Tabora

 Tabora to Visit Frank and 2 Schools

Despite our initial impressions of the hotel we actually slept ok. We are up, have breakfast and are ready to meet Robert and Tim at 9.30. I took some photos of our room and hotel before we left. We didnt actually have much faith in the shower arrangement but it was really ok, nowhere near the worst we have had in Tanzania.

The drive to Tabora takes about 4 hours. On the way we see some mining works on a far more industrial scale than those we saw near Chato.

When we get to Isako we cross the Mwanza to Dar es Salaam railway line. We see loads of lorries which are presumably associated with the freight that travels on the trains.

We pass a lot of places where rice is being grown.

So far the landscape has been rather flat and not very interesting but now we are getting more hills and some large rocks reminiscent of Mwanza.

We now pass from Shinyanga Region to Tabora Region

This is clearly a region where they grow a lot of mangoes judging by the number of people selling them.

After about 4 hours we reach Tabora and it is clear we are back in a town again.

We meet up with Frank, the ACTT agent in Tabora who directs us to a hotel where he has reserved a room for us. We check in but the room isn’t ready so we go and get lunch at a restaurant that Frank has chosen. They have some nice decoration.

After lunch we go to Frank’s shop that is run by him and his wife. It sells computers but also everyday essentials. It is one of the best stocked and best organised shops I have seen in Tanzania.

After this Robert wants to meet a guy about some business and then drops us back at the hotel. Our room is now ready. It is much better than last nights room and at TSH 80,000 (about £26) only costs TSH 10,000 more (just over £3).

This evening we go out for dinner with Frank, Robert and Tim. Frank takes us to the Chicken Court where they cook chicken a variety of different ways. We are invited to go and see the chickens!! The staff are very friendly and welcoming. It’s a good evening.

The next day we are up promptly as we are visiting Mkoani Primary School where Frank has done some teacher training.

First we call in at Franks shop to pick up the computers. His wife and little boy Nolan, are there. We have a few small gifts for Nolan but he is still quite shy with us.

Beside Frank’s shop is an old yellow telephone box. These are redundant in Tanzania now (as in the UK), as everyone has mobile phones.

The school is not very far down a small road off the main road.

On arrival we are met by the head teacher and then shown around the school. They have 1643 students and 17 teachers, most of whom have done computer training with  Frank.

We go to Standard 7 first. When asked  who has used a computer, more hands go up here than in the schools in rural Geita. I wonder if this is because we are in a town so some people have better jobs. When asked what they have used a computer for, it is mainly to watch a film or listen to music. No one actually mentions having any computer skills.

Next we look in on the nursery class who are busy singing songs with actions. One little girl is really enthusiastically joining in.

We call in to all the classrooms to say Hi. I think this was because they were waiting for the Ward Education Officer to arrive. 

We are then given some chai and samosas and chapati. It’s only about 10am and Pete is now wishing he had had a smaller breakfast.

After this we decide to carry on without the Education Officer. We gather in what will be the computer room, with all the teachers. Today they will be receiving 3 computers and a printer. Frank brings in the equipment while the headteacher welcomes us and Robert explains about our project. 

We then talk to the 2 teachers who will send the reports, sign the contracts, do the official presentation of the computers……and take photos!!

Once we have finished at the school Frank wants us to visit another school where he is trying to convince the teachers to do the computer training. The school is called Chem Chem Primary School and is not far away. It’s only a short visit to talk to the headteacher and a few other teachers.

It is now about 3pm and we have finished “work” so the consensus is that we will now visit Tabora Zoo. Pete and I weren’t quite sure what to expect but actually its not bad.

We arrive at the same time as a family and so we have a guide to show us all round. Infact a lot of the animals can roam freely in the grounds. They have zebra, wildebeest, impala, gazelles, monkeys, warthogs and waterbuck. They also do have some animals in enclosures such a birds, baboons, a porcupine, totoises and cats. We have to smile as they have a young wildebeest who clearly thinks he is a human (apparently he doesnt like the other wildebeest). He is very friendly and walks round with us, much to everyone’s amusement.

Tonight Frank took us somewhere different for dinner. When we arrived Robert thought it was too noisy so he got them to move a table and chairs away from the bar and into a hall next door which was massive and normally used for events like weddings!!

 

 

Tonight we are joined by Shabani, who is the driver Robert usually uses. Unfortunately he couldn’t join us this time as he has been working on another job in Tabora. It was lovely to see him.

I have to say the food wasn’t great at this place but the staff were quite fun. Pete had chipsi mayai (chip omelette) and mshtaki (small kebabs).

At the end of the evening we say goodbye to Frank as we will be leaving first thing in the morning. We have really enjoyed our time in Tabora and hope to come back.