Swahili time,Mzungu Time,and Recent Logistical Errors in Tanzania

1) Swahili Time….. the time in Tanzania told by Tanzainas is different than ‘our’ 24 hour clock
It doesn’t affect us usually because most hospital, school, bus… events have been converted to our clock. But it was curious to learn that 0600 our time is actually 0000 hrs. so 0900 is 3o’clock for locals and 1400 hrs. would then be 8 o’clock Tanzanian/Swahili time. This is a generally functional system because it seems things slowly start around 0600 hrs. and since we are close to the equator ( but clearly less so as you go south) the days are not very variable in their sunrise/ sunset pattern with sunrise around 0600 hrs.. There you go. FYI

2)Mzungu time…...We experienced a vivid example of this today….We are at a resort on the Indian Ocean with Joel and Paula ( called Peponi) and Leah and I are travelling to a small town Pangani where ware doing some palliative care outreach ( to far to drive back and forth from muheza daily so we made this into a break for the kids too)
I texted the hospital palliative care team at Pangani on Tuesday to set up our morning meeting. I suggested we arrive at 0900 ( our time -ignore previous essay ) and Edith Chuma the ‘matron’= Headnurse said that 0800 would b better for the staff. So Leah and I got up at 0600 ( 0000 Swahili time –refer to previous essay) had water and Paula’s banana bread deelish .. NO coffee (refer to essay on breakfasts in Tanzania) and we walk out to the road and eventually a passing Dala Dala takes us to Pangani ( our boys and and Jand P still resting comfortably). Walk in Pangani to hospital arrive 0810 and Edith is just arriving and we are escorted to the DMO’s ( District medical Officer) office, sign the guest book, “de rigeur” and eventually start our lecture about 0910!!

Last week a meeting was called at 1400 hours- important strategizing meeting. Leah and I and Sally were there at 1401 hrs … meeting started at 1425 hours . we all laughed
.Even here( after 5 months) we can’t slow ourselves totally to the pace or the apprectiation of time as the locals do


3)Logistaical Nightmares of the week


We met a few weeks ago in Dar es Salaam a cab driver who was very helpful ( our friend Juma was not available) he gave us his card .. Jonas” Logistical Expert”
This week I should have had a Logistical Expert.
i) Monday we contact Edith Chuma at Pangaini District Hospiatl ( see 2 above) to confirm our arrival. This after numerous text messages and e-mails and attempt at faxes in December. Much to my horror she was expecting us next week. This after we had coordinated time at Peponi with the boys, and Joel and Paula and then to connect ( in 2 days) with Fiona Manning and Stephanie and their girls( friends from Victoria) for a further 2 days here. The next day she texted back and said she would work things out.

ii) We arrived at peponi and they had no record or our reservation!!!! after numerous calls and e-mails by Leah in December and January. Although it was initially a bit stressful , they did get us into the family banda (sleeps 6)… Curiously the place is empty except for us so I am still not sure about the initial hesitation.

iii) Last night was the inauguration of Barak Obama we dined here at Peponi after a lovely day of travel and and a before dinner swim. They have a TV here so we were excited to se his speech. Dinner was started with Paula’s beans and cold beers (all quite fartogenic) at the banda and then delicious fish and prawns and pasta for dinner. Paula offered to treat the adults to a brandy and locally famous Peponi Brownies for the boys as we watch the speech .I (I) had calculated the time difference at 9 hours earlier even though I knew Victoria was 11 hours earlier and I am well aware it is 3 hours different between the west coats and Toronto/Washington DC. So we sat down as Barak kissed Laura Bush goodbye and sadly realized that we had missed the speech, we had missed history, I had miscalculated.

Where are those Logistic Experts when you need one.