Arusha 10-9-08

5AM call for prayer wake me up. I'm dreaming that I'm back in Arusha,
backtracking to when I landed in Kilimanjaro, but actually I'm in
Bukoba. The dream is full of anxiety, but most of that has really
washed away, now that I'm so close. Perhaps too it is about the new
set of challenges to face. Bigger and more complicated, these are
about starting the project, helping people, and putting tools and
technology where it might not have been in the past.

Wandering around Bukoba with Joel and Cynthia I see a small town much
like those in India or even Haiti. Chaotic, noisy, and even dirty,
people go about their lives much like they do anywhere else in the
world. It's exciting to try out the few words of Swahili and see
people's faces light up. This is the small connection that makes me
happy that I'm here. We meet William from Kiroyerea Tours who has
helped me with my inter Tanzania travels. Joel met him earlier and we
will get some equipment sent to his office for pick up later. He's a
warm affable man with a quick smile and generous spirit. He knows
Leonard, our main contact for this project and explains that he is
very well known in the area. William explains that he has done a lot
of good for the people living here. Its' exciting to know that we
have lucked onto a good contact.

We investigate batteries and stores selling solar equipment. A few
older panels and inverters. We talk to a shop owner about batteries
and try to make connections for later use. We wander through the
food market; Cynthia and Joel fearless in the lead. Joel has made
good use of his time here, learning Swahili, meeting the players in
town, and understanding how things work.

One of William's tour guides will drive us and our equipment from
Bukoba to Karagwe. So after lunch of rice, beans and some type of
meat we walk back to Kiroyera tours and meet Mr Super. He's a gentle,
older man who speaks excellent English. There is some complications
as they try to change the American dollars I've paid them with
Tanzanian shillings and the bank won't accept bills printed 1996 or
earlier. (Dave look at your USD and bring only bills older than 1996)
I couldn't get a reasonable explanation, other than they might think
the bills will no longer be accepted from their end or be de-valued, a
common problem for Africans in general.

After a delay we are off, and drive through beautiful countryside.
The road is paved until the split and we turn left onto a red clay
packed road. Mr. Super doesn't let up on the speed and we climb
towards Kayanga (aka Karagwe). We finally arrive and unload at the
hotel called Home.

I go over to say hello to Leonard and he and I discuss the project. He is very excited to see us finally there. He has been talking about the project for a long time and had hoped we'd start in September. This would have been very good as the rainy season would start in October, and the harvest starts then too. People will have less money to spend on lights. Unfortunately through circumstances beyond our control we could only get to TZ now. None the less he is happy to finally have us here. There is a lot of work to do, but he has some great ideas. KADERES, his organization has a radio station which can advertise the lights. Since he already has a contract with the SACCO's he can really run the local operators. This was our original intention. It would be really difficult for us to oversee 20 plus charging stations in far flung regions of Karagwe. However, there is some risk in this too, as we won't have oversight. We'll have to work these details out. In addition to lights, economic development is essential to our project. It's isn't only about lights but employment and investment. This will give KADERES more credibility and income and help us achieve our goals. Leonard is passionate about his work, and it shows how connected he is to it emotionally. He is important because of the work he is doing. Everyone knows him and his family. He is already thinking about how to get the lights from Dar to Karagwe, who will work the stations and how this will run. I remind him that we need to back up and deal with a few operational things first. Lawyers and contracts are always the beginning.

A beautiful sunset of orange and red spreads from the thick thunderheads hanging over the valley to the west. It's dusk here, and my day is winding down. I have accumulated a long list of things to accomplish. But it’s nice to share the load of work with Joel. The journey of a thousand lights starts with the first watt. We walk around the town and then stop by Diana's Annex for dinner. I wonder who Diana is and where the first place is that this place would be the annex. After a dinner and beers I finally asleep for first full night. Tomorrow comes too quickly.