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January 2, 2006 — Tanzanian Tire Hunt

We had quite the day today. We went on a mission to buy some tires for the St. Dymphna school bus. The bus was out of service due to the fact that the tires had gone bald and therefore were ineffective and unsafe on the unpaved, uneven roads in the villages. Kari & I felt like it would be simple enough to buy the tires and get the bus back on the road. We could not have been more wrong.

Our day started out trying to find the "fundi" which we learned is the Swahili work for anyone who provides any sort of service or role. For example, laborers are considered fundi, mechanics, painters, welders, woodworkers, ironworkers, all fundi...the fundi we were looking for this morning was a mechanic. We had to meet with him to find out what tires would be best for the school bus (an old VW van). The fundi we were looking for wasn't there so another fundi quickly filled his place and best of all offered to drive us in his VW bug to the petrol station that sold tires.

So, off we went in the rusted out bug on our way to the tire store. Kari and I went in the store with Mary and the fundi. This was our first mistake. Instantly the price inflated. It seems that the inflation rate in Tanzania increases not only by the minute but also by degree of whiteness of your skin. While this was incredibly frustrating, we understood why this was the reality. We are foreigners in an impoverished country, by the very virtue of being American and white it is assumed that we have money and because of that, it is also assumed that we will pay more than what a Tanzanian person would pay. It's easy to complain, but it is also easy to see why they try. Getting foreigners to pay a higher rate is a simple way to make more money, and who doesn't want to make more money.

Unfortunately, Kari & I do not have ample funds to meet their demands, therefore we had to leave the first petrol station without tires in hand. However, we did leave the station with important information, it seemed that the tires we were looking for were no longer being made. However, the fundi refused to believe this and convinced us to keep looking for not only less expensive tires but also the specific brand that he recommended. So, off we went to the next tire shop.

It was getting hotter and hotter inside the VW bug. As the day wore on, we became more and more convinced that we would never find four matching tires. The next place we went had the tires we were looking for, but they only had two left and weren't going to be getting more any time soon. So, we went to the last store the fundi could think of, they didn't have the tires we were looking for. Finally we went to the last store the fundi could think of, they didn't have the tires we were looking for, but they had two tires of a different brand at a low price. The fundi recommended that we buy thos two tires and then go back to our second stop where they had two tires. So that was what we did.

After six long hot hours of tire shopping we were the proud owners of four mismatched tires. By that time the garage that was going to pu them on for us was closed...which means our tire journey is by no means complete...tomorrow is a new day of Tanzanian tire adventures. Who knows what great adventures the day will bring?

January 5, 2006 — Window Installation

Another day, another journey; one never knows what to expect when in Arusha. As our tire search came to an end, Colleen and I ventured out on a new project. Today is window buying and installation day. We tell each other it can' t be as extensive as tire buying, but in our hearts we know better. We are in for a full day of who knows what?!?!

We begin our morning commute to meet with our fundi outside of Arusha. Our goal is to pick up the 4 windows and 1 door that have already been designed and built. Upon arrival we find out the door is yet to be finished, but all 4 windows are complete. After much more negotiating, the windows are paid for and ready to be installed. We then realized we have a big obstacle ahead of us, how are we too get the windows up to the school without a vehicle?

Transportation of the windows is simple; we have a wood carrt with 2 wheels on it. The cart should be suffice. Little did Colleen and I realize one of our Tanzanian dreams would come true today; we'd finally be able to push the infamous cart up a hilly, roughed, beat-up path. Should be interesting.