After two weeks off, returning to the office on Monday morning was a very quick transition back into reality. My first challenge was to check on the progression made in my absence. I was disappointed to find there had not been as much progress as I'd hoped. My disappointment has left me concerned about the legacy I will leave when I return to the UK, but it's made me more determined to work harder in my final few weeks to ensure that my time at NIT has the biggest impact possible. Throughout the week I have spent a lot of time emphasising the importance of the data that we are collecting and reinforcing the benefits that it will have for everyone at NIT. Hopefully I will be able to address the issue from a different vantage point now I have seen what would happen when I leave. It will be a huge disappointment if reporting ceases to continue at the end of December. With increased communication and data sharing the institute could improve dramatically. I had a pleasant surprise in seeing the head of the Dodoma driving school at NIT this week. He was visiting NIT and we had chance to meet, which was the ideal opportunity to find out what has been happening in Dodoma since my visit. The school seems to be thriving and is currently focused on training more trainers to meet the increased demand at the centre. This week I was also able to open the first door on my advent calendar that my mum had given me. It's taking up a large proportion of my fridge (it is more important than most other things I would usually have in there!). While I was on Holiday there was officially a new appointment at NIT and as of 1st December a new deputy rector for academics, research and consultancy was appointed. On Thursday I met him in the midst of his very busy first week; during a PSV result committee meeting. He seems to be a very good appointment to the role and I will hopefully have a chance to meet with him in the coming week to discuss Transaid’s role at NIT and to get his support in encouraging accurate, regular reporting. On Thursday I was included in the Transaid road safety steering group conference call. This call is a great opportunity to see the progress on all the road safety programmes and learn what is scheduled for the coming months. It was another realisation of how little time I have left in Tanzania as I will not be around to participate in the next call. The end of the week marked me becoming another year older, and while I felt I had celebrated more than enough in the last few weeks during my family's visit, I had to do something to commemorate the day. I was struggling to convince myself it was actually my birthday – I have never in my life been in such a hot place for it, it seemed very unreal. On Friday night I went to the shopping centre to do some food shopping for the following week and began my birthday celebrations by going to the cinema and eating a ridiculous amount of very sweet popcorn! On Saturday morning after opening the cards and presents bought over by my family I went shopping to buy myself a present (and do a bit of Christmas shopping while I had the chance). I visited a really great place in Oysterbay called ‘The Wonder Workshop’ – a shop that sells really unique sculptures made by people who have suffered from polio. On Saturday they were holding a Christmas fair, which included stalls from lots of different business based in Dar es Salaam with charitable focus. I bought myself a beautiful handbag from a stall supporting women who are recovering from fistula surgery – the organisation is called ‘The Mabinti Centre’ and trains women recovering in screen-printing, sewing, beading and crochet, so they can create their own businesses and support themselves. After shopping, I went to the slipway, where there was another Christmas market that I walked around while eating an amazing ice cream. I then sat by the sea for a late lunch and a cocktail. It was also the perfect opportunity to skype home to speak to my family and re-emphasise the fact that it should not be in the high 30s at the beginning of December! In the evening I fulfilled one of the things that I had promised myself I would do before returning to the UK and ordered lobster for dinner. It was my first time to try it and I'm definitely converted – I just don’t think it is a taste that I can encourage, my bank account will definitely not approve! Overall I had a very lovely Birthday and enjoyed being able to just enjoy the weather and amazing facilities Dar has to offer. On Sunday I had a very exhausting underwater hockey session, with only seven people attending the amount of involvement required increased significantly. While I don’t think I managed to injure myself further, my finger is still quite sore from the incident the week before! Next week is the final underwater hockey session for the year, as they will be taking a break for Christmas and New Year – the timing is good as it will also be my final Sunday in Tanzania before returning home. This week however was the first of a lot of goodbyes I will have to make before leaving as some of the people will not be present next week! Unquestionably reality of my rapidly approaching departure is starting to sink in! |