Day 2 - Agape Lodge, Igoma/Mwanza

On Day Two I awoke to find that my shower did not have hot water so it was a very cold, very brief affair. Nuru decided to bring me everything for breakfast that I said I liked - French toast, toast, and an omelette - with a plate of fruit. I also had instant coffee with instant cream, which seems to be the way people drink it here. 
I was able to meet Timothy, the Chairman of 'Elephant Thoughts Tanzania', and who was once the principal of one of the schools the organization runs. He shared some amazing stories of life as a teacher in this area. Can you imagine teaching a class of 150 students? The government heard their complaints and suggested they teach the students in shifts - but that just meant the same teacher would have to teach 2 shifts of 75 students in a day - double the time but not double the pay. Some grades don't get holidays because they are preparing for their exams - which means those teachers work longer than other teachers for the same pay. I have yet to visit the schools, but I think it will be a real eye-opener for me, and I will learn to appreciate what I have in Canada. 
I also met with Delphine, who is a professor from the university interested in working on cultural tourism. Although she was scheduled to go on an assignment in Kilimanjaro, she decided to change her plans and dedicate the next week to introducing me to the African culture. She has a very detailed schedule planned.  Besides leaving Agape Lodge to pick up my luggage with Timothy, I remained onsite. I know I leave at 9:00 am tomorrow to visit 'The Second God' with Delphine.
For those interested in my food experiences, I had banana soup again - which I found out is a traditional soup made particularly to help women recuperate from various illnesses, but particularly after childbirth. I usually have a big plate of fruit with almost every meal - mango, banana, watermelon, and (cucumber). For dinner I asked for grilled chicken and a salad. It wasn't quite what I expected, but it was edible.
Nuru turned on the hot water tank for me before I went to bed, so I can look forward to a hot shower in the morning. I also got hooked up to the Internet so I can keep in touch with everyone. The adventure continues!   Below are pictures of: Nuru/Happy/Gardens at Agape Lodge