The last week has been relatively uneventful. Following the departure of all our guests, Neil and I quickly got back into the everyday life and our responsibilities at NIT. I began the week by making a return visit to the local hospital to have a repeat malaria test to ensure that I had been successfully treated. Thankfully after a few hours of waiting around the hospital I received the confirmation from the results of my blood test to confirm that I no longer had any signs of malaria. That evening I made apple crumble for Neil and I as a celebration of my good health. I enjoy baking, but have been very reluctant to do any in Tanzania as our oven resembles a microwave and the power supply is very inconsistent which could easily result in uneven cooking. I had mentioned to Neil that a crumble could be a fool-proof dish and he held me to my promise of making it while he was still around. Throughout the week the electricity at NIT was very patchy – my colleagues informed me that they are currently working to change the supply to gas, which should provide a more consistent power supply to the whole country. At the moment however there seems to be less power on an average day that what I have experienced throughout my whole time here. Again it is a great reminder of the things that I take for granted in the UK. With the elections drawing closer in Tanzania the issue of the unreliable power is sparking many debates amongst the locals. The elections will take place at the end of October and it is clear to see that the country is being taken-over by election fever. Everywhere you turn there is a poster for one candidate or another. My colleagues at NIT are hopeful that the elections will pass peacefully but I have been warned to take extra care over the next month and avoid any public gatherings - this is advice I will most definitely head. On Tuesday I attended a committee meeting to approve the exam results from the most recent driving courses held. After the meeting I was presented with the perfect opportunity to arrange another meeting with the deputy rector and the deputy head of the transport safety and environmental studies department (TSES) for the following day, while Neil was still at NIT, to discuss the progression of reporting activities. On Wednesday Neil and I held a very productive meeting, where we discussed the progress that had been made during my first three months at NIT and what was still outstanding. Afterwards, I had a very comprehensive list of action points that need to be followed-up and a timescale for results to be seen by. For the rest of the week, while battling intermittent power, I started to create further templates for reporting, following the specifications discussed. I had a very relaxing weekend; after a weekly market shop followed by a visit to the shopping centre on Saturday I had a very relaxing day at home on Sunday. Neil left for Uganda on Saturday evening to work on another project for the next two weeks, so I am once again alone. While I am feeling significantly better after recovering from malaria, I decided on Sunday that I was still not well enough to attend underwater hockey, due to its high intensity nature – I am hopeful I will return next week! |