When we arrived in Musoma, we hit the old favorite spots. . .Mama Riziki”s– where we ordered beans and rice–, and Mama Flebs, where we got soda that was really COLD and other goodies not found in the market. This time she also had drinkable yoghurt! We went by Dr. Magere and his nurse after nine years immediately said “Schrock…Velma!” There was a sick mother lying on the bench in the hallway and her 18month-2 yr old boy wanted my bottle of water. He fretted and reached, so his sick mom pulled out her breast and try to get him to drink from her. Warm milk didn’t compete with cold water in that warm hallway, so I ended up giving him some from my bottle lid. . .and eventually gave him the whole water bottle!
Dr. Magere
People SEEMED glad to see us:-) We went to the market and saw the mshonaji that had sewn a beautiful skirt for me in 1998 (which I still wear) and he wanted to show off the suits he is now making—right on the alley with a treadle machine.
check out that suit coat!!
Out in the village of Nyabange Arlin and I got to sleep in our old house. We walked down the path toward the lake, looking for the little girl that was named after me—who was a baby when we left in 1999. A bunch of children were playing, and a girl came running up to me and asked me if I was “mama Terry”. I said I was and asked her name. “Mimi ni Velma” (I am Velma) , she said! We also met little “Arlin” who is a star pupil in the Nyabangi elementary school.
the two Velmas
the two Arlins
We had quite the time trying to extract ourselves from Nyabange and our friends there. We had tea with Maico and his wife. Some of you remember their son Simmi, who was mentally impaired from a childhood fever. He is now married and has a child.
Maico and Naomi
Maico and Naomi have so many children (lost count) and now the grandchildren are multiplying. They have no more cattle due to paying doweries for their sons’ wives, so we had plain dark tea with rice . It was great eating rice that had been cooked over charcoal…it was great being in their house again, and surrounded by their love. Maico is now completely blind.
simmi and his beautiful wife and child
Arlin and I needed to get on the bus in about twelve minutes, but I needed to use the bathroom (or at least I had a compulsive need to go before the three hour (actually turned out to be a very long four hour) ride with many stops. I had to walk about a block, go down some back alley to a latrine someone had shown me. To whom it belonged, I know not. I passed a carpenter in the courtyard where it was located and acted like I had a perfect right to use the latrine. Maybe I did, but I am not sure. I did manage to make it back to the bus on time, but had Arlin concerned!!
joseph and jeanette nyakyema
It was quite lovely to be with Joseph and Jeanette again. Their house was lovely, and the bed very comfortable so that their four barking dogs and chatty neighbors did not rob us of our sleep.
I shall retire for the night at this time, only to recount the last and best part of our trip tomorrow!
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