...3rd try

and no success. I went back Thursday afternoon and the books that were finished had not been replaced, yet. Next week...

Though I did get the policeman's cell phone number so I will call him this week to see when (not if!) they're coming in. I'm thinking positive...


:)

TZ license, Take 2

Yesterday, Wednesday, I went back to the police station...with my 4 passport photos in hand! Unfortunately, the documents they needed to process my license were 'finished' for the day.

More papers will come in today so I'm going back this afternoon... :)

But to tide you over, (because I know you're just on the edge of your seats wondering if and when I'll get my license, right?) here are some pictures!

My Provisional License
It's a small book. The last page is stamped (double stamped, actually) with PROVISIONAL, just to be sure everyone knows. Apparently, there is no standard color for the cover. Mine is blue, but some are green or red.

My Vision Report
I can see! And it's stamped so it's official.

:)

TZ Driver's License

I am attempting to get my Tanzanian driver's license. Although I have an International Driving Permit, it needs to be renewed every year and since I'll be here longer, it makes sense to have a more permanent license.

So I'm trying to get my TZ license.

I have taken - and passed - an eye exam. Honestly, this was the thing I was most worried about! But I told the eye doctor I wear contacts and just read the smallest print I could. He signed and stamped a paper - everything here requires multiple stamps - and sent me on my way!

I turned in several passport sized photos, along with copies of my US driving license, paid for and recieved my Provisional Tanzanian Driving License. I only get a provisional because I'm an American and don't drive on the left side of the road.
>Side note about passport photos. You need them for everything here! I mailed 8 when
HOPAC first applied for my work permit, gave 4 more a few weeks ago, turned in several
for my provisional license, and was told yesterday that ... well, read on ...

Yesterday I went to the police station and spoke with the officers in charge of issuing licenses. I wasn't sure if I would need to take a driving test or if they would just give me a TZ license, since I have an International Permit.
>Side note about the permit: to get it, you just go into any AAA, show them your
US license, pay $15 and get your picture taken! Don't need to prove you can drive
on the left or anything!

At the police station yesterday, the officer seemed to be trying to discourage me from driving in Tanzania! He was saying, "It is too dangerous. The drivers here are crazy, more than crazy. Why do you want to drive in Tanzania? It is not safe. It is much worse than driving in America!" And this is the police!

I assured him that, yes, I do want to drive in Tanzania and have been driving here for two years. He seemed ok with that answer and actually didn't ask me to take the driving test. I guess I passed by having driven in Dar es Salaam before!

But then I needed passport photos. I had only brought one. What was I thinking?!?! I needed four. Another officer began explaining why I needed four but I got lost somewhere between official record and Tanzania Revenue Authority.

I just found out that they close at 3:30 so I will have to go in straight after school another day this week and try again...


:)

HOPAC Construction

HOPAC is growing!

Currently, the new Administration Building is under construction. Now, construction in Tanzania is slightly different from what I'm used to seeing. So many more things are done using man-power rather than machine-power. For example, during the HOPAC orientation at the beginning of the year, we were all distracted by the construction workers outside... and not for the same reason one might be distracted by a construction worker in America... :)

They were putting down, 'pouring' cement for the between floors area - which I'm sure has a technical name but I don't know what that would be. Anyway, where we would have the cement truck pouring directly onto the area or through a series of tubes or pipes, these men were using buckets carried on their head to move the cement from the ground up a flight of stairs (wooden, not permanent stairs) and onto the roof where they poured it out, turned around and ran back down for their next load. I'm talking running with cement in buckets on heads here, people!

It was absolutely amazing to watch! You could tell who was really good at it. They were passing the other men as they ran, with buckets of cement on their head and maybe one hand holding on to it.

See, man-power, not machine.

Some other new construction around campus:

Picnic Bandas for students and teachers...

A new addition to the gardeners' workshop...

Starting blocks and seating at the pool!

Fun times!

:)

Addis in Dar

Saturday night we went out for Kate's Birthday. "We" is myself, my housemates Delicia and Juli, and 5 other girls who live in the same housing complex.

Juli and I


Juli and Delicia
Bryan, we did the pass the camera around the table thing. :)

We went to Addis in Dar, an Ethiopian restaurant here in Dar. It is always so much fun! Your food is served on a plate of njera. Njera (injera maybe?) is a spongy, flat, hole-y bread. You also get rolls of it that have a striking resemblance to Ace bandages... The meats and vegetables in their sauces are poured on the 'plate' and you eat with your hands. Fun and delicious!

I'd never actually seen all the colors!

You eat outside and it's always dark when we get our food. We had 2 types of lentels, pumpkin, prawns (shrimp), beef and lamb.



The njera is cut into strips and then rolled. Can you tell they're spongy?

This is after! We were so full we couldn't eat our entire plate.
It looks nicer in the dark...

:)