thelutindiproject

I got 99 problems, but a snake ain’t one!!!

megburton — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:04:19 +0000

11/26/2011 — The night I learned that yelling ‘SNAKE’ in Lutindi warrants the same response of frenzied terror and fleeing that screaming SHARK does at a crowded beach. Tonight was not our first encounter with potentially deadly wildlife in the Usambaras, but it was quite entertaining after the initial fright. Short story made shorter, I opened the door tonight around 10 pm to see a snake slithering toward Samtoi’s (our closest neighbors/basically Tanzanian family/landlords) door. My immediate reaction was to scream, at which point Samtoi, along with all of the other surrounding male neighbors, responded to the scene yielding machetes and large sticks. Mamtoi (Samtoi’s wife, by far one of the toughest/coolest/all around amazing women I’ve ever met) also came to the rescue until she saw the snake, under the stars, from 30 ft away… and pivoted with an accompanying wail. At this point I was ordered in Swahili to close the door… there were several seconds of unintelligible swahili outbursts, the harsh rasp of sticks against the rocky dirt path outside the door and then silence. Apparently the snake was dangerous, but not as dangerous as if it were green… I have a feeling I might have lost a few things in translation at this point. Luckily my camera was handy and I snapped a few pics before we poured smoldering ashes on the bloody path and set fire to the carcass (also didn’t understand this part, but was grateful for the protection none-the-less).

How do you transplant hope?

megburton — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:52:13 +0000

November 9th, 2011 – Lutindi Ward, Korogwe District, Tanga Region, Tanzania, East Africa

Today was a big day for not only for Umoja Wakulima but also for 2Seeds Lutindi! Here, we would say today was a sherehe wa miche. Today we helped in transplanting the pilipili hoho seedlings (African green bell pepper) from two separate shambas/sub-villages with all our members. Meg headed out at saa moja (7 am) to Kana where she met with the chairman of our co-op and the head of the Agricultural Committee. Wilson trekked to Kunga where we had planted the other nursery of seedlings and helped members divide and distribute the pilipili throughout the morning. We have so much to say but so little time to use internet, pole sana! More updates to come… enjoy the slightly cheesy attempt at a video and pics

OK, OK, OK…

megburton — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:58:41 +0000

This post is pretty self-explanatory, I’ve accidentally acquired a litter of puppies up in Lutindi. Their mother became sick and they have decided to follow me around like ducklings (not that I’m complaining/or would I EVER THINK OF REPLACING Botchbear). Long story short, they have a nasty case of mange (I diagnosed this, it could be something worse) and since they persist to cry outside my bedroom window until I let them in I have decided to let them in so they can sleep (shivering and wet from the rain) at the foot of my bed. Thus, this past week I decided to start giving them baths one by one. Here is an epic three part documentary of the first one (Bruto). Is this daily life in Lutindi? No. Was it a fantastic/traumatizing experience? Yes! Enjoy!

more pictures…

megburton — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:18:51 +0000

Kristin na Wilson

Because I can’t figure out how to position the pictures so you can see them all…

megburton — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:08:47 +0000

Megi na Wilson

: Meg and her Macbook

UNO Night with the SinganosUNO Night with the SinganosKwakiliga na Lutindi

megburton — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:46:39 +0000

Meggi na Wilson

Pili pili hoho seedlings

Nyumbani na mazingira wa kijini zetu!

megburton — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:47:25 +0000

Hello hello!
Sorry for the delay in posts, my computer surcummed to the constant downpour beating down on the roofs and farms and chameleons scattered throughout the Usambara mountains (where we live). We are just about through the short rainy season here and have many updates to send your way! We would like to start by attempting to paint a virtual picture of Lutindi, the beautiful albeit wet ward and village that we call home (nyumba ni nyumba as Samtoi would say).
The Lutindi ward is divided into seven villages, Wilson and I work with the upper three villages. They are: Masange, Ng’wasa and Lutindi. Of which there are many sub-villages (Nazareti, Kunga, Kana, Betania and Handei to name a few) where the farmers of our partner group, Umoja Wakulima, live. We live in Betania, home to the first mental hospital in East Africa, the Lutheran church, a primary school and some breathtaking viewpoints. Wilson compares Lutindi to Machu Pichu, while I’m forced to rely on Indiana Jones and Jungle Book references. We travel to and from Lutindi on the back of pikipikis (motorcycles) at all times during all times and weather/road (or lack there of) conditions. It’s at least an hour away from the largest village, Korogwe, depending on the amount of rain/flooding. But the ride is BEAUTIFUL!! And I am proud to say I am now a veteran of pikipiki-ing home under a night sky filled with more stars than Hollywood and Bollywood combined!
We live on what we’d describe the main ‘road’ through Betania, pictures to come in the next post. A majority of the residents of Lutindi belong to the Sambaa tribe and speak Kisambaa with a passion. Most Betanians work either as farmers (woohoo) or at the mental hospital. More to come!

TULIPIGA PICHA!

megburton — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:14:44 +0000

Here’s some more pictures from our first couple of weeks!

View from our front door!2Seeds dinner night before we head off to LutindiChillaxing with the local kids outside our homeOff to Lutindi!View from front door of living room and separate kitchen (where wilson is)Hikes on hikes

Lutindi Wiki Moja

megburton — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:40:25 +0000

Go Team Lutindi (dominating volleyball all day, errday)

Ok, so technically we’ve been living in Lutindi for almost 2 months now… bear with me here, but I’m about to start filling you in starting NOW.

So for our first week in Lutindi…

8/23: Lutindi Wiki Moja

Hamjambo Hamjambo!! We made it through our first week here in beautiful (albeit FREEZING COLD) village of Lutindi! Most of the week was spent learning more Kiswahili, being introduced to everyone (and in most instances their mothers), and adapting, acclimating etc.. The highlights of the week were meeting some students who study Tourism at the Tanzanian University in Morogoro and going on hikes to gorgeous viewpoints/touring the mental hospital with them. More on the hospital later, but it really is a great peaceful institution with a large and entirely compassionate staff/CATS AND DOGSSSSS!

Wedding (pics to come)

On Saturday (Jumamosi) we attended our first wedding!

TOP 10 LIST of THINGS WE LEARNED OUR FIRST WEEK IN LUTINDI:

Not all dogs are domesticated, if a dog is chained its for a reason, rabies vaccines are a good thing
How to eat with our hands and the consequences of asking for a spoon
No matter the country, everyone knows intuitively that Meg is a master of opening ‘champagne’
Africa is cold. Like really cold. I am currently typing in a hoodie, down jacket, pants and socks, all inside of my sleeping bag. and yes my fingers are tinged blue. oh. and its 1 in the afternoon. But damn its beautiful.
Carbs on carbs all day errday, beans and rice never tasted so good
Wilson is capable and willing to learn yoga, if not enthusiastic about it
Avocados can be bigger than your head
Maasai men can and will hit on you
Meg is not a natural when comes to cooking chapatti on a campfire stove, but she learned how to kill bugs (ndudu) like it was her god given gift
Bucket showers, nuff said
Say anything in Kisambaa and you will be regarded as a hero
Tying Kangas is a lot more complicated than it looks
You cannot buy chocolate, it doesn’t exist alone. Depressing.
Wilson is a natural at peeling and eating sugar cane (miwa) and listening to Meg whine (*elegantly complain) when she gets her first bite stuck in her teeth
Wilson can fast easily… when he has to cook his own food
There are no such things as babysitters
There is no sound violations or curfews in Lutindi, you may blare music until 3 in the morning if you’d like, however the power will probably go out before then…multiple times…
You cannot get diabetes from eating too much salt. (Ahem Meg was right per usual
Flash Mob, Tanzanian style

8/15: Lutindi Siku Moja

megburton — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 07:19:38 +0000

I am currently hiding out in my new room in beautiful Lutindi on the afternoon of our first day here. Samtoi and Mamtoi and Andrea have been helping us set up the house all day and couldn’t be nicer! Kiswahili is trial by error at this point and anytime I try to help I just find myself with 4 more helpers eager to build/cut/saw/nail/hang/carry anything I need. I wash dishes for less than a minute, Samtoi and Andrea stop nailing the mesh to build me a table to wash dishes on with buckets and basini they lend me. Hospitality is insane here.