold on coming back to London after Italy. This consists of a blocked nose, coughing up flem and a very sore nose from blowing it. I bought eucalyptus tissues from the pharmacy which are helping to clear up the snot.
After arriving in London we were only here 2 days before going to Italy. Devon had tried to arrange apartment inspections from Africa to do in these days, only one person could do an inspection in the days and then it fell through when we went to look at the apartment. So we were off to Italy with no home to come back to in London. Since this time with have got a flat in Barbican (Inner City) which we are renting from a couple who are going abroad for about the same period we will be in London, this means they will leave towels, sheets, cutlery etc for us to use, the rent includes electricity, heating, council tax, the internet etc. We will move into the apartment tomorrow.
Italy was quite a cultural shock for me more than Africa or anywhere else I have been. Their lifestyle is so different than my own and the hours they keep are unusual. It was also the first time I had been in a town where basically no one talked English. Thankfully we met a friend from Tanzania there whose family lives in Lecce, they had a seaside house and her boyfriend had a farm which we were able to enjoy thanks to their hospitality. Our friend Ludo also spend time showing us lots of things that were local which we much appreciated, she put a lot of effort into us. I hope she can come and stay with us in Melbourne some time next year. See photos on my facebook page.
Since we have been back in London 5 days or so Devon has started at Uni, I got the flu, we acquired a flat, we went to a church that was recommended to us in Tanzania called ‘All Souls’. We have only been once to All Souls but the people were very friendly, the preaching is good, and there is lots to get involved in which makes a big difference for us because we only have a short time to get to know people. Devon has agreed to play badminton on a Friday night with church people (we bought runners for him yesterday so he can), I might participate in a Church running group on Thursdays and there are lots of other groups including international students events. Its nice to already have the feeling of friends and involvement from the church body even as you move around the world.
The buildings in London are spectacular everywhere you look, cause everything is so old, even the church is lovely. The gardens are also nice, I love London. It doesn’t feel that busy either. I am trying to convince my mum to come and visit. I was apprehensive about coming to London cause I thought it would be out of control with people and pace, but it is the nicest place (out of Australia) that I have ever been.
What’s up with us
Posted by Clare Whittle on August 8th, 2009 filed in UncategorizedComment now »
Devon and I are headed for London in just over a week, our time in Tanzania is coming to a close. On Friday I had my last day at the high school I have been working at to set up a library. Devon will be busy this week finishing up things at work and writing an essay for university.
I will try and spend some time walking around the neighbourhood in the next few days enjoying watching life go by here, the faces, colours of clothing and the language. I would not call Tanzania the most beautiful place to visit, but the people are polite, trustworthy and accepting.
We have both been sick over the last few days and I still don’t have my full energy back. However I am glad I will be well before we get on a plane again, I can’t imagine what it would be like to be sick on a plane, yuck!
We both feel quite comfortable living in Arusha now and I am sure we will miss aspects of life here. I love the weather, it is always fairly warm during the day and the sun shines lots. Living expenses has been low, which means you can often go out as a meal at night may only cost about 7 AUS dollars.
Dev will be studying in London at University and I will be looking for some form of employment. We will be living near Islington.
I have plans for buying a pair of jeans and getting a hair cut as soon as we get to London. My hair is still scared by the cut I got in April here, short on one side and long on the other, its quite a look. And my jeans got holes and went mouldy in a bucket I left in the shower (I have never seen clothing go mouldy before).
I can’t wait to putting ALL our clothing through a clothes washer, as hand washing is not the same.
Dala-dalas in Arusha
Posted by Clare Whittle on August 8th, 2009 filed in Life in ArushaComment now »
A dala-dala is a small vehicle that are usually owned by large families in Australia to carry around their 5 kids or so, I would say that they are supposed to sit max.10 people (includes 3 in the front). I’d say you call it small mini-van.
- The standard price to pay for a journey is 200 shillings however 250 is more polite.
- From Moshi-Nairobi road you can catch one all the way almost to central market.
- From the bus stop on Sokoine Road you can get to the Imparla Hotel or Injera.
- You can basically get anywhere around Arusha on the dala-dala. This means you can avoid walking any distance, not paying much and not having to catch a taxi. The key to is knowing which one to get on. It took me about 4 months of catching them almost daily to realise that there is some method to the madness. The colour on the side of the dala-dala indicates which direction it is going in and where its going.
- If you are still not sure make sure you know the words Left (Kushoto) and Right (Kulia) to check if its turning so you can make a quick exit.
- Be clear with the dala-dala conductor, by this I mean that you need to verbally get acknowledgement what stop you want to get off on BEFORE you get in. Otherwise you may end up getting trapped in the vehicle with about 10 bodies in front of you, no access to the conductor and watching the scenery go by while you work out how far you have to walk back or if its worth just catching another one in the other direction from where you have just come.
- Its good to have you 200 shillings in your hand as you get on, otherwise you may have to scrounge for your money and have everyone looking as you do.
- Don’t be fooled by a conductor who says yes when you ask ‘Do you go to the market’, be specific ask I one word questions ‘Phillips’, or just see where it goes, I mean what have you got to loose.
- Come on! don’t sit in the front even if you get the opportunity, go for value of the ride with the others in the back. The most people I have seen in one is about 30 or so (Dev says easily), remember they are small vans. I counted today how many were on mine and I got to 27.
- The quickest dala-dala is the fullest, so get comfortable riding in a van/vehicle while standing (and going over speed bumps), and having others in your space. The others in your space part includes body odour, food, goats/chickens, breath, arms, legs, backsides, heads, elbows and even hands (especially being white). One day I had two young school girls who just wanted to touch my white skin for most of the ride.
- Get used to ducking, cause I don’t know if you have ever tried standing in a van – cause you can’t, so not only does not everyone fit in the space but you are now ducking and you may not be able to see where you are.
- Be prepared for stares especially when you are comfortable about getting around, as its quite unusual to see a Muzungu (European) who knows what they are doing.
- Relax, don’t worry about the driver overtaking on a dangerous part of the road, in the wet and while oncoming traffic is approaching your not in control anyway.
- Be brave it’s a great way to get around Arusha, meet locals and learn more about Tanzanian culture.
What’s happening with me
Posted by Clare Whittle on June 28th, 2009 filed in UncategorizedComment now »
I am continuing to do volunteer work at a high school just out of Arusha, we now have books on the shelf of our library, very exciting.
Ok, I have made a short list of bits and pieces I wanted to share, these are a few things I have experienced in the last few weeks.
1) Passionfruit in Tanzania are so good! They are sweet and large and tasty, I am used to home grown ones in Australia but the variety here is exceptional.
2) I witnesses a man trying to cut down a large gumtree branch by sitting mid way on the branch and using a machete to weaken the limb. I could see that the branch was almost dead and that he was weakening it with each hit. Next minute I had wrangled a local into translating through me to the man up the branch that what he was doing was dangerous. It didn’t help that directly below him was a large compound fence with spikes. He continued to hit the branch.
3) Last week went for a walk/jog on the road near our house on the way back to our home we noticed that people started to jog with us. Unfortunately it wasn’t because they were inspired by us but because a bad car accident had occurred immediately in front of us. Two adults were killed and a child injured, this was a distressing thing to see, as the community came running to see who the what had happened.
4) Dev, some friends and I went out for dinner at a local premises, the atmosphere of this place was not inviting, with plastic trees, bad furniture and a live Tanzanian performer who was singing like Country Western (it all didn’t fit). The waiter in a fluro suit progressed to inform us that not everything on the menu was available. After we all made our choices and also had a choice for backup we decided to order. Unfortunately most of our choices were not available including ‘chicken in a baket’ which should have been ‘chicken in a basket’. I was only going to have desert and I had decided on the crème caramel, obviously this wasn’t available. Of the 7 deserts on the menu only 2 were available the first being fruit plater for 1500 shillings and the second being fruit salad for 2000. I decided to go for what sounded like the easier option the fruit plater. After waiting a while the wait brought out for me 5 quarters of an orange and a small piece of pineapple on a plate. The waiter in his fluro suit then bend down to me ear and informed me that the pineapple wasn’t that good. Oh, the service in Arusha.
5) We have moved into a new unit which is more basic than the last, the shower has exposed wires above it which somewhere in the head of the shower is supposed to heat the water. Very dodgy.
6) The oven is also dodgy, when you turn it on at the wall 3 of the elements come on automatically even though the dial say 0. Not only do the elements come on (they can’t be turned off) 2 of the elements are extreme heat until the element is glowing. So my cooking goes like this a) prepare all ingredients prior to turning on the oven b) only one form of cooking shear heat.
7) I hate mothballs, they tend to put them in rooms, like in our new apartment there was 10 and it took 3 days to detox the bedroom so that I could get a good night sleep without that smell – they have to be carcinogenic.
The power often goes off at about 6pm.
9) Reading ‘Shake hands with the devil’ at the moment, a account of the Rwandian Genocide from the head of the UN peace keepers at the time, worth a read, but very detailed. The first time I picked it up I couldn’t read it to much info and detail of people and places, but now I have been to Rwanda and sat in some of the Tribunal Court Sessions thought it was necessary for me to understand more about what went on in 1994.
10) It’s hard to describe everything I am seeing and experiencing, children’s faces, cramped rides in dula dula’s (minivans), no seatbelts, dogs sleeping, street beggars, street people selling stuff, nail men on the street who walk around painting women’s nails, donkeys, kanga’s, dust, bicycle taxis, car horns, Massi in red and blue, more people trying to sell you something, warm days, early nights, women with babies, men in tyre sandles, chatter, bananas, people sitting around, the rattle of coins, the radio and more car horns. A city and its people trying to sustain itself.
Drought in Tanzania
Posted by Clare Whittle on June 14th, 2009 filed in UncategorizedComment now »
Sorry to those who have been checking my blog for my next update, yes I have been slack in the past few weeks. Today I only write because I was burdened about writing a blog on the drought that is hitting the North of Tanzania. Dev and I went to Kenya last week and I was shocked at how dry the land is. The land is a dust bowl – nothing green no sign of a grass. You occasionally would see Massi wandering along the plains with their cattle and goats. Many Massi have left the area to try and keep their stock alive but this means that communities that stay in this area have a lack of milk which is usually a staple esp. for children, please pray for those most affected by the drought that is hitting East Africa. We have now sat through the rainy season in Tanzania with little rain and in some areas nothing, this is going to have a severe impact for crops etc. Tear has an appeal for the world food crisis please see attached link https://www.tear.org.au/donate/food-crisis-appeal/
On a positive note I am now a librarian (or almost) working setting up a library at a local High School just out of Arusha. I am learning how to catalogue and use an Australian cataloguing system so that the kids can borrow books, and so that books that have been sitting in boxes for 2 years (donated by an organisation called Books for Africa) can go on shelves.
Living and Safety in Arusha
Posted by Clare Whittle on May 6th, 2009 filed in Life in Arusha1 Comment »
On Saturday I went to the Sokoine Market where fresh fruit and vegetables are sold and spent about $13AUS on the below items:
1 cucumber (200 shilingi)
1 avocado (500 shilingi)
bunch of basil (100 shilingi)
cup of green peas (500 shilingi)
5 tomatoes (500 shilingi)
400g green beans (300 shilingi0
2 medium sized zucchini’s (300 shilingi)
bunch of watercress (100 shilingi)
medium bunch of spinach (purchased as someone picked it on my way to market) (200 shilingi)
7 apples (3500 shilingi)
2 oranges (200 shilingi)
6 potatoes (500 shilingi)
spring onion (100 shilingi)
6 small onions and a piece of ginger (500 shilingi)
1 coconut (300 shilingi)
a medium sized bunch of bananas (800 shilingi)
3 green capsicums (300 shilingi)
3 eggplants (900 shilingi)
8 carrots (300 shilingi)
Very cheap in comparison to Australia. In the local paper here there is a lot of talk about the high living cost of Arusha and the expensive food prices in the town. Obviously people here are living on far less than what we would imagine, maybe 1200 a day. Anything that is processed or manufactured is expensive, we wanted to get some tooth floss was about $10AUS. I bough peanut butter yesterday for $7AUS and it was rancid. So we try and limit buying supermarket products, last week we splurged on nutella (I didn’t even like it in Australia) now it’s the best treat on bread.
Along most urban roads in Arusha there is a large ditch/open storm water drain, designed to collect water during heavy rainfall. These drains are very deep and if you weren’t paying attention while walking you could fall into one, it would be a significant fall. In some places I would struggle to jump across it. On our way to Church we often walk past a group of young boys that look about 8-12 years of age who sit in the drain on the side of the road. These boys collect plastic bottles and burn them slowly under there t-shirts while inhaling. This practice is really sad, I would say that these boys live on the street (it’s a minority not all kids doing this). Last Sunday there was a boy with his t-shirt/jumper over his head, the way he was laying he looked really out of it, for all I know he could not be alive. And here everyone else on his or her busy day walks past him on the above roadway, no one thinks less. Yesterday there was a boy (I would say about 9-10 years old) sleeping (he looked dead) across the footpath in the centre of town while everyone walked over him.
On my way back from shopping at the market I had a young girl about 12 year old follow me for quite a distance asking for lunch. As you get sick of people begging here, you start to question what they really want out of you. As this girl was persistent and so young, I stopped walking opened my shopping bag and gave her 1 of the bananas from the bunch that I spoke of buying earlier for 800 shilingi (appox. 90cents), she went away happy, asking for nothing else. This is really confronting, but something I must face; how it challenges you about what is extravagant and what is something you really need.
Opposite the apartment where we live, I often watch a group of young boys 3-7 years old playing alongside the road, they run onto it and play adjacent to it. In Australia a 3 year old would not be allowed out anywhere near a road without parental supervision. Here kids are often left to themselves. I must say that 3 year olds here seem to have better road sense then at home – I suppose you have to pick it up quickly. I was watching from my balcony 2 days ago a small child sitting near some adults who were doing cooking preparation, the child sat with a large knife, that it played with and at times had in its mouth.
On TV there is an ad for trying to introduce people to wearing seatbelts when driving, when I first got here every time I tried to use a seatbelt in a car it simply wasn’t there or didn’t function anymore. You get to the point that you don’t even worry about looking for it. Mandatory seatbelts are still a way off.
Dev, I and two other interns went to the movies, when we were paying we had to select which seat we would be seating in, the lady at the counter was particular about this. During the entire movie we were the only ones in the whole cinema. Tanzanian’s tend to be particular about small things, which I think they believe makes them look efficient and professional but to a Westerner is hilarious, absurd and unnecessary. An example of this would be security protocol to get into buildings, which don’t even do anything. E.g. Looking under car with a mirror.
God Stuff: The Truth in Love
Posted by Clare Whittle on May 6th, 2009 filed in God StuffComment now »
I acknowledge I struggle with boldness; to stand up for what I believe is right in a situation. This comes from possibly lack of self belief and fear of dejection. God tells us to be bold/courageous (1 Cor 16:3) and to speak out against injustice (Isa 58:6). This whole issue with speaking out when you witness or hear something that you believe is inappropriate or wrong I began to dwell on about 4 months ago, as I was finishing up at work and reading the book ‘I wish to inform you that tomorrow you will be killed with your families’ about the Rwandan genocide. During the genocide many people like you and me over a few days killed their neighbours and community members in a mass killing across Rwanda.
Ok, I know that not saying something when someone is speaking poorly of someone is not the same severity of killing a neighbour, and I don’t want to trivalise this. But I want to know how to ensure I can ensure I stand up against the majority, against wrongs, even if it means exclusion, your death and that it may lead to the death of your entire family because of your objection. We all know the popular moral, ‘bad things happen when good people do or say nothing’. This book I have mentioned disturbed me because for the first time I could actually comprehend being a partaker in a horrific event such as a genocide, with combination of many bad factors on oneself like political doctrinarian, growing up with incorrect ideologies and psychological pressure from group mentality.
Group mentality, or not feeling you can speak up or, hurt another ones feelings really disturbs me. When I reflect on my life I can see situations where I felt that I was unable to say anything; leaving a outcome of injustice or wrong to take place. An example would be yesterday night when I caught a taxi with some people to a restaurant. The taxi driver wanted $5 for the trip but the people I were with only wanted to give him $4, now this driver is living in a developing country, working crazy hours to make a small wage, and here we are $1 would not so much as even be an inconvenience to me. Yet, I didn’t give the taxi driver the extra $1 and in doing so I supported that the taxi driver did not deserve 1 dollar, he went away. Another example I can think of is allowing people in your work place to get away with poor work ethics without saying anything cause you don’t want to loss friends. I definitely believe there is a right and wrong way to address these situations, otherwise you probably wouldn’t have any friends, but I want to not let the fact that I could loose a friend bother me. I want to be able to speak out. I think this is very difficult if you are not clear on what you believe, for me as a Christian it should be straightforward!
So what’s my problem? I recognise these factors as contributors:
1) I tend to like to be led not to lead. God tells us to be subject to one another (Eph 5:21); we must give respect to others and their beliefs. I must take into consideration what is going through the minds of those who are thinking differently e.g. maybe the person has been ripped off by a taxi driver before, maybe they always pay 4 to come that distance. Nevertheless, in doing that I must be able to weigh up what is of a highest priority. What I mean by higher priority is that something unjust or morally wrong is more harm then offending someone. Making something a higher priority means that you have to be passionate about it to some degree. This means I need to increase my concern for justice and what is right, so that I know/understand the circumstance before I get confronted. I should already know in my mind what I would do. This would make me confident and therefore naturally a leader when it comes to a wrong/injustice rather than an observer.
2) At the moment of the situation I get caught unguarded. Paul talks about putting on the armour of God, at these moments I am caught up with thinking about myself and the immediate situation, rather than the bigger/eternal picture. Paul makes it very clear in Ephesians ‘Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power’. ‘Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist’. I must be clear on what the truth is, which comes through reading God’s word and meditation/prayer. I must have the armour on before the assault.
This heightens the importance for me to acknowledge my weaknesses, to come to God and critically reflect on decisions/words/actions I have made the day before so that I can be aware/alert to areas I need to repair/confess today. This time becomes prevention so I won’t create a problem later, as they say ‘a stich in time saves nine’. This also gives me hope that I can stand up against everything/one going against something immoral or wrong; and it will be at the forefront of my mind.
Devon and I may have an opportunity to go to Rwanda with the UN aircraft if they have a spare seat over the next few weeks, in going to Rwanda I will have to confront how so many people were killed in a few days (neighbours, work mates, church members). Thinking about how this could take place challenges me on my personal silence in daily life; am I able to speak up when I need to in life. Lets pray that each other will be bold in Christ.
People
Posted by Clare Whittle on April 24th, 2009 filed in Uncategorized1 Comment »
One great thing about living overseas is learning about the world from other people living along side you. Currently in our Unit we are living with, a student from Zimbabwe; an Australian guy who is finishing his law degree at Melbourne Uni like Devon, A woman from Germany, A woman from Israel, A woman from Italy, a woman from San Fransico and a male Barrister from the UK. We often have meals together the subject focused on is law (most are lawyers or on the way to finishing their degrees) and the legal system in everyone’s country. I am learning what it is to like in each of the above countries without having to travel there. The best thing is everyone’s diversity, I would never normally be able to discuss an issue with such a group with such a broad range of experiences.
Welcome to the Wet Season
Posted by Clare Whittle on April 17th, 2009 filed in UncategorizedComment now »
Welcome the Wet Season
The other day I was sitting on our balcony as the rain rolled in, chooks and small birds seemed to be busier than normal as they hurried to finish their outdoor chores. Women from their wooden shacks scurried to gather linen from the line, and I breathed in a breath of crisp air. Some how the colour of everything changes at that moment, although the light is diminishing the shade of yellow and fuchsia flowers on the trees and bushes seems to become more intense. The branches all begin to dance and jilt signalling me not be dormant but to get about my business before its too late and the rain has fallen. Just in that moment how beautiful it is to fight the breeze and be still amongst an environment that is on the move; it’s at this point that the season has changed from dry to wet in Arusha. Welcome the wet season! (I think).
(Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives the rain in its season Jere 5:24)
There was snow on Mt Meru, the mountain close to where we live the other day, looked stunning.
We live in the Suburb Themi, there is a train line about 150m from where we live, the train is only used once a month to transport construction material. One morning I could hear a horn of a vehicle continuously being pushed, going to the window to look out I discovered that this is how the train lets everyone know its coming, No gates or crossings.
Males tend to hold hands on greeting and when walking down the street together, it’s a sign of friendship and is nice to see. The other day when it was raining I saw two men with colourful umberalla’s running down the middle of the road together.
There is lots of urban agricultural happening around us, many people come into Arusha from outlying rural towns to try and make some money (esp. now drought and hard economically, as the town relies heavily on tourists that are limited now due to world financial crisis). As they can’t make enough money in the town they start farming on every piece of land available to supplement their income and help feed themselves. It really looks beautiful to walk through crops of native spinach etc. as you walk into the city, each person sets out there plot. I suppose it’s a bit like a community garden without any fences. I thinks it’s a good idea for urban design in Australian cities!
Currency
The largest note that exists in Tanzania is $10,000 this may seem big but its value is approximately $11.50AUS. Imagine in Australia having the $10 note being the largest form of currency. Everyone carries many notes around to pay for things (there are no ATM’s). One girl we know had to buy a plane ticket costing a few hundred dollars and there was no ATM for the airline (yes, can you believe it!) so she had to get the money out in 10’s and pay. Imagine how many notes you would have to pay to climb Mr Kilimanjaro (which cost about $1,000AUS).
One of the interns had to buy a mosquito net from the shop, after purchasing it she saw that is was from the US aid, it had been donated from the US to help fight malaria in Africa, and here you buy the aid material from the shop.
Another girl purchased a bag from a shop (2nd hand like anything else), which was a donation from the Red Cross. They are selling everything back to us, not sure how ethical this is but they are not going to use it they are going to try and sell it. You see lots of women trying to sell donated 2nd hand clothing/shoes on the side of the road.
If someone is caught stealing here they are often beaten and even burned with tyres, this is terrible but is the method used to keep the crime low.
Getting better at Swahili now, can count, greet people in about 5 different ways and ask where you are from, talk about the day and ask how something is (Habari za mchana – How’s your afternoon?, for which you reply “Safi” meaning all is well). (Don’t think I am going to progress much from that!).
This is hilarious but in the morning on TV McCleod’s Daughters from Australia TV is on. So I get my hit of Aussies from watching it. Yes! McCleod’s Daughters in Tanzania.
Yesterday I wanted to post this blog but the internet was down in the whole of Arusha all day! Imagine that is Melbourne. (even the UN didn’t have internet).