TAN: Maina's Birthday

Had a full schedule of meetings during the day in search of subjects for Sandrine. Started at 10 a.m. with Gerald of FEWS NET (Famine Early Warning System Network).The FEWS NET organization had posted information about an impending food shortage throughout much of Tanzania. Rainfall throughout the country has been spotty at best. In September there was a shortfall of corn production that precipitated the government buying 32,000 metric tons of maize. Although the maize was to come from a governmental agency it still had to be paid in cash to liberate the supply. The government was unable to come up with the cash all at once, so the required supply was purchased in smaller amounts over a period of time. This delayed the delivery of the maize to the districts that needed it. To compound the problem further, the government did not have enough money to provide transport to distribute the food once it got to the districts. To get the food out to the towns and villages that needed it, the districts, which have less funds than the government, were called upon to provide transport.

Gerald, the Tanzanian representative for FEWS NET.

Another situation that is of concern is local farmers selling off most of their harvest at an exaggerated market value right now, mindless of the possibility of the rains failing and no crops being available after the next growing season. The short rains, which should be falling right now have failed to materialize, which will mean no harvest in January / February. Gerald though he might be going out on a tour of some of the areas that would be most affected in the next couple of weeks and promised to get in touch with details.

We had just sat down for lunch at the Epi d’Or restaurant when Maina messaged us that Mwanga and his Maasai friend, Rafael were at the office. After the fifth cab we approached, we got a price that was not too overly exaggerated and were on our way to the DTP office. It turned out that we had bumped into Rafael the other night when we went to see Matrix Revolutions. We had all commented to ourselves how different it was to see a Maasai in a movie theater. Rafael explained that he had just come back from his village and was looking for something to do with his wife that evening and had ended up there.
We had a nice conversation with him and Sandrine explained that she was looking to go to a Maasai school and get some footage for a French TV program for children. Rafael thought this sounded possible but didn’t know what his schedule was like. He agreed to meet with us the following morning at 10 a.m. when he hoped to know better.

Rafael, our Maasai contact.

After Rafael excused himself to head to another meeting, we went with Maina and Mwanga down to the Ministry of Transport and Communication to secure a permit to conduct journalistic activities in Tanzania. Mwanga knew everyone at the Ministry and we whisked passed the clerks at the front desk and another desk upstairs, ending up in the Assistant Directors office. He was on the phone but looked at the application and told us to come back the next morning at 9 a.m. without missing a beat.

The Assistant Director at the Ministry of Transportation and Communication.

Hunting around for something to eat downtown we ended up back at the Epi d’Or for a round of falafels that were presented more like burritos than anything else. After lunch we headed back to the office to get ready for the evenings Pixel Corps session. Tonight we would discuss scripts and storyboards. A short beak was had at the Kiriakoo market, a huge affair of stalls selling everything from fresh produce to household goods to agricultural supplies to clothing. We ended up getting a large woven matt for Maina as a birthday/housewarming gift. The evening class went pretty well and we helped the members with their projects until 8 p.m.

Some of the household goods in the Kiriakoo market.

If Chantal’s experience is any judge, Sandrine will have many suitors. We thought she had better pick out a dress just in case any of them had enough cows to make a worthwhile offer for her hand in marriage.

Headed to the Q Bar once again. This time there was a huge contingent of Kenyans organized to help celebrate Maina’s birthday. Most of them were friends of Anne Marie. Interspersed with his usual Tusker beer, Maina was plied with something called a Springbuck, a ghastly green drink that supposedly tasted like minty hot chocolate. We stayed on until 11 p.m.

Maina imbibing a few Springbucks (a drink rumored to taste like mint flavored hot coco) for his birthday.

Sandrine enjoying a Kilimanjaro . . . or two.