Tanzania: Weeks 33 to 38

After Myanmar, Tasha and I headed to Arusha, Tanzania. Our flight went from Yangon to Bangkok, Bangkok to Nairobi, and Nairobi to Arusha. The timing worked out well so that our Bangkok flight was overnight and we slept during the 9-hour flight.

[caption id="attachment_3284" align="alignnone" width="4032"] On our last leg arriving at Arusha airport.[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_3286" align="alignnone" width="4032"] Our first view of Tanzania![/caption]



[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EBlfWJMqVI&w=560&h=315]

The video above shows the car ride from the airport to Arusha.

During our month in Arusha, Tasha was working with an NGO called Solar Sister that builds a network of sales agents (primarily women) in rural villages to sell solar lights. The organization was considering ways of expanding their model and so Tasha and I went around to different groups of Solar Sisters to understand how the central administration could better help them sell products.

[caption id="attachment_3288" align="alignnone" width="1600"] During our first week, a group of masters students from Columbia were doing interviews for one of their projects. We joined them for a few interviews.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3289" align="alignnone" width="3024"] A field in Babati, a few hours south of Arusha. The big leaf is a young banana tree.[/caption]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwBFe2dis0U&w=560&h=315]

[caption id="attachment_3297" align="alignnone" width="4032"] Mo' field.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3298" align="alignnone" width="4032"] A yard in a village during one of our interviews.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3299" align="alignnone" width="4032"] Hill and termite mound.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_3293" align="alignnone" width="959"] On our way back to Arusha, we decided to visit a small safari park. It was too wet for the bus and we got stuck. This picture was taken while we were digging the bus out. I got the dirtiest.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3324" align="alignnone" width="4032"] The rut that we had to get out of. The rocks gave us traction.[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_3292" align="alignnone" width="4032"] Tasha![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3294" align="alignnone" width="4032"] The solar shop sign that we passed every day on the way to our favorite Indian restaurant. We literally ate there every evening.[/caption]

We spent about three days going system reviews of the 11 solar suitcases that a partner had installed. They didn't do a very good job installing the systems, so we ended up doing a lot of repairs.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEewgzS8dHY&w=560&h=315]

Above is a long video driving to the clinics to inspect the solar suitcases.

[caption id="attachment_3295" align="alignnone" width="4032"] They didn't attach the bottom l-brackets to the roof, so the panel got flipped over by some wind and smashed on the opposite roof.[/caption]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5EtzqLM87o&w=560&h=315]

Cows.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OEHWuHzReM&w=560&h=315]

[caption id="attachment_3300" align="alignnone" width="4032"] Skyline during the installations.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3302" align="alignnone" width="4032"] The solar crew securing a panel to the roof.[/caption]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHLG2qnNJTs&w=560&h=315]



[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S0L-RiBPwM&w=560&h=315]

[caption id="attachment_3305" align="alignnone" width="4032"] A view from the roof.[/caption]



[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5zFKQlaW2I&w=560&h=315]



[caption id="attachment_3309" align="alignnone" width="4032"] Children queueing at a water tap to get water in buckets and jerry cans.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3310" align="alignnone" width="4032"] A random lion at a gas station during a field visit.[/caption]

With solar sister, we made a trip to Korogwe to interview a few solar sister groups.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSGDgerK_0&w=560&h=315]

[caption id="attachment_3311" align="alignnone" width="4032"] After one of the sisterhood meetings.[/caption]



[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twbGj4s5shI&w=560&h=315]



[caption id="attachment_3314" align="alignnone" width="4032"] On the roof again repair systems with the we care solar partner.[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_3316" align="alignnone" width="4000"] The solar suitcase![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3317" align="alignnone" width="6016"] One some roofs, we need to use the land cruiser as a boost.[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_3321" align="alignnone" width="6016"] Cows.[/caption]



[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2QLp5-eBUI&w=560&h=315]

[caption id="attachment_3323" align="alignnone" width="6016"] More roof pictures.[/caption]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCNeecJwQ3g&w=560&h=315]