Day 7 & 8

5:00 AM
The internet was down at the camp all night so I missed reporting on my fun here in Africa. I am writing this before my class starts.

Started my second class yesterday, again a good group but they really struggle to understand (eilaywa) they are teaching me some Swahili (I hope that's the was it's spelled). The power did stay on all day which was great! I fear when the power drops off my projector bulb will burn out due no cooling (I don't have a spare). I made a CD for one of the students in the first class on the manuals and course content. Today I have copied about 12 CDs for them so far, but no one has a computer to use the CDs. I guess they feel some day they may have one. No manuals yet, still in customs in Dar (going on the 4th week) so I have to draw lots of circuits and items on the white board which eats up a lot of time. Very hot on the trucks yesterday. I had 5 students in the cab at once checking out the monitor. The cab has room for only two comfortablely. I told them to go in two at a time and I will show each of them in order. Before I knew it all 5 students were in the cab, wanting to know what was going on. In the states you tell the troops to wait in order they all disappear.







7:00 PM
Had a good session in the classroom with class #2 today. I feel that 3 of the 5 are starting to understand (eilaywa). In the afternoon the students asked if they could leave early, I said no we need to work on the trucks, so please be at the site after lunch. I asked why they need to be off the reply was "Sunday we do our laundry, the water is turned on". Later on I was told the city water lines are pressurized for a few hours on Sunday. I felt bad, I should have said to go. Got to the site and the truck we were to train on was not ready and we could not have it. I called them and said go home for the rest of the day. "Thank you BA-boo, thank you very much"

Nicole tell your friend I may not be able to send a post card, but I will try. Around 2:30 PM Guy who has the car we drive back and forward said we will take the rest of the day and go into town for a drink. So, five of us went into town. I got some great video of the area, great photos, and good conversations with the people. We went into a store I was looking for a postcard, but the were none around and the clerk has never even heard of postcards. Went to a bar and asked for a diet Coke, got a regular one. The temperature was around 90 and so was the coke. The same so was the beer the others got. Talked to some Masa warriors that come to town to shop. The town (about 10,000 population) has dirt roads, raw sewage running in ditches on the side of the road and garbage all over. Went to another bar and met a man from Australia (Steward) who was contracting building houses for the future supervisor at the mine and had a great conversation with him. He had with him some of his local workers. One of his men (Jerry) was an electrician had lots of things to talk to him about. He asked were I was from and I told him America, "I have meet many people from other countries you are the first American. He asked me many question about the U.S. and the most common question I am asked "I love George Bush, will you ask him to let me come to America and work? My wife and two small boys would love you always". We had to leave the town to get back to camp where there is a curfew that starts at 7:00 PM. Going to dinner will send the pictures when I get back.

Love you all and I am OK

Trip to Kahmar

The car wash

This is the car for Komatsu. Five of us reps get to use this to get to and from work. Vehicles are very rare here.

Pictures

Click on images to enlarge


2nd Training Class



In field training



Tool box safety instructions



Bugwazi Dinning ~ Steve's send off

Day 6

Another muggy day. The temperature is less today than in past, sky is overcast but the sun still is brutal. I did have some different food for breakfast and lunch. Instead of ham and beans, we had beans and ham. Started my second class today. I feel that I am giving them better service than the first. I have scraped the Komatsu program and I’m doing what I feel will be of help. As far is the trip being successful, by American standards it's a total failure. But the miners are very glad and believe that it’s very successful. For the majority of them, this is the first time they have had formal training. Masa, a young mechanic told me I was the first person that would answer his questions without yelling at him.

Steve from Australia finished his job and went home today. With his stop-overs, it will take him 2.5 days to get back, at the cost of $6,000 Australian. My 30 hour flight and cost is not so bad.

The dogs are going nuts again tonight. They are trained to bark and not bite. The barking keeps the animals away more so that attacking.

I had an interesting, but sad encounter today. Masa, a 24 old mechanic in my first class took me aside for a private conversation. He said "If God is willing, will you come back to my country and teach me more? And if god is willing, will you bring back to me a computer”?
I asked “Do you know how to use a computer”?
“Yes sir. I go to the library to use and I teach myself how, but it cost 1000 schilling for 1 hour. I can only use for 1 hour because people in line to use. How much will it cost” he asked?
I said “Around $400 US maybe less”. The look on his face was very sad. That's almost 3 months salary for him. After he got over the shock.
He said "If God is willing, I will start put money in the bank”.
We don't know how well off we are.

The power went out again around noon again. After work we met in the bar for drinks and conversation. Steve, from New Zealand, asked “Have seen any of the country”? Steve was a tour guide for 4 years and traveled all over Africa. He said he came thru Buzwagi once before the mine started and said it was really bad. Back then the road was dirt and impassable when it rained. The village was very poor.
“How can it be poorer"? I said.
“You should see some of the villages in the bush Mate" was his reply. It's hard for me to believe.
“Why are they calling you Ba-Boo”? He asked.
“I really don't know”.
"How many old people have you seen in the village and at the mine”? Steve asked
“Come to think of I have not seen any”. That's because the life span is around 42. People in their 50's and above are rare and respected.

Love you all!

Day 5

Started the day at 4:00 AM and had the same breakfast ham, beans, & potatoes. The same as previous days. Had the same lunch, ham, beans and rice. Got to the mine and started class at 7:00 AM was hoping to move on to another subject, I asked some review questions about steering hydraulic (the same subject we have been talking about all week). They just looked at me like it's the first time they heard it. I went over the system again. My electrical adapter is getting loose in the socket so I asked for some tape to repair it; they didn't have any. We needed a staple gun; they had the gun but no staples, the students needed some paper to take notes they found 10 sheets. Office supplies that we don't even think about in the States, is a big struggle here.

The class room is still very hot and smelly even more so that yesterday. The office lost power around 11:00 AM, and the generator ran out of fuel. At 2,000 schillings per liter ($8.00 per gal) it did not get filled, maybe tomorrow I was told. I moved the class outside in the shade (a small blessing). So, I said to eat lunch and be at the mine around 1:00 PM (1 hour break) they started showing up around 2:30 because the bus they were to ride, did not have a driver, so they had to walk about 3 miles. Only a few people know how to drive a car.

One of the other Komatsu reps was checking brake pressures on a truck I asked if my class could attend. I asked because he was using the only 2 test gauges on the site. (Komatsu has a total of 35 units at the mine and only 2 gauges). This man is South African and is a good instructor and has been very civil around me, but he talks down to the men, shouting at them, cussing them out, and not giving them time to answer questions. It's very bad. I stood off to the side, out of the way thinking "This was a great mistake". He turned to me thinking I was one of the students before he got a word out I looked him in the eye gave him the Hale stare. He knew I would have thumped his head and tossed him off the truck if he opened his mouth. Some of the men had smiles on their faces (which agitated him even more). I know not to have him help any more, even if he has the only test equipment.

My Aussie friend Steve has finished up on his project and will be leaving Friday. I am the only American among a group who are from Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, and Scotland. We all share the same values about life. The only thing that is different is our common language. They have quite the expressions. Tea is dinner, lue is restroom, knickers are underwear, lift is a ride, stuffed is broken, I weight 15 stones (14 pounds per stone), pop is candy, bird is a girl, on and on. It's been fun to listen to them.

Love you all! I will write again tommorow.

Day 4

Today, I conducted four hours in the class room, still talking about hydraulics. The last 4 hours were spent on the trucks and a planed exercise for the students. I divided them up into teams and gave them the same incentives as I have in other classes, 100 grand candy bars. They looked at me like “What is he talking about"? This may back fire on me. I will know tomorrow.

Field Exercises

The weather has turned very hot I asked the secretary if she would fine me a fan to help cool the room down a little. After about 30 minutes she gave me a hand fan. I explained I need one that runs on power. About an hour later she got one to us and I was very thankful to her. The small room was hot! With nine bodies in close quarters it got very smelly. I moved things around so I could hook the fan up. The room has only 2 receptacles, and for American appliances it needs a special adapter to hook up to power. The fan did not have an adapter I again inquired about an adapter the reply "We don't have those". My Aussie mates said I should ask for a fan that works.

Around 4:00 AM the guard dogs were barking and going crazy. After the day was over we were told a lion may have gotten too close to the camp fence. As my Scottish pal said "most likely dispatched (killed) and the meat at tea (dinner) tonight". I think he was joking, but I'm not so sure any more.

Headed out to the mine around 5:00 AM when a spooked up jackal was running outside of the gate. Looks like a large fox. They are scavengers so maybe it's true about the lion.

As the class was doing the exercises on the trucks, the sun was beating down very hard and I got a little woozy. I was told I am not drinking enough water. I had drunk 2.5 liters that day but they told me a man my size should double that. I will do better tomorrow.

Another contractor has been waiting 2.5 months for some parts to clear customs in Dar and he was coming to a stand-still on his project. He made a comment to me and over heard by the students "This Government to deal with is a pain in the ass." About an hour later one of them asks "What is the government doing to Guy's back side?" I did not try to answer that question, so I said "I don't know". All of the contractors are white and we tell each other jokes which are funny to us but the locals just look at us. The government is very corrupt and will block any materials coming into the country, if a payment is not made under the table. My training manuals are still in customs at Dar after 2 weeks and I most likely will not see them by the time I leave.

The regional rep from Komatsu (the Scotsman) said I have created a near revolution. The locals say "The American has been here for only two days and gives out Komatsu caps; you have been here for 6 months why don't you”?

I sent my laundry out today and my friend from Indonesia said "Don't be surprised if that a shirt does not make it back. You will get it back in a couple of days. Before they wash it, they will wear it around the village as a status symbol. A new shirt every day this man must be doing well".

I keep having people come to me asking about America, "How to get there? Will you help me to get to America?"
I asked Steve from New Zealand “Why do they ask me and not you? Do I look that much different?'
He said “It's your hard hat Mate".
“My hard hat”?
"You have the U.S. flag on it, that's how they know. Next time bring a different hat".

Will close now. Love to all of you!

Pictures

Here are some picutres I've taken during my stay so far, so you know who I've written about. If you want to larger view, click on the images to enlarge.

The Gate Gaurd

Kids in their mule cart. Note the different size of tires; one on left is a radial tire for speed.

A local kid playing in his front yard

The office restroom for both men and women. Your guess on how it works?!

The class I teach

The Aussies and the Scot

Dinner and a Warm Shower

I did get a warm shower last night. The dinner (tea to my Aussise friends) we had, we would consider to be a small chicken. When I asked Steve what it was we were eating, he said "It's best not to ask mate".

Dinner?

Day 3 - part 2

I got my students in class today for the first time. After about 3 hours of presenting the Komatsu approved lessons I scraped it because the miners were totally lost. I started off with the hydraulic systems and one fellow asked me to explain how hydraulics work, and why it is used. I asked a few basic questions and realized they did not understand. Most of the miners had gone to tech school and had received a degree. I asked if hydraulics were covered in those classes. The reply was "no they study steam, wind, water power and a little electrical." These technicians are great guys, willing to learn but have a long way to go before they can repair these trucks. They are armed with 19th century technology, trying to perform in a 21st century world, I really feel for them and wish I could help out more, if I could work with them for a couple of years then they may make a good mechanics. Eve would you like to move here for a couple of years???

Today the weather was very hot and humid; I don't even bother combing my hair. Within minutes I look like I just got out of the pool. The classroom they gave me is very small, with open windows for the air conditioning. By the time we got 9 people in class, high heat, and little air flow, and after 8 hours in the class, it got quite uncomfortable. Right guard, Ban, or any other deodorant company would be very welcome. Eve, the body oder is even stronger than the Russians!

At the start of every class I give out Komatsu ball caps. In the United States I hear "'Another ball cap? How about a coat or a shirt?” When I handed them the hats it was like watching your kids at Christmas! They made sure that the hats fit just right and said they could not wait to show their families and friends. After the first break, I had 6 requests for a hat from other people working in the office. I had only two spares, I gave them out, and the disappointed look on the faces of the unlucky ones was tough.

After the class I had to wait for a ride so I stepped into the security guard shack to get out of the sun. The guard was very friendly and wanted me to get him into the training class so he can work at the mine. "Please please sir" he said. When he found out I was an American he asked me all kinds of questions mostly wanting me to get him in the states. That's two individuals in two days. When people say that the U.S. is a bad place to live, you will never convince a Tanzanian!

The guard carries a loaded rifle at all time. Above the desk I saw a bow and couple of arrows. I asked him if they were real he said "That is the backup plan" because he has only one bullet for the gun.

The Back-Up Plan

The training class was held at the mine office and one thing I find out is where the rest rooms are for the students. When I was shown it was quite a knock out. It's a hole in the floor no running water and is used by men and women. I can see where a man can do but a woman would struggle. I did see a little stool sitting outside the door, maybe that's the answer? It's 9:30 pm and it has cooled down enough for a shower. I should have hot water tonight. The sun has been out all day. I will write again tomorrow.

Good night love you all.

My first class at Buzwagi

Day 3 - May 20, 2008

It's 2:00 A.M. I'm awakening up to some strange sounding birds in the camp and the small lizards running across the top of the tent chasing bugs.

The CDs were a great idea, Thanks Eve! It's the only entertainment I have. On rare occasion you may hear someone playing some music. I am making lots of new friends from all around the world. The mine is new venture for Barrick Gold (the same company in Elko) and very disorganized. Transportation is very limited. The mine is 6 miles from the camp, and you wait to get a ride with someone. Lucky for me, Guy (the Scottish rep.) has a auto, the locals are very content with their life and work at a slower pace that us Americans are use to, I will have to adjust my training to adapt.

It's funny the miners have started calling me Ba-boo. I ask what that means, it means "old man". The term is not disrespectful but just the opposite. In this society the older you are the more you are looked up to, they seek the elder of the village for his advise and guidance. Very different from the U.S. Guy, until I arrived, was the Ba-boo. We were having a casual talk and the question of age came up. Guy made the comment he had been working on equipment for 30 years and had not seen the type of problem we were having. I said I also have 30 years experience in mining. He asked when I was born, I told him 1947. He also was born in 1947 in June I told him I was born in January. I guess the locals over heard the conversation and spread the word that "a new Ba-boo was here". As I was leaving the gate guard stopped me and ask "Ba-boo can you take me to U.S.?" I hope I don't have a flood of this type of requests.

Another funny thing happened, after work we went to the bar for a drink Steve (Australian contractor installing cameras on the equipment) he said "I am going to drink this coke (he, myself and about six others don't drink alcohol) take a show and will meet you for tea." After he left "I asked why would he drink at the bar, clean up and then drink tea?" I was told by another man from Indonesia that tea in Australia means "dinner" so I went and had tea with Steve. Better try and sleep have to be at work in 2 hours (5:00 am).

Water Heaters for the Shower

Just finished taking a shower and the water was just warm. The sky was overcasted, so the water heater was not working. The food was a little better tonight. No wild sounds tonight...yet.

Second Day in Paradise

Today I helped Komatsu get one of their trucks running. I spent the day Sunday working on the truck over a brake problem. I was told a truck nor the technicians would not be released for any training until the truck was cleared for use. The Komatsu regional service rep. (from Scotland) had been working on the truck for a couple of days. It was a problem he or I have never seen before. After a number of hours I told him according to the prints, the problem, is not a problem but a new design on these trucks. He did not accept my theory, but called the factory design engineers anyway. After we got back to camp (10 hours later) he received a call stating it was a new improvement to the brakes on these trucks and is designed to work that way. He humbled himself and said I was right. He took me to the camp bar and treated me to a coke. So I get to the class and the technicians are ready for training, but still no manuals. They are held up in customs.

The technician skill levels are very low, but they want to learn anything and everything about the new equipment. Their minds are like sponges. It's a great status to work at the mine; they make about $250 per month. Working anywhere else others clear about $100 per month.

Very hot today with the humidity around 90%, keep this up and I should drop some weight. The locals are all very slim and trim from walking and riding the bikes everywhere. We go to the mine at 5:00 am and got back to the camp around 6:00 pm. Around 6:30 am the miners show up they are walking. They walk about 6 miles on the average. No personal autos in town and only few motor bikes.

I asked about laundry. They will do it, I just have to put my dirty clothes in a pile and they will collect it to wash. I was told not to include my socks though. There is a big black market for socks they will not come back.

It's 7:15 pm and the cafe opens at 7:00am and closes at 8:00pm. The electricity shuts off because of high fuel cost so I will have to get there before it closes. I also have no way of keeping of with the news. Did the Jazz do any good?

Resort and Room

This is the luxury four star resort and room, I have been placed in.
:-P

click on images to enlarge

Day 1

The first day here and I feel like I stepped back into the early 1800's. The local people are so poor! Bicycles are the main mode of transportation, they drive on the left hand side of the roads, and the guy driving us has little regard of them. If he honks the horn, they better get over.

I saw my first Cobra snake alone side of the road, some of the local kids had just killed it. It's around 8:30 at night here and you can hear the lions and other creatures howling outside of the camp. They have armed guards walking inside the camp to keep the peace and the wild beast away from the compound. One of the Aussies I am with, said the guards killed a Cobra last night around the showers.

The rest rooms are just a little step above the out house we had in Ohio (it has running water from a 55 gal. barrel on the roof good pressure when full, less pressure as the water is used). My tent mate is from India. The food, Diet Coke, and cooking all smells and tastes the same. I am going to keep to bottled water for the duration.

Classes may or may not start tomorrow. There are some problems with the trucks so I will most likely work on them instead of teach.

Check out the way they haul items that are too big to get on their bikes. The house in the background belongs to a family of four.

Traveling to Tanzania

Landed in Dar no problems, but a long time in the air. It’s very humid, but the temp’s not bad. It's their winter here. I met this couple on the plane and we had some good conversations. They are both professors at the University of Iowa. She speaks 10 languages; he is a history professor on African history. She has family here and he is from Boston. This is their 22nd trip to Tanzania.

We’ll be leaving tomorrow at 7:00AM hope someone will be to pick me up. It's a two hour flight, a one hour bus ride and then we walk. How far, I do not know.

Gotta Share

I'm posting the letters and pictures that my father, Ron Hale, is sending me from his work in Tanzania. I think this is going to be quite the adventure for the next couple of weeks and thought I'd share them with everyone. Enjoy!