Now I finally started working at the fire department. The elections are over and the result is to be announced tomorrow, but our mentor has issued no concerns about going to work. Furthermore, we have two bicycles now, making our way to work shorter and safer. Yesterday we received protection suits which we were today able to test as we took part in our first firefighting operation at a tractor workshop. The ongoing projects are testing hoses, sorting out equipment donations and writing the Fire and Rescue tag on the new boats, making them ready for an exercise at the beach, promised, but yet to be carried out. So the prospects are good, although some ambitions are kept secret to prevent too high expectations. But as always it is hard to predict life and the ups and downs will follow.

Firefighting

Yesterday I bought football shoes on a street market near our apartment. I got a pair of used Adidas shoes for 55,000 Shillings, equal to ca. 25€. That prepares me to take part in the daily football exercises at the fire station. Later we went to the beach in Magogoni/Mikadi, after our quick integration program during the past days it was very relaxing to chill out in a secured area although its concept was only aiming at tourists, clearly selecting between people able to pay the entrance fee and the others kept behind the fence guarded by watchmen in Massai costumes. On the way to the beach we witnessed a demonstration of opposition party supporters. They were shouting the CHADEMA slogan „People Power!“ and carrying two coffins, symbolizing the ruling party CCM. The results of the elections are to be announced by wednesday, the winner is not yet predictable.

Election campaign

Trip to Kigamboni Beach

At home

Yesterday we moved to our house in Magomeni. I am now living there together with Samuel, who is working for the fire department as a paramedic.

I have arrived in Dar es Salaam. I had been prepared for a cultural shock, but I felt rather like arriving at an unknown playing field for a football match. That does not mean that I was not nervous or excited. It simply felt surreal und I was surveying my moves and body functions more closely than usual. After some sleep we went to the bank, my credit card survived a system shutdown of the ATM (Windows XP, but I already knew that from Deutsche Bahn) and I saw the first real shotgun in my life, it belonged to a security guard. We were offered very good Italian ice cream and a man talked to me in French. Europe must look tiny from here. At least for me looking at the map of Tanzania in our living room is like looking at a section of outer space. And if Europe is even beyond, that is quite a lot of light years. The surreal feeling has not vanished yet. Tomorrow we are going to see the hospital, the fire department and our house. I am looking forward to it. Thanks to our great mentors Adson and Daniel, we are like children exploring the park in a new neighborhood. New people, some new rules, but humans like around the corner. Laughing, chatting, working.

Atatürk Airport, Istanbul

Nile Valley at night

Landing in Dar es Salaam

Sunset and freight yard

The view from our apartment

Ein nebliger Herbstmorgen Ende September, ich bin aus meinem Bett gesprungen, habe die Kamera genommen und bin zu den Pegnitzwiesen geradelt. Bereits nach einer Viertelstunde war der Nebel verschwunden, doch die Bilder konnte ich mitnehmen.

Unterwegs begegnen mir immer wieder unterschiedlichste Öffnungen in Wänden, die zumeist stark Fenstern und Türen ähneln. Beim Scrollen durch meine Bilder ist mir aufgefallen, dass ich inzwischen recht viele Bilder von ihnen habe, deshalb veröffentliche ich hier eine kleine Auswahl.