It has been a long time since we wrote on this blog. Partly due to the fact that we updated many of you during our holidays in The Netherlands, partly because we cope more and more with the Tanzanian way of life, finding our balance between our own personal and Dutch attitude and the local culture and behaviour. I guess this ‘integration-not-assimilation-process' makes ‘back home' more ‘back' and less ‘home' (Tanzania becoming more ‘home'), which makes us less ‘needing' to write on our blog? Also, little by little we start to understand Tanzanian culture, society and history - although every day here still brings many surprises. This makes us more reflective, and better able to adapt and put things into the right perspective. Actually, our (re)confrontation with The Netherlands certainly contributed to this.

Our confrontation with the Dutch started mid-August, when Marten & Lisa, and Eric & Elian visited us. It was really nice to show them our life in Mtwara: the challenges in the hospital, the good life in our house at the beach, and the transformation of Mtwara from a sleepy town to a port hub for the gas industry. After that, Tim took Marten and Jorrit on a car safari through Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi National Park, spotting a group of lions just starting their dinner (buffalo on their menu), hyenas, a jackal, and the rare African hunting dogs. After a hike in the Uluguru Mountains, and a short visit to the historical port town of Bagamoyo, the road trip ended with a crazy party night in Dar Es Salaam. In the meantime, Marije went to Ghana to visit her brother who's doing his internships in the same hospital where Marije was four years ago.

The following three weeks in The Netherlands (including two days Brussels) were unforgettable, thanks to all of you for your great hospitality! So many things that happened in your lives during the past year, and so many babies (12!) that were born! It was a blessing to talk with you people who actually want something, who are ambitious, who are actively looking for improvements, and who have plans for their lives, houses, work, studies, children, etcetera. In Dutch eyes maybe not big and impressive, but at least ideas that sound as forward thinking, compared to the rather ‘passive' unplanned attitude we are confronted with here. It makes us realise what a difference it makes to live in a society where personal development is possible and actually encouraged, or to be dependent on too many external societal factors that limit every step you want to take forward. For us, it was also a blessing to understand what people say and what moves you, and the underlying societal aspects, rather than having to guess why people behave as they behave and why they say what they say.

Back in Tanzania, our first visitor was Kristine, it was so much fun to have her here for a week. We went on a boat trip to nearby village Mikindani, and she spent some days in the hospital with Marije. That week a plastic surgeon from Flying Doctors was visiting which was wonderful; he operated children with hare lips and a boy with club foot, really interesting.

In October, Tim's mom and youngest sister Lisette came to visit us, another really great opportunity to show our life to our closest. They enjoyed experiencing our life here, being it only for a couple of days. Lisette become quickly very popular among all Tanzanians (men and women) and I'm still receiving daily wedding proposals. On Saturday, after some snorkelling at the corals behind our house, we went to the fish market where we managed to get on board of a traditional sailing dhow! The next day we drove to Rondo Plateau for a nice walk to a small remote village for a tasty chipsi-mayai (omelette with chips). After 5 days, they went for a spectacular safari in Selous Game Park.

Last week, my oldest sister Margriet arrived, and yes, the number of wedding proposals I get doubled! Last weekend, we did camping at the Marine Park Mnazi Bay, without doubt the most beautiful tropical bounty paradise around. Next weekend, we're expecting the Makuya traditional African dance festival in Mtwara (2 days), looking forward to that!

Between these family visits, Marije went also for ten days to Nyangao hospital to work together with the very experienced surgeon Dr. Jankiewizc. Marije has been there before, and it is so valuable for her to learn from him. To work in a mission hospital where planning is possible is such a relief. And it is so exiting to treat crocodile bites, multi trauma patients, rare cases like congenital bowel abnormalities. And to be honest it is a pleasure to have a supervisor who you can ask for advice and who is very inventive, a dream for tropical doctors, for example to use fish line for sutures :)

Tim continued to work together with Dr. Gwao, our new the medical officer in charge (the hospital director), trying to get some improvements implemented, such as working on a new pricelist. Dr. Gwao is making good efforts in leading the hospital. Since we got back in Mtwara, Tim shares his office with Kiiza, a bright student in Public Health Administration, who is doing his internships here, and a pleasure to work with! In October, Tim also joined a Trade Mission by the Dutch Embassy to Dar Es Salaam and Mtwara. And besides his job in the hospital, Tim also took up the role to manage a VSO project to increase the level of the vocational trainings school (soort ROC) to catch up with the gas sector here in town. Almost no time left to spend on the beach, or to write blogpost! :)

Don't forget to check out our latest photos >> http://timmarijetanzania.reismee.nl/fotos/133082/home/