i talked with a woman working for the porters' union in moshi- they have a survey for porters to rate the companies they work for, and they also write up reviews of the better companies. they can't write warnings of the bad companies, however- because it is all so touchy. she says they are always getting banned from this or that national park, and threatened to be kicked out of the country/ it is a very dirty business, she says. i may go to moshi to volunteer a bit for them to see what they do. my guide friend elly has dismissed them as some european's idea of a good thing, but that they make no difference. he's quite jaded. though so was she, actually. she said it's very hard to make an impact on the industry and it can be depressing even to try.
onto cheerier news though- we had a beautiful cook out up there on the shamba with all my beloved shamba coworkers- a truely touching send off, and the mojitos were a hit- i think should the farmers catch on they will be growing more mint! which is a natural pest repellent for a garden; we mix it with most of our crops. i keep trying to upload photos, but that day i was able to upload was like a miracle! never before neve since