Forest Walk

I had a day off today, so I took a dalla-dalla to Arumeru Lodge and went for a walk with a guide in a nearby forest. It was good to get out of the city for a few hours!

inside a very big tree

the Usa river

Colubus monkeys

Ndoto project website

Check out this great website with images,rehearsal videos, and updates about Umoja's Ndoto project. Thanks to Danielle for putting it together!

 http://daniellewilliamsmusic.com/ndoto-project.html

And here are a few of our many rehearsal pictures:

Cashing a Cheque in Tanzania

My roommate Danielle teaches music courses at Makumira University. She received her first paycheque recently along with this email  from the department of music at Makumira:

 

 

Cashing a Check in Tanzania

1) Make sure you have eaten and gone to the bathroom before proceeding with these actual steps.
2) Find the CRDB Bank branch near the clock tower and head to the customer service counter
3) You will notice a "bunch" of persons at the counter and no semblance of a line (or cue), become one with this group eventually working your way to the counter and trying to catch the attention of the 1 lone person trying to help 30 persons at the same time
4) You will present the check and your ID (passport is good). The purpose of this is to find out whether or not Makumira wrote the check, has money in their account, and that you are authorized to cash the check.
5) They will say something like, "window 2" and give you your ID, but not the check
6) Go stand in the cue. Do not be in a hurry. It only makes you more frustrated.
7) Eventually you will reach the window. Using a combination of sign language and Swahili and/or English point to the check that is in their "IN" box. Give your ID again.
8) You will have to sign the back of the check. It is not nearly as organized as in the States. The direction does not matter. Sometimes they have asked me to sign it 2x. Just do it if they ask.
9) They will count out your money by machine and push it to you.
10) Smile and say Asante.
11) You will have had your first Tanzanian bank experience.

Note: It often will take 30-60 minutes to complete these steps. "Haraka haraka haina baraka" is the motto that the banks live by.

Good luck. May the Force be with you.