Farkwa, Tanzania, Wednesday October 1st

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After a night punctuated by doses of Panadol, Keith rose feeling miserable but determined to complete his assignment. Adam carried everything up to the school for him at about 10 o’clock, under strict instructions that he must escort Keith very slowly. At home I had a bucket bath and moved all the furniture in our room to give it a complete spring clean. Rosie was trying to sort out her trunk of goodies; left here from her last visit, and so my role was to entertain Sebi and keep him away from the tank stand. It is lots of fun being with children when there are not other pressing tasks on your mind, and I enjoyed inventing stories and drawings with him and hit on a real winner when we created the road from Dodoma to Farkwa in the dust. We crawled around re-enacting the story of the bus breaking down, adding rivers, hills and the mission as we went. After a fruit picnic with Hawa and Jarvah, Sebi was keen to play on, but unfortunately it was time for me to go up to the school for my last session with Madam Simbee.

There were lots of form fours at the school when I arrived, and Keith was deep in a session with Mr Chalala. Soon beautiful singing could be heard, and Mr Chalala said that it was for the form fours, to wish them well. We all worked on, and eventually in the middle of the afternoon, I went home. I would be back later to help Keith and I wanted to say ‘goodbye’ at the very last minute.

I spent the last afternoon with the washing, with friendly greetings and conversations, and with more time with the boys.We were packed, but we were now adjusting to the news that the bus to Kondoa that we would take, would not be running. Ticha was on the phone non-stop negotiating transport possibilities, but in the end we decided to ask for the safari car, due to meet us at Kondoa the next day, to come out to Farkwa to pick us up. It would be extra expense but maybe it was all for the best, given that we had a little boy recovering from typhoid and a man with a very bad back in our band.

Late in the afternoon, Adam, our sponsor student, and I went back to the school to collect Keith. Although I had known Adam in class and in the context of the family, it was a wonderful chance to have a little bit of time with just him. We plan to assist with his education over the years, and now have a very real sense of connection to him and his family. We talked about the changes that Freddy and Pius would meet, and about what life in Australia is like. He told of the things that he likes to do, and of course football was way up there, with talk of football injuries, of other sports. He is quiet and very courteous, and we had not wanted to swamp or embarrass him with attention when he is one of the cousins within a large family of cousins. Today had just given us the chance to let him know, beyond the initial gifts and the scholarship and the daily contacts, that we are interested in him as a person and that we will keep in touch.

It was no surprise that Keith was not ready to go when we reached the school, as Adam and I had discussed. Still, he soon packed up, and said ‘Farewell’ to the office which had been his working space for the last two weeks. Truly he had given more than could have possibly have been expected by the donors of the computer – he had attempted to introduce useful programs for both administrative and educational uses to all the staff. Different teachers had worked with different aspects, and he now hoped that there would be enough expertise within the group for them to help each other if they forgot what to do. He planned to write up some notes to post, as an extra back up. Ultimately he had done his best, even in times of pain. Now it was time to let it go. We could only hope that the technology would not provide blips that would prevent ongoing use of the computer.

Some Education Department officials arrived to talk to Mr Chalala; friends of his whom he greeted warmly. I was surprised to hear him assure the lady that she had put on weight, quite a bit of weight, but then I remembered that weight is a sign of doing well and of having enough to eat here. We waved them all goodbye.

We were early enough for all the last views that I had wanted yesterday to be possible. Madam Simbee escorted us, saying that her heart was wounded, and not making any jokes or talking at all. She and Adam and I chatted for a while. Mr Edson also escorted us, asking questions about university education and scholarships in Australia. Madam Simbee and I had already said private heart-felt goodbyes, and suddenly she stopped and said that she would have to turn back or she would be crying. I too was emotional and pensive, and the conversation about visas and costs of living washed over me. I just wanted to feel and absorb the place that was so unfamiliar only a couple of weeks ago, and which now we will never forget. The crescent moon signalling the end of Ramadan rode above the flat topped acacia tree that has starred in so many sunset photos.

Maria brought in loaves of fresh bread for our journey the next morning, and since the boys were theoretically in bed, Rosie, Keith, Maria, Hawa and I had a feast of bread and honey and the girls and I started to play Uno.Sebi was having one of his worst nights, and so poor Rosie was mightily distracted, but we managed to have great fun with a game that was new to some of us. It had the universal appeal of allowing us to laugh at other people’s misfortunes.

The door to the school staff toilets. See below for the inside view.