I finally returned home, this journey came to an end. The last days were really very nice, and didn’t really involve too much work, at least, for university. Of course they involved many goodbyes too.
On Monday I met with Simtu, who was my student. We had some food, and I visited his home. It’s really awesome, he used to be Muslim, but now he became a Christian. I guess he noticed, he saw something special during his time at YWAM. Now he goes to church, chose Bible knowledge for his secondary education and even wants to do a DTS. That’s a party in Heaven! And he really puts it in practice too, he wants to help and give.
That evening he came to the base, just after the little farewell “ceremony”. I’ve seen a few those, now it was my turn... People said kind words, I did too. They gave me this wooden African statue, and everyone prayed for me and said goodbye. Bebe was there afterwards as well, apparently she had been keeping Simtu up. James, who couldn’t be there at the time, sent me a gift too – a box full of fruit from Matombo. It had like, five pineapples and a watermelon. I wouldn’t go to Dar Es Salaam as lightly burdened as I had hoped!
That departure was actually the following day. It was somewhat hasty, unfortunately I didn’t even get to say bye to Sitini and Sered. But the journey itself was fine, actually better than expected. So much so that the whole suitcase detour wasn’t very necessary. I assume to combat the army of salesmen they enclosed the final bus stop, you had to pay or have a bus ticket to get there. Besides that, Niwaely’s place wasn’t actually close to the terminal, at all. In fact, it was on an entirely different location. We had to spend a very long time retrieving it the next day, after doing just a small bit of shopping. We also went to view Obadiah’s neighbourhood (I was staying at his place, in case you missed it). He really lives in a beautiful area. Dar Es Salaam is at the ocean, and while his place was quite a distance from it, it did seem like he lived in the dunes. There was very clean sand, hills, and lots of coconut and mango trees. And there was an ocean breeze most of the time too, which is really, really pleasant in a place as hot and humid as Dar. I really enjoyed the place. Of course we enjoyed James’ fruit a lot too. The pineapple was so very nice, not quite what we’re used to in Europe. I ate until my tongue got sore...
On Thursday we went on a trip to Zanzibar, a beautiful and popular island off the coast. We took an airplane there – as we later found out it’s actually cheaper than taking the boat for me (not for Obadiah, they have different prices for residents and non-residents at Zanzibar in some cases), and it didn’t make didn’t make Obadiah sick. Also, it was his first time to go by airplane, so it was quite worth it. We stayed at an acquaintance of Obadiah, the mother of a pastor he knows. It was really a “normal” home, which was of course very nice for me to see. But to my surprise there was also a white person there, a female student from Switzerland who was also sort of between her bachelor and her master and was also teaching English. Common thing, maybe?
Anyway, the first of the two days we stayed there we spent on visiting Stonetown. We saw its beaches, a museum and the old slave market. The dungeons are still there, as a memorial to that horrible time. They would literally stack people there, twenty-five dying every day, the survivors being whipped, some to death just to select the strong ones. To end it all the Brits built a church on the place where the latter happened.
The following day we got up early to go to Prison Island, a very small off the coast of Zanzibar itself. As eerie as it sounds it was actually absolutely stunning. Really the stereotypical “holiday paradise island” – white beaches, palm trees, giant turtles... Well, ok, maybe not so stereotypical, that last one. They did have the very big turtles there, the ones that can get some 180 years old. They actually had one of about 150 there. They once were a gift to the owner of the island at that time. We could actually feed them and even hold them. A baby one of course, just a few years old. There was also a building there that was used as a prison, for disobedient slaves. Or perhaps it was meant to be used as such, I’m not sure. After the Zanzibar revolution, they used it as a place for people with contagious diseases as cholera. But really, what a beautiful location that is...
After having spent a lovely time there, it was time to get back to the mainland, in order to avoid the horrible traffic jams. This time we did go with the ferry, in total it was just a bit cheaper, and it was nice to experience too. I had a great time, standing on the bow of the ship, defying wave after wave. Obadiah however, hadn’t. He was feeling rather sick; probably the only reason he didn’t exit his lunch was because we didn’t have any. He would feel bad for quite a while afterwards.
We did successfully escape the jams, and spent most of the night at Gladness’ place. She’s Oba’s sister, and actually has electricity at her home. There I made a few dvds and cds, we watched the dvd too as it was about the English school. Gladness is really a lovely person, indeed very happy too. She assured my that by this time next year I would be back in Tanzania, and that I would have at least four kids later, which will be when she’ll visit me.
The following day we spent mostly on getting me ready to go as it was actually the day of my departure, my last hours on African soil. Of course I had to say goodbye, to Josephine, Obadiah’s wife, their daughter Deborah and also Bebe. I really don’t know when I’ll see my fellow teachers again, perhaps the next time will be in Heaven... Which will obviously be awesome.
So I got a few presents for my family, we had lunch in town, visited Obadiah’s church’s headquarters... It was a nice time, and all worked out well. I said goodbye to my very dear friend Obadiah, I got on the plane... Finally said bye to Tanzania too.
And so it came to an end. The flight was excellent, and at its destination my family warmly welcomed a rather tired and dazzled Eddy. There were very big roads, wallpaper, chocolate, internet, a terrible cold... But most of you know all that already, don’t you?
As for my coming days, I’ll be receiving a very, very special guest and writing a huge report. Then going to a different university, new dormitory, making sure my loan’s ok, fraternity, uni, uni, uni...
Maybe after three years, or if God wishes...
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