Week 2 - Mohammed |
Mohammed Ayoub made contact last night. He's a Zanzibari that set up a reptile "zoo" a few years ago to collect tourist dollars and to teach local people not to kill them (reptiles not tourists.). He also started building a school in his village and over the years some friends and I have helped with funding. Last year, for his environmental work, he was awarded a visit to Britain sponsored by British Airways and Jersey Zoo and for some of the time he stayed at my house in north London. I remember he came to my Swahili evening class with me (bit like taking a guidebook writer on holiday - but that's another story).
Anyway... Mohammed is keen that I use my time here to "finish" learning my Swahili. He thinks I should do it quickly and intensively and at his expense.. Just so happens he has a friend who's a "very good teacher" and we could arrange for me to have 3 hours 1:1 tuition every night. Some friend, some hope. Although I'm feeling trapped in ZIFF and very touched by his confidence and generosity it does all seem a bit daunting. Anyway I said some tuition would be good and before I knew it we were off (in a taxi) to a suburb of Zanzibar town to meet Wahid. It's wierd, but it's ok. I wish I had their confidence that they'll make a difference. I keep explaining that I don't think I'll have the time.
Week 2 - Mohammed |