Numbers

I’m an engineer…I like numbers. Here, in no particular order, are some of my observations.

The conversion rate from CAD into TSH (Tanzanian Shillings) is approximately $1:1,600TSH.

Last Wednesday, our Swahili class went to Tangaru market. Each student was given 2000TSH, and we were instructed to buy fruits and vegetables to practice the language, and our bartering skills. With this amount of money, I was able to buy:

-2 avacados

-6 passion fruit

-8 tomatoes

-4 small red onions

-4 green peppers

Minimum wage here is 58,000TSH/month. This works out to less than $3/day. Often people are paid in cash, like at the market. I’m sure this rule is not strict.

The mosque, which is a few feet away from our bedroom window, performs its first call to prayer at 5am each morning. Except when the power is out.

There are likely 100 dogs within a 1km radius of our house howling right now.

The sun sets at about 6:45 each evening. By this time, everyone is in our compound for the night. It’s not that safe to be out past dark.

James, our host sisters’ son, was born in Nkoaranga Hospital, where Lauren and I will be working. It cost Maxima 10,000TSH to open a file here.  Even though it’s a private hospital, this is the only fee that she has to pay to use this hospital. It must be funded through donations. If she were to want to use another hospital, she would have to pay another fee to register there.

On our walk to school, Lauren and I get called ‘mzungu’s at least twice. If we’re lucky, a kid might come over and touch us, to check if we’re different I guess.

It takes me two full buckets of water to wet my hair during a bucket shower. I likely use about 1/5^th the amount of water I would normally use to shower at home.

Ben, the ground coordinator for EWH Africa, pulled up some stats the other day comparing US to Tanzania. Some that interest my include:

                                                USA                 Tanzania

Life expectancy                     78.2                57.4

Adult lit rate                          99%                73%

Access to internet                  79%                11%

GNI/capita PPP (USD)          48450                        1420

Power outages occur on a daily basis, and can last from a few seconds to a day and a half, as far as we’ve experienced.

There is always enough food for another guest.

The word “karibu”, meaning “you are welcome”, can be used in every scenario.

There is no upper limit to the amount of grass you can transport on the back of a motorbike (aka pikipiki).

Number of cats Lauren has put into her jacket since arrival: 4.

Average cups of tea per day: 3.65.

This weekend we have Monday off. A group of us will be heading to Mt. Meru to trek to the top. This is a three day journey, and we expect to experience Canadian conditions on the top of this African mountain. I’m so grateful to be able to experience nature on this side of God’s globe.