Nod and Smile...

9/12/08
OK…so today was my first day in Tanzania and though I thought I was prepared for what I was going to see or expect…I was wrong! So much goes through my head that I sometimes wish I had a computer inside typing as my thoughts flow, but instead I write notes in my phone so I don’t forget anything! Here is a take on my first full day…

Couldn’t fall asleep last night because of many emotions I am sure. So finally, as the sun begins to rise and the roosters start cooing, I fall fast asleep to Amanda’s sleep talking. She really does sleep talk and it’s not in any language I can understand. I sleep for a few hours, nothing grand and wake up to Amanda gone. Sigh. I ponder for a few minutes on whether or not I should get up and go downstairs or lay and wait to see when she returns. Thankfully, just as I got up to wrap up my beautiful mosquito net, she enters. Huge relief. We chat for a few minutes and I decide I will try to bathe and wet my hair so I can do something with it for the wedding before going down to eat breakfast. Now let me remind you, I haven’t eaten anything since I have been here so I am more than just nervous for breakfast. Amanda tells Haika what to make me and as I wait I prepare myself…if they eat it and survive…I can eat and I will survive too and what do you know, I am still alive after eating breakfast! It wasn’t anything too yummy, but I could chew it and swallow it without feeling the need to vomit. So I know if all else fails, Haika can cook me something edible, even if just eggs, onions, and peppers. Sounds really bizarre to say I have someone cooking for me. I guess it feels mostly strange given the circumstances. I mean, I am not in some luxurious home with an elevator, but more like a 2 story cement block with a kitchen the size of my walk-in closet and a bucket to wash with. So I am not sure how I feel about Haika at this point other than to accept it and don’t get me wrong, the family treats her very well. It’s just awkward. I think it would be fun to try and teach her English since she seems to thoroughly enjoy staring and laughing at me. I have no idea what I look like or what I do that makes her laugh like so, but she seems good in nature.

After breakfast Amanda and I went for a short walk. I forget why we ventured out, but I am sure we had good motive. When we returned we got dressed for the big wedding. I guess because of the living conditions I wasn’t expecting the wedding to be so grand and luxurious, but it was absolutely beautiful! The church was incredible, even without air! I was extremely fascinated with how it was built…the columns, the arches, the walls (the side walls were built with holes so air can blow through). Simply spectacular.

Ok, so I am beyond tired right now, but I did make a few notes in my phone I thought I would mention before I forget or don’t have the time…

1) DRIVING…ok, driving here is crazy! Hell, perhaps crazy isn’t even the word for it. I just sit in the back and mutter a small prayer or two in hopes we make it to our final destination while reminding myself, they’re still alive. I have so many questions for Pamela (mother) but am not sure how to ask her or if it’s even appropriate. I just start laughing to myself and Amanda’s response…ask anything. Holy **** if she only knew! I am totally intrigued by their driving system. I guess you need a license but if you don’t have one you can pay the sheriff a few shillings and be on your way. Actually, I haven’t even seen any local authorities but apparently they’re around. That’s just what I learned when asking about needing a license. Driving here is like survival of the fittest…I am shocked there aren’t more accidents. Not only accidents, but deaths from people just casually walking in the street or dirt roads like they are invincible! I say prayers for them too! Pamela nearly rammed some little taxi (can’t think of the name) off the road, or at least I thought so. My response…I laughed! It’s like bumper cars with no street lights which inevitably causes traffic jams. It is one thing that leaves me speechless…
2) PICTURES…I guess in Tanzanian culture you’re not supposed to look at the camera for pictures. Very strange and makes me want to do it more often because I know otherwise. Not only that, but I can’t control my laugh. During the wedding they decided to video tape us. Now, you would think that this would be ok but again when a strange man is standing in front of me for about 3 solid minutes videoing just me I can’t help but to glance over and look, chuckle, laugh, giggle…whatever you want to call it. Meanwhile, I am dying on the inside wanting Amanda’s approval. If I could just ask Amanda what she would do, but next it’s her turn and the camera stands on her for 3 solid minutes. These are very long intense minutes when you don’t know what the hell to do! It’s also very awkward when you know somebody is taking a picture of you because instinctively you want to glance over and smile (I think it’s in our nature as American’s to look at the camera) and in the process of trying to avoid this, you laugh and it become obvious very rapidly.
3) HAIR…as much as I am tempted to chop it off, I have worked very hard at getting it this length. However, if I do chop it off, it’ll be a surprise when I get home! Anyhow, with that said, I was warned about people touching my hair and honestly, I am totally fine about it. It’s just very entertaining because they try and do it in the sneakiest way. They like to come over and give you a side hug and in the process reach up and touch your hair. During the ceremony at the church, I felt someone literally tug my hair. So I thought I would break the ice during the reception a tad bit after one of the girls wanted me to touch her hair. Thanks to Nina and my cousin Steph I was able to communicate the differences between our hair when asked if I too put oil in my hair. They were really shocked when they found out I had a cousin of the same colored skin and a picture of baby Jason. Thanks for the lecture on your hair in Vegas Steph! I proceeded to tell them they could freely play with my hair, even braid it if they want! We shall see what they do, if they do! I love when people touch my hair!
4) TATTOO…so I haven’t yet to see anyone with a tattoo and if I am not a big enough freak show for them already, my tattoo really catches some eyes. Sigh, didn’t think it would be so foreign or I might have waited. It’s funny though, because they won’t say anything about it, simply just stare.
5) KIDS…the little kids are totally beyond themselves when they see us. Some will talk, but most just stare and it’s very disheartening when they won’t talk back because I work with kids…I love kids! Sigh, maybe when my Swahili gets better..
6) SWAHILI…speaking of Swahili…wow the language barrier sucks! I totally understand what Amanda was saying when sometimes she wants to mutter Spanish/French. It’s almost like you know you can’t speak English so you try to find something else and inevitably I have been saying a lot of “desole” which is French for sorry. And gosh darn Amanda…she has picked up a lot of the language and I feel I need to catch up on a lot! First I am trying to learn 101 family member names because of the wedding and then they want me to greet them in Swahili! YIKES! Can I work on the names first? Or just one phrase for hello? If somebody says Hujambo, I say… SiJambo …if somebody says mambo (usually for younger kids, it’s slang) I can say safi… which reminds me of saki (Tracy’s cat) and safta (Hebrew) WOW! Sigh! Big sigh. And then, to show respect to the elders, you are to greet them first, and all be damn if I can tell you that greeting right now. And when in doubt, say ASANTE!
7) TOILET…ok, so this was a tad of a surprise for me. I had to use the restroom at the reception…so I told Amanda I was going and she goes ok, I am going to warn you though, it’s a hole in the ground. You squat and when you’re done there is a bucket with water. I thought to myself, hmmmm how bad could this be? Well with a door that doesn’t really shut, a hole in the ground, a bucket of water, and me in a dress…it wasn’t glorious by any means. So after skillfully maneuvering my underwear (tempted to take them off but was very unsure what to do) I squat and pee. Now, this is nothing like peeing in the mountains where it absorbs the urine. Nope, you have to make it right in the hole or else you’ll be standing in it! Moments like these are when a girl wishes she was a guy! Unless, of course, you were taking a poo and I suppose then it wouldn’t matter what sex you were! So after my new skills have been put to the test, I contemplate…should I pull up my underwear or what happens next? I decide it would be gross to not do something so I cup my hand and scoop some water from the 5 gallon bucket and proceed to splash myself. Oh, so much more refreshing, and now that I am all clean and fresh I can pull up my underwear. Sigh, on the brighter side, how convenient are my Jew clothes these days and thankfully I don’t have my period! Best part…dinner was served immediately after this expedition. How sanitary is that crap! Oh, and I ate dinner! I even tried something knew! A chi pole? Again, wasn’t yummy, but could definitely eat it.
8) MOSQUITOS…I haven’t quite figured out the purpose of me having to use the net. I mean, I have the shot for yellow fever and I am also taking the malaria pill, so I should be fine, right? I know I like taking risks sometimes and as much fun as it is to sit under this tent while in bed, I am not sure if I will use it the entire time. It reminds me of the princess beds for little girls. I might be a girl, but I am far from little and much too smelly these days to be a princess!
9) CLASSES…So originally classes were suppose to start the 12th and thankfully they were postponed a week until the 20th. That worked in my favor with all the financial aide hassle I was having. So I arrive to find out, classes have been changed yet again and they won’t start till the 29th! Welcome to Africa my friends! Hell, maybe classes will never start and it’ll just be one large party!
10) AMANDA…she talks in her sleep…two nights in a row! Anyhow, getting used to sharing a room and sleeping on a twin bed will be interesting. Nonetheless, totally stoked because she seems awesome! Right now we are on totally different sleeping waves, but that’s because I just go here and it’s technically almost 9 pm in Florida. Therefore, it’s 4 am here. I didn’t get much sleep last night and doesn’t look like I will get much tonight. Still trying to settle in and get used to this. I figure it’s better to do something productive like type this for your amusement then lay in bed and torture myself with thoughts. I just need to completely exhaust myself until my body gets used to this heat/time change/ bathing conditions, etc. Anyhow, hope everything works out when school starts. I have never shared a room like this and not sure about the lights if one needs sleep and one needs to study. No worries or as you say in Swahili…hakunamatata!
11) OVERPACKED…so I didn’t just over pack a little bit. I over packed a LOT! Enough said there…just calling myself out before Amanda skillfully does so in one of her blogs! She probably thinks I am crazy, but I have never been out of America! That’s my excuse! Also, I know a lot of you are anxious to send me stuff, but aside from maybe one or two things, I am perfectly fine. I will let you know if I do need anything, but the fact is, I don’t NEED anything. It’s all wants and I can do without wants…I will survive!
12) WEDDING…I am sure Amanda will write a far better blog about the wedding than I will and not too mention she was here for the sending off party. My advice for better details, check her blog. Anyhow, by the end of the night, both Amanda and I agreed that a wedding like this would never happen in America. I also realized, this home stay is going to give me the best taste of Africa. Would never have been able to attend an African wedding otherwise and Pamela wants to take us places and show us all sorts of things. She really is a sweetheart and seems excited to show/teach us! If either Amanda or I are not in eyesight, she’s asking where we are. If we leave something on a table that she recommends us not too, she tells us before it happens. That aspect makes me feel safe and our house has many locks. The windows have metal bars for protection and the front door also has a metal outside door that locks. After seeing the father lock it up tonight, I feel so much better about sleeping tonight. Back to the wedding-I have lots of pictures and short videos, but you will have to wait until I get back to the states because I am afraid the internet here will be too slow to upload some of them. I am almost totally speechless with how to describe the wedding. It took place in a Roman Cathedral and was very traditional to an American wedding in some aspects. A lot of singing, chanting, and different types of foreign objects to make music. I totally wanted to try out some of their techniques, but when I can’t even greet them how does one ask, may I try? It was like cans on stick and metal objects to beat. I bet they would get a huge kick out of the Blue Man Group. Sigh, they have probably never even heard of them. Anyone in Vegas care to send me a DVD of them! Too bad this particular tribe doesn’t live around here. Pamela told me the name and said she would show me where they live on the map, but I have forgotten the name along with a thousand other names. The bride and groom were given far too many gifts (at church they pass around a bucket and you put money in it…followed up at the reception you give them another gift or money…and apparently during the sending off party everyone gave gifts too. When I say everyone gave a gift/money…I mean literally everyone! If you attend the wedding and ceremony I guess it is a huge custom to do this which is why it would never happen in America or weddings would be very small LOL) and a brand new Mercedes! I know, totally threw me for a loop, but like I said, this wedding was spectacular!
13) ARUSHA…on Thursday Amanda and I are leaving with Mabel (whom I thought was a male but is actually a female…just wanted to clarify that for anyone who might have heard me mention the name before and used HE instead of SHE) on a bus to Arusha. We will be making stops on the way and staying in a hotel. I wonder what the shower conditions will be like there! We won’t be back until Sunday. My phone may be out of service as I had no service in Mt. K! For the most part, the internet and BBM’s work amazingly and it appears to be safe on my bill! Who knew!
14) NERVES…my body isn’t sure what to think/feel/do in certain situations and sometimes I feel like I am leaching myself to Amanda. Typically I am not afraid and when at home feel completely safe unless I think about a fire, but tonight at the reception when I had to use the restroom for the second time (hey, I brought a napkin to wipe this time) I was frightened. It’s outside the building, down a long dark alley, with a bunch of guys trying to talk to me in Swahili or English. I am walking with a 150$ bag, a 300$ camera, 30$ cash, passport and my blackberry…easy target and I hate to ask Amanda to tag along, but I think I will until I get more comfy. She knows some of the language and two of us is better than one. I just never know how to respond. Do I say hello in English, do I say asante or si jambo in Swahili and what happens when the conversation proceeds that? Do I smile and walk away as if I was in the states and some guy was trying to hit on me or is that considered rude/impolite here? Because I can’t understand them and I don’t know what they’re saying, I don’t know how to respond! Are they just truly trying to be friendly? I wouldn’t mind having a conversation in English since we all know I can’t speak a lick of Swahili yet, but how do I know?! So I shake my head and keep walking while thinking, they probably think I am being a snoby American and lets go rob her or do something cruel. Maybe it was just dark out and maybe I don’t know enough people or the language yet, but holy shit is an understatement for the fear I had in that moment tonight. I couldn’t stop shaking and felt like I could have vomited what little food I had just eaten and no, I didn’t take time to enjoy the hole and laugh at the mere thought of how I was going to urinate again. I hauled ass…


9/13/08
Ok, so I was going to read over this before posting it today but because of the internet difficulties I am able to just post…hopefully. It was a quite a hike to the tree Amanda speaks off but nothing a fat American like myself won’t benefit from! The campus is quite an amazing sight. Keep in mind I wrote this through the night half asleep and my host family already knows how much I love sleep as I didn’t wake till 2pm! Yikes. Will try some Tylenol PM tonight. Big day tomorrow…must be up by 9:30! Oh…and I have been informed that the toilets or the same on campus as the toilet I had to use last night. I suppose I will start collecting napkins and look like a hoarder or something of that nature because well, it’s just a tad different! Will also make sure to potty myself before I leave the house. Too funny! I will keep rambling while I wait ever so patiently for this internet to work. As Amanda said, why not Europe?! Well, till I get connection again...hope all is well!