New Years Eve

31/12/09

I have never been a fan of New Year’s celebrations...it always seems to be overrated, overpriced, and generally an overcrowded and mediocre evening out. I thought that this year may be different. It was...but it was no better.

The day started as it did the day before, only an hour earlier. I headed down to the BDA office, where I had to wait for the best part of half an hour before anyone turned up to let me in. After a brief discussion with the two people in the office we set off to interview some of the beneficiaries of the loans that are offered.
Jumping into a taxi, where you had to fight your way through the scent of armpits, we set off to a number of local business people. Our first stop was at a welding company. Here I was partially blinded by the light from the welding machines. Down the road, and past a seemingly impassable trench of a road, we arrived at a fish farm. Did you know that every female tilapia fish has the potential to produce 1,000 eggs? It was my favourite fact from the day! After a flutter around several shops, bars, a shoemaker, and someone who keeps chickens I felt that I had enough information. The taxi took me up to the house where I started to write up the findings.

As it turns out this was a very wise decision. I knew that I had a meeting at 4 with the Professor and with Hon. Kagasheki: What I didn’t know was that I would also be presenting what I had found to the board of the BDA. Having something typed up and presented quite well, I was able to bluff my way through the presentation. One of my university tutors told me on several occasions that a good presentation is one where you have a script to follow to the word. Not having a script here apparently was just as well. The board were very impressed with the work that I had done in a couple of days. They were reasonably happy with the recommendations that I had offered too.

Discussion about next steps meandered on. It turned out that the report that I have to write up will be a good opportunity to attract further sponsors and investors. This put quite a lot of immediate pressure on me straight away. Then the fantastic idea of presenting the report to the Vice President of the Republic of Tanzania was mentioned. He was the official opener of the BDA back in March. They were convinced that he would like to know all about the progress that is being made. So now, my written report will be sent to one of the more powerful men in Tanzania, and it will also be sent to potential not-for-profit investors...of which the U.N. will be receiving the document. It seems that after two days of work, my role is going to be something much more considerable than the original research position that I was expecting to be passing the time with.

I spent most of the early evening thinking about how much work I will have to do for this job. It is not quite the holiday that I was expecting to have! It is very exciting though. I can’t wait to get into this properly...if I am not already there! Having a dinner of steak and chips with the Professor up at the house was a great idea! I have been having western food cravings for the past few days! The lake was completely still and the full moon was lighting it up like a floodlight. Musila Island was silhouetted by the reflection...it was an amazing view. Over to the south the clouds were being lit up by a spectacular electrical storm. It was like fireworks for New Year!

But that was where the New Years evening ended. I headed to the rotunda and just sat back and put on some documentary on the laptop as I struggled to stay awake...at about 10! Exciting stuff!

I hope y’all had a good New Year...but I want you to remember this...I have had three more hours of the New Year than you have! I am a time traveller...of that I am sure!