Our Third Week (such imaginative titles)

Today (Sunday) we went to Ngorongoro Crater, called by "A Thousand Places to See Before you Die" the Garden of Eden of Africa. It is the largest intact volcanic caldera not filled with water in the world (don't you love all the qualifiers?), over 12 miles in diameter. The lakes, grasslands, swamps and forests make it an ideal environment for a wide variety of animals. The steep sides help discourage migration for many but not all. The edge also provides wonderful vistas in all directions.

We took four staff members with us along with the three-year old son of one, who was a little afraid of us, perhaps wondering what was wrong with two people who had lost all their color.

We saw wildebeest, zebras and water buffalo by the thousands. A lake had tens of thousands of flamingos. Also for our viewing pleasure was a rare black rhino, hippos, elephants, serval (a small cat), waterhogs, eland (a large deer-lake animal), various gazelles, hyenas, jackal, monkeys, baboons, ostrich, various storks, egrets and cranes. We also saw a number of lions. At one location was a wounded water buffalo, hunkered down in a hollow with several lions waiting. The next time past the buffalo was dead and the lions were feasting. It was an incredible day.

Saturday we went to a large open market on the edge of town. This happens on the 7th of each month, and is aimed at Tanzanians. There is an animal auction, varieties of foods to buy, handicrafts, watches, and nearly anything imaginable. Clothes? Chances are items you donate to ARC or the Epilepsy Foundation get bundled up and sent overseas, ending in markets such is this. It was being unbaled on the spot. Every kind of used clothing seems to be here, from Columbia jackets to underwear. There is also a profusion of the colorful fabrics women and sometimes men wear.

As for our work, this last week we spent our time in the office getting prepared for future activities. Jolene, the-ever creative country director, is inviting the leading women in the Karatu community to a nice lunch on Valentine’s Day and we are assisting with that. She is always looking for ways to generate ideas from the community and collaborate in the process of improving health. Everything MIHV does here needs to be sustainable, continuing past the time the project ends.

We are continuing with activities aimed at developing income generation for the Survive and Thrive Groups. This includes creating a marketing training program for staff so they can train the village women. There has also been a lot of brainstorming on what items can be made that will appeal to tourists.

This week we will be in the field again with staff, who will be recording data and doing training. One of the stops will be in an Hadzabe village. They are a hunting-gathering tribe whose lifestyle is being impacted by modernity.

Time is flying by and we continue to be fascinated by the people and places.