Sure as Kilimanjaro Rises like Olympus Above the Serengeti

Today is my last day on the horticulture project. It’s time to come to a close on my work on the mparachichi (avocado), nyanya (tomato), and nanasi (pineapple). We've had a good run.

We will hear soon enough if we win the USAID contract (fingers crossed!) – and if so, the hard work of implementation will launch in October. October will be just before tomato and pineapple harvest, so a huge opportunity exists for TNS to engage effectively with farmers during one their riskiest times of year.

To anyone who read my blog occasionally, thank you. I have enjoyed sharing my thoughts in this way – my only goal was to avoid a daily diary and instead offer color commentary.

My parents arrive tonight and we depart for the Northern Circuit of game parks in the morning before spending a few days on Zanzibar. I am excited to travel to new parts of Tanzania with them and I have no doubt this will be a welcomed break from the mean streets of Lagos.

I will not miss:
- The sound of someone sweeping dirt
- Power outages / water outages / general outages
- The smell of burning trash when its plastic
- How 60% of my diet is typically carbohydrates
- Negotiating with taxi drivers when trying to go home – then realizing you are arguing over $1-2 – well, you are actually arguing over principle

I will miss:
- The satisfaction and excitement that occurs when the power or water comes back on, even though you had nothing to do with fixing the problem
- The smell of burning trash when its not nasty; oddly enough, its the aroma of developing countries :)
- Bongoflava tunes
- 80s aerobics classes and general jazzercise at the gym
- Road tunes solo singing by Deo
- HUGE avocados for $0.40
- Untouched Tanzanian countryside
- The sight of a daladala zooming by overloaded with people

In an understatement, I’ve been lucky and I have enjoyed an incredible summer.

I will return to Tanzania in some way in the future – whether or not I make my fortunes in avocado export or help to build the private sector in another way, this is an incredible place. I hope Tanzania continues to stay under the radar but also fights to become less dependent on foreign aid and more reliant upon itself.