Shae's log: Apartment afire

So the big news for me and Happy is that our building recently caught fire. For all you former roommates out there, you know how INSANE I am about protecting against fire. Well, I just moved into this new apartment above my office. I have felt guilty because almost everyday I am complaining about some new water leak either in my bathroom or kitchen. I told my boss and the fundis last week that I had started noticing that my brand new bathroom tiles were changing color. The green tiles were getting darker and ashier looking and I suspected that water was leaking behind the walls. WELL, true TZ fashion, the fundis said they would look at it next week... but next week got here in the form of the fire you see in the picture above. My bathroom is directly above the main electrical box and inside office fuse box and the whole thing went up in flames.

Soot and debris

Luckily, it extinquished itself before any of us realized what was going on. Truthfully, I smelled burning. But everyone in Tanzania knows that you smell burning all day long. That is the only way for people to dispose of trash and quickest way to bring down old crops. AND there is a fire bit for trash right outside my door that is always smoldering. So I have become desensitized. MISTAKE!!! Luckily, Happy and I were safe. The next morning it was really dusty in my apartment and when we went inside the office... well... you know what we found. Here are pictures of the repairs done inside my apartment.

before and after

My new kitchen being deconstructed

We are safe and all is well. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Will blog again soon.

~the Shae