Day 12: Tunachoka (we are tired)

Today, groups gathered for the last time to get some feedback and finalize some details about their respective designs. We’ve all been working very hard and are very enthusiastic about the project, but we’re about ready for a break.

Day 11: Back to Iringa to work on our designs and presentations; celebrating with cake!

Today was the first day back in Iringa after our village visits. Like usual breakfast at the Lutheran Center consisted of delicious eggs, toast, and Malerone (medication to prevent malaria).

Days 8-10: Team Idunda: Off to work in the village of Idunda

On Thursday, Team Idunda (me, Keane, Laura, Ian, and leader Ken) stayed at Lutangilo School for the night. Shortly after the rest of our group left, we were given an African pop dance lesson from Shimmy, one of the University of Iringa students who traveled with us. We were also able to get a more detailed tour of the school, insight on the daily lives of the students, and how the water system, which was designed by former program students, has improved their lives.

Days 8-10: Team Ugesa: Off to work in the village of Ugesa

Our team of Colin, Katelyn, Carly, Derek, James, and Cathy departed at the crack of 9 a.m. Our trip included stopping every half hour to tighten the drivers side back wheel. All of a sudden, we hit what we thought was a bump, only to see the wheel rolling in front of us. Our worst nightmare came true—we got out and there was a long skid mark from the classic physics problem. While waiting for the driver, Michael, to fix the tire we walked down to a near bridge and found 3 lug nuts along the way. Well, there's our problem.

Days 8-10: Team Wangama: Off to work in the village of Wangama

On Friday we sent the other group off to Ugesa, wishing each other good luck. We then spent the rest of the morning gathering water and fruits for our time in Wangama. After a delicious lunch at the Greek Club, we set off in the coaster.

Day 7: Kwa heri rafiki yangu or “goodbye my friends”

This was our new vocabulary of the day and seemed very fitting as we left our new friends from the school in Lutangilo.

Day 6: Fluid mechanics in review; custom made Tanzanian clothing; prep work for our second site visit in Lutangilo

We started our day with a review of some fluid mechanics. We also learned more about some of the aspects that should be included in our designs and some of the questions that we should try to get answered next weekend when we visit the villages. We finished our lesson by learning more about elevation measurements and pacing.