All I Want For Christmas...

All I Want For Christmas

11/24/08

I was walking home from campus today when about half way home my eyes started to well up and I had to fight back the urge of wanting to curl up in a ball and sit under a tree for a while. Somehow I knew that wouldn’t have been of any help, so I gathered my composure and continued hiking. I mean, in all seriousness, today is my birthday and I should have no worries, right? So, I don’t have worries, but selfish wants and I have decided that all I want for Christmas is my little man MADDY (I will even take his sidekick, Hayden) for at least 2 days and 1 night. It’s a lot to ask for, I know, but I have decided that I don’t want to share him!

Baba is still out of town and should be home next Wednesday. His father is doing much better and should be going home soon. Mama had to attend another viewing and therefore dinner was prepared by Haika. I love Haika’s cooking and have to come to trust it, so I didn’t mind either way. Megan, Mallory, and Lindsey came over for a little get together and we ate dinner and then devoured some delicious cake. I received lots of chocolate, some earring’s, a necklace, and two shirts. Mama came home at the end of our little celebration and I was able to talk to Baba briefly on the phone. It was pleasantly nice and our host family is incredible.

12/3/08

This will probably be my last post from Tanzania. Amanda has asked me to do a follow up once I return to the states, so I just might write one or two more when I come home. School has been finishing up or something along those lines. I had my drumming final yesterday which I was completely oblivious too and it was followed by my psychology exam. I had a minor incident after my psychology exam, but I will describe that in a bit more detail later. I was supposed to take my piano exam today and be finished, however; it had to be postponed until tomorrow. I finally was able to get in touch with my history professor and he has asked me to write two papers when I return home and email them to him sometime in January. That was a sigh of good news! Tomorrow I will go pick up my clothes from the tailor. I had several items made and they should be done tomorrow morning! I am so excited to see how they turn out! We will go out to eat dinner with everyone tomorrow night as my birthday dinner since we weren’t able to go on my actual birthday. Amanda leaves Saturday morning which means I can party in my room and trash her bed for leaving me before I actually leave.

As most of you know, Amanda had a little scare about three nights ago while walking home from campus. It was a nice reminder and with that I started to realize how lucky some of us have been. Then I realized, wait, most of us have had some minor incidents. Phones snatched, wallets taken, passports held ransom, dorms broken into, bags slashed, girls attacked outside of dorm, girl attacked inside of dorm, and one of the most recent prior to Amanda’s was a rape. Not bad, right? Yeah, please!

With that said, I nearly jinxed myself. I hadn’t had anything significant happen aside from my bag being slit. I didn’t loose anything nor was I harmed in any shape or form. However, last night gave me a scare I will never forget. Don’t worry, nothing happened but the potential was there. It shook me up a little bit (maybe a lot) and when I came home and found Amanda wasn’t home, I totally lost control and started crying. I was angry more than anything and had nobody but Haika to talk too. I love Haika, but when she asked why I was crying and not coming down to eat dinner all I could tell her was turn off my lights and leave. How could I translate something as complicated as being verbally sexually harassed in a professors office after taking a final exam, forced to give a hug which could have been much worse and then attach that with my concern of walking home in the dark while receiving outlandish messages from this professor about wanting to make love to me before I returned home. I would not have been as angry, disturbed and upset if it had happened outside of the school, but a professional setting where I thought I should not have to be concerned about my safety? I should have felt safer and perhaps that is what has startled me immensely. I waited at least three hours for someone to come home which felt like an eternity and didn’t feel it was right to tell Baba on his first night home, but he knew I wanted to chat with him in the morning. Welcome home Baba, Amanda had to mace two men in our neighborhood and I was sexually harassed by my professor.

::sigh:: 

Woke up early after going to bed late and printed out my essay about what had happened. Went down stairs and laid on the couch waiting for Baba. Anxiety was in full force and I wasn’t sure if I had maybe overreacted. I let Baba read the essay to see what he thought about the situation. He was infuriated, asked for the professor’s number (he wanted to call him right away!) and said what I needed to do. I have spent my entire day meeting with different people and talking. Started off with Mama Kaaya from the Links Office and then off to the Dean’s. Spoke with three people in the Dean’s Office and arranged a meeting with the Secretary of Psychology. Conveniently in this meeting with the Dean, the professor called me and while I didn’t want to answer, everyone else instructed me too. He apologized and asked me not to report him. Oops, already in the process my friend. He was concerned he would loose his job and chances are he will loose his job. I almost feel bad and yet I must remind myself that this isn’t acceptable in any culture. ::Deep breath:: We had about an hour for some lunch before meeting with the Secretary of Psychology. Spoke with her and I am now home free and thinking about a nap before dinner with Mama Kaaya. The Dean, Head of Department, and Secretary are all meeting with the Vice Chancellor tonight. So here I am and I must say I haven’t personally seen the university act this fast in any manor. I am not sure if it’s because I am leaving in a few days or because of the actual situation but, I am most thankful. As Amanda says, I finally have the right to stomp my foot and be an American and I am doing just that.

Hope to see you all sooo VERY sooon! XO XO XO

12/6/08

My last week in Africa has been amazing. I am extremely excited to be coming home and yet very sad to be leaving my African home. I have really come to love and enjoy this family here. I learned last night while talking with Baba that he was the first to confront this professor. It was comforting to know that within two hours of me confronting Baba, he went straight to the professor. It definitely put a smile on my face.

I haven’t been sleeping much lately. Yes, I know that’s a little bit of a shocker right. I raided Amanda’s music before she left. I must say, it was quite sad to watch her pack and then see her leave. I hope they make it home safe and to Amanda’s parents—I hope your travels go well! I will be most excited to read your postings when you return.

Packing is proving itself to be nearly impossible. Had I not packed my entire room before departing America this wouldn’t be such an issue. Eh, I will make it work and I am sure I will have to pay at least one overweight fee. I have given Haika two pairs of pants, sneakers, and my sandals. I am leaving my shampoo with Amanda since I packed an excessive amount and she never washes. Actually, there is plenty enough for any visitors she has unless you’re picky. I doubt she will even put a dent in the bottle. I will leave lotion and spray with Haika too. Amanda would be going crazy if she saw me packing right now. My indecisiveness at this point would probably have her wanting to commit suicide-no lie! I can’t decide which will be best for carry on and which luggage should be massively heavy. I pack it one way and then change my mind. I unpack it and repack it. Nope, that doesn’t work either. I keep switching it up and it’s driving me crazy which is why I know for sure Amanda wouldn’t be able to handle this!

As some of you might know, I have been hunting down Maasai shoes. Had I known better, I would have bought them in Arusha where they are much cheaper, but instead I waited till I returned to Dar. Mama Dorica has been hunting down these poor men, hassling them and then telling them it’s too much. They want to charge me 12,000 shillings and one Maasai man demanded his friend remove his shoe to sell it to us right there! It’s been quite the adventure and last night we decided Amanda would buy them in Arusha and send them back to me. Well, today on our last minute errands we found two Maasai men. Mama Dorica stopped them and asked them if they could make me the shoes. They were shocked—an azungu wants our shoes to take back to her country?! They had me try them on and the only thing they could say was how great they looked on my feet. Wild! As they walked away with enormous grins on their faces, Mama Dorica tried to ask them something else. She had to literally honk at them to get their attention because they were so wrapped up with the excitement of making an azungu shoes?! Sijui! So as I am showering Haika comes up and tells me that the Maasai are here with my shoes. I toss my clothes on, walk down stairs and open the door. There say SIX Maasai men at our front door! They were laughing and in complete shock, but they only had 2 pairs. They tried to raise the price, but Mama Dorica yelled at them and said that’s not what you told us before. Go Mama Dorica because I got the shoes for 5,000 shillings!!!! I was so excited! So I was able to finish all my last minute shopping today and get my shoes!! Whoo HOOOO!

I will be home soon my loves!

12/24/08

Well, it’s Christmas Eve here in America but to everyone in Africa—Merry Christmas! I hope your goat is as yummy as my Turkey! Oh wait, I am home alone with no roommates and I have no Turkey to eat. Ah, but… Hakuna Matata!

I plan on working through the holidays—after all, this is why I came home early. I am meeting my family on Sunday because that’s my only day off. It has been great to see all the kids and how well they have improved! Isaac is holding a pencil and writing legibly! I never imagine in three months he would have made that type of progress. Maddy is…well…basically…NORMAL! Lucas is reminding me a lot of Maddy and Adam is still a sassy man that makes me laugh!

Adjusting back to life in America hasn’t been to difficult. Amanda said it would be more difficult but most days it’s almost like I never left. I don’t know if it’s because I came back and jumped straight back into work or what else it could possibly be. I noticed a difference in prices. Gas is incredibly cheap and food is incredibly expensive. On my nine hour layover in Detroit I stopped and ate at Chilli’s. I about died when I went to pay! I must say that washing machines are amazing and when I started to wash my clothes I definitely started sneezing. I am truly allergic to Africa!

It’s been a challenge to communicate with Adam’s house girl, Ligia. She speaks Spanish and I have never learned any Spanish therefore when she speaks to me it becomes a huge ugh ugh ugh scenario. I can understand very few things she says to me and my immediate response has been to use what little bit of Swahili I know especially OK and YES. Would love to throw Amanda into a Spanish speaking country before she returns home and watch her stumble. I don’t know what prompted that thought but I really think it would be humorous, right?!

Oh, Amanda, when I got my hair cut they said you didn’t mess it up! ;)

My mouth has been really dry at night to the point of cracking on the inside of lips. That’s proven to be quite painful. I still haven’t gotten back into the routine of showering twice daily. I try and shower at least daily but I haven’t been as successful at that either. It’s only been a few weeks though. I have a hard time putting clothes in the dirty clothes bin because they don’t smell dirty nor do they look dirty but I force myself while reminding myself—Haika doesn’t have to wash these.

Speaking of Haika, I miss her! I tried cooking some food last week and it needed a little more spice, but it was similar. I don’t know how much everyone else enjoyed it, but it defiantly brought a smile to my face! I feel really lucky to have been placed with that host family and I can’t wait to see them all again!

Well, I suppose that’s all I have to say for now. Perhaps I will fulfill Amanda’s wishes in a few more weeks. Till then, to everyone in Africa-take care and be safe; to Amanda’s parents-get prepared and enjoy your travels!

Merry Christmas!