Languages & Strikes

This week it seems the African way of life has got to me, I knew I could lose weight here, but it also seems I have shrunk to be even smaller than I actually was….not sure I’ll make the Alton towers height limits for rides if this carries on. At least the scenery and getting out for walks is nice!

Me and Paul (a normal sized adult for reference)

We’ve decided it is probably time we made a concerted effort to learn Kiswahili the local language spoken here. It is possible to get along fine at bars, restaurant, markets and shops with the basics but we can never actually get a conversation going and that is really important if you really want to connect with people around you. It will certainly be a challenge getting French out of my head but hopefully with practice it will work – have often found myself asking for a poivre or saying non merci! Did have a bit of fun laughing at language use this week – we bought a new corkscrew for all the wine we are drinking, hopefully we don’t want any white or rose wine as this is entitled “Red Wine Corkscrew”. The applications are rather amusing also….

1. The product is applicable to open the cork of common, renowned liquor and red wine bottles.

2. Be careful not to touch the drill bit in removing the package, in case it hurts your finger.

3. Note the position you grasp the bottle, so as not to have your hand pricked.

4. Never point the bottle to any person or breakable things, or shake the bottle, otherwise the cork may be popped and wound persons.

5. Donit have the screw-type drill go through the cork, in case cork dust falls into the bottle.

6. Donit shake the bottle violently after the cork is put into the bottle tightly.

7. Donit use it when the handle is slippery.

8. Donit use it when the nog is dry and hard.

9. Donit give it to children as a toy, in case they are pricked.

10. After using, clean the product and have it dry, in case the screw will be dusty and polluted by bacteria.

So there you go, all you need to know about how and when (not) to use a corkscrew (for red wine and common, renowned liquors). I can only dream of my Kiswahili being that good and someone having a laugh at my expense but for now it put (more of) a smile on my face!

In more serious news, the doctors strike that is currently happening across Tanzania is still going on – it has been ongoing since the last days of January and seems to be getting worse. It is to do with the amount doctors get paid, the amount they receive for being on-call and other allowances such as housing and transport. Currently, they only get paid 10,000 TSH (£4) for being on call through the night and were requesting an increase in this, as well as a doubling in their salary. This may seem greedy until you realise the members of parliament are paid 4-5 times a doctor and approved a 3-4 times pay rise for themselves! It seems the strike is getting worse – All interns, registrars and residents are now completely on strike and are not even coming into the hospital for emergencies. At the national hospital in Dar es Salaam, even the specialists/attending doctors have gone on strike and a newspaper even claimed the hospital in Mwanza was ready to accept all the patients from Dar es Salaam (which is almost completely shut). Many of the patients on the wards have now not been seen in over a week and are not able to be treated. Here in Mwanza, only a few of the missionary doctors remain. There have already been funerals for people who can not receive medical care and a large increase in abandoned children with the lack of available medical care. Please think and pray for them as they battle with dealing with the situation and for an overall resolution to the strike action.