Take Me To Post Comment Form Furaha here, posting for possibly the last time. Toney (Neema) and Sarah (Salama) are on their way to Moshi to meet with their guide for a briefing on climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Toney will post about the climb when they return. With a teary send off and blessings on their endeavor, they left on their climb-representing the eight of us.

Extreme, in every sense of the word, is the only adjective I have to describe the GPA project. One day I am on the lush, cool slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro that rises in absolute isolation 19,336 feet and the next day I am snorkeling over a beautiful coral reef in Zanzibar. As we walked around Stone Town, passing fully covered Muslim women, dodging an occasional donkey pulling a cart, reading signs in Arabic, seeing a Hindu temple on our way to the Anglican church with an alter built on the site of the slave whipping post just about makes one dizzy. How can you read in the local paper about a trial of two people who killed an albino child, cut off body parts and selling them for profit and reconcile that with our visit to the Muyuni village that turned out to offer us the most gracious hospitality and warm welcome? A land of contrasts-a land of resiliency. I have learned that handouts (money, NGO's, gifts) may not be in the best interest of Tanzania-maybe it hamstrings the country. Tanzanians need to use their wealth of resources to solve Tanzania's problems. The Eastern Coast of Africa was the site of the most powerful mideval empires-the same people and resources are still here. Can they rebuild or recapture their prominence in the world? Maybe our country needs to heed the mistakes made by Tanzanians-perhaps greed, hunger for prominence or comfort can ruin a country. Communities need to be strong-people need to take pride and responsibility in the well being of their communities.

Enough of my pontificating...Zanzibar is the best. I highly recommend it to all of you. We toured the sultan's palace-he had VERY many wives (plus 99 concubines). In fact, polygamy is very common and accepted in Tanzania. HIV and malaria are huge problems. We visited a spice plantation amazed at the exotic and bountiful varieties of plants yielding exotic spices. That evening we had supper at the most beautiful resort-dining by the sea with live music and African dancers. It was John's birthday-so he was shocked when they all danced to our table bearing a birthday cake and having him join in on a special dance.

Sunday we visited the Jozani forest walking through the tropical rain forests, mangrove swamps and being entertained by the rare Red Colobus monkeys (only found in Zanzibar). That afternoon we had lunch at Paje beach and saw the kelp farms. Monday was our appointment with the Zanzibar Minister of Education (the principal secretary). We learned about their educational system-The country has a relationship with South Carolina State (Orangeburg, SC. By working with a USA non profit group and SCState the country has produced a new science curriculum and books that will be used by their secondary students.

After our visit to the ministry we visited the primary school in the Muyuni Village. Let me tell you, that was an unexpected treat, they gave us a royal welcome. All of the students were there, singing and dancing. We met the village leaders and administration of the school. The local news station was there and we were even on television. The village supports the school and works very hard to make their school successful. The village women provided a delicious lunch for us. Each of us was given a handwoven mat and a bunch of lichi fruits as a gift. It was most touching and left a huge impression on all of us.

You may have read that Zanzibar is the host of an International Film festival. We ended our evening by going to the Old Fort to see the movie, "Mwalimu-The Legacy of Julius Bambarage Nyerere". I would like to end my blog with a quote from Tanzania's first president, an educator and man of character that believed strongly that education was the key to change:

"Those who receive this privilege, therefore have a duty to repay the sacrifice which others have made. They are like the man who has been given all the food, available in a starving village in order that he might have strength to bring back supplies from a distant place. If he takes this food and does not bring help to his brother, he is a traitor. Similarly, if any of the young men and women who are given Education by the people of this Republic adopt attitudes of superiority, or fail to use their knowledge to help the development of this country, they are betraying our union."

I am very thankful and humbled by this privilege that was offered to me and appreciate your sharing in my journey.

Salama, Kathy