Articles by Josie van den Hoek

I made a resolution early this year to see Tanesco as my best friend, as friends can be forgiven more easily. Hoping that instead of being frustrated by power outages…

Just now she passes, one of the ladies doing business around. She’s cooking for the construction workers and truck drivers at a large new apartment block being built around the…

One of my first discoveries in a new place are its sounds, unknown, unusual and sometimes unsettling. In Dar it was first the early morning sweeping that woke me. Ladies…

One Friday I asked my house help to buy me six eggs for the weekend. Usually she washes them, puts them in the fridge and leaves the change on the…

Taking care of one’s refuse and getting it collected is not an easy project in Dar. Firstly because of the climate: rotting and smelling and lack of hygiene are rife….

The other morning was quiet and although humid, it was not very hot. According to the local weather forecast, a 40 percent chance of rain was predicted toward noon so…

Greeting words are arguably the most important in Kiswahili. Walking around, one is always being greeted by other pedestrians and people sitting around. It is much appreciated when one joins…

Road construction is mostly done by manpower and unprotected hands by workers wearing large gumboots and sometimes a cap or helmet. Often simple tools are used and once in a while an…

Sundays, the beach is the place to be. From late afternoon visitors start to stream in, coming from far and wide. There are those walking in slippers and others driving…