Abstract
An encounter between two cultures: the culture of Mama Tumaini and her friends in the pottery cooperative--who are struggling to cope with the economic and social difficulties of life in transition-- and the culture of Lisbeth and Jan, a Norwegian couple who have come to Tanzania full of good will to help the Africans make the change to modern life. Jan is unable to cope: he has an affair, his marriage breaks up and he goes back to Norway. Lisbeth is able to adjust by making friends with Mama Tumaini and the other women in the cooperative. She becomes a member of the cooperative where mutual help and friendship helps everyone to cope and to learn about one another's culture.