Anyhow, shortly we will be leaving to formally open the kitchen. We are hoping to have quite a group of people there. Apparently the children have prepared a little thank you song, which sounded great with the little I caught while they were rehearsing. The kitchen won't be 100% finished, but Mr Hamis has assured me that by the time we get there the inside and the front of the building will be ready to go. The aim is to finish the plastering and painting of the back of the building over the weekend. Shame we won't see it but hopefully we will get pictures.
We finally left feeling like we had been welcomed into a new family and truly hope to return in future years (Maybe even next year if we can raise the funds to go with the other members of the rotary club). Thankfully the roads had dried out and the journey out was less hairy.
After an emotional day we headed back to the lodge to get ready for our final night with Mama Lucy. Unfortunately, the other girls were exceptional late back, in part due to a lorry being stuck in the road out from their school as a result of the heavy rains the previous days.
Both myself and Ruth are really looking forward to today, although it will be sad as this will be the last day we seem them. Tomorrow we will be at Masandarka for the opening of the library, and then getting ready to leave. I see an emotional afternoon ahead of us, infact just thinking about it is making me very sad. I see through the window that the guys are back, so I best get myself ready to go. Hopefully there will be power later to let you know how we got on.
We arrived at Nkwasangare Primary School this afternoon after a hairy journey up the hill due
to heavy rains the night before, to find them setting up for the opening ceremony of the kitchen. Little did we know at the time just what was in store for us. We had a look at the kitchen and although not as complete as we had hoped it was almost finished with a promise that it will be completed over the next few days. We were also pleased to note that they had painted onto the side of the water tank and the Kitchen "Oxford Spires Rotary woz 'ere June 2009" as requested. Had to get a bit of true Brit graffiti in there somehow.
to heavy rains the night before, to find them setting up for the opening ceremony of the kitchen. Little did we know at the time just what was in store for us. We had a look at the kitchen and although not as complete as we had hoped it was almost finished with a promise that it will be completed over the next few days. We were also pleased to note that they had painted onto the side of the water tank and the Kitchen "Oxford Spires Rotary woz 'ere June 2009" as requested. Had to get a bit of true Brit graffiti in there somehow.
Anyhow back to the events of the day. They had laid out a square of desks for the students and teachers, chairs for the village elders, school governors and other guests and some tables with chairs for us (Peter, Naomi, Ruth, Mr Meena, the headmistress and Mr Hamis). They had even put table cloths on the tables. At the start of the ceremony we were given garlands of borganvillia flowers by the top pupils. We were treated to speeches from the chief governor, Mr Hamis and the headteacher Ms Lemu. Peter and Ruth (as always cos Ruth had said it all Naomi didn't stand to speak) responded with greetings and thanks to all present. Some of the girls, lead by the headgirl 
Annie, performed a thank you medley of songs and dance. We were then dressed by the headmistress and Mama Kwaylu in traditional Chagga dress, which is worn a bit like a sari, and also given beautiful necklaces and freshly roasted coffee beans picked and prepared by the chief governor. Peter was given a fabulous traditional shirt. In reciprocation Ruth presented extra money to the headteacher to use as they wished and at that moment Kili decided to poke her head through the clouds, something we had been waiting to see at the school since we arrived due to tech close proximity to the peak (about 10km). Mr Meena had earlier commented as a joke that we had to pay to see Kili, so even Kili is a capitalist at heart. Whatever it was, it was stunning to see her so close up.We were then led over to one of the classrooms that we had painted only to find that it had been laid out as a dining room. We had to sit at the top table as the honored guests. Our hands were washed by one of the teachers and Mama Kwaylu said grace. Ruth then led the charge for food, no not really but she was asked to start. After eating what we thought was the meal we were then told that it was traditional to present honored guests (us if you hadn't quite gathered) with a roasted banana plant which seemed a bit odd. It turned out that it was infact a whole roasted goat, with the head intact and its mouth stuffed with banana leaves ( I swear it was staring at me with its glazed eyes, quite eariey....Naomi..)
It is a chagga tradition to present such a gift and is saved for very special occasions such as
weddings and other big events. Mr Meena said this is the sort of thing they would do if the president came for a visit. We were truly blessed. As part of the tradition, the first pieces cut are fed to the honoured guests, in this case us and Peter, and they must then state whether they are willing to share with everyone else present. Of course we pondered this for some considerable time before deciding that of course everyone should share in the feast lol). The meat was delicious, and by far the best way to eat goat.(I must admit by the end of the two weeks I was slightly tired of goat stew, particularily as the cut of meat normally used was very grissely...Naomi..) In this form it tasted like lamb .... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmAfter completion of the festivities we gave the teachers a small token before we left, I must admit it did seem somewhat pitiful after what they had just laid on for us, but they seemed very pleased. I guess they feel the gift of the kitchen and painted glassrooms was more than sufficient.
We said our goodbyes to the children, many with a version of a handshake followed by a hug. We had noticed throughout the week that the boys were far more shy about recieving the hug than the girls, even if they were the ones to instigate it. We made a special effort to say good bye to the head girl as she really has formed a special place in our hearts.
We finally headed off (thankfully the roads had dried out since the morning), to get ready for our final night at Mama Lucys. Unfortunately, the other girls were exceptionally late back, due in part to a lorry being stuck on the road out from their school so they had to take quite a detour. This meant we were very late even for Tanzania time. Not to worry we had a very pleasent evening and at least were able to say goodbye properly as they had been so kind an generous to us. Unfortunatley Mama Lucy was feeling unwell again and did not venture out to see us. We wish her the best and hope to see her in future years.
Ruth and Naomi xx
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