Today I walked to the butcher’s carrying my little sister on
my back using a khanga and then walked home with the meat balancing on my head.
Yup…I’m pretty awesome. I feel like a true Tanzania now. When I’m with my
siblings or anyone else from my family I definitely get a lot less attention,
so I love going out with the kids.
I now have seen two chickens being carried around in plastic
bags…alive. One was being marched down the aisle of church and the other was
carried onto the daladala. They seem so calm just hanging out in their plastic
bags waiting to be killed.
My sisters and a neighbor girl all painted their nails
today. I now have gold nails with random “sequins” of other colors. Pretty
tacky looking, but they were staring at me until I started painting them. A lot
of things here are offered and then when I’m unsure, they keep staring until I
do what they want.
Karibu means “you’re welcome”, but is often used to welcome
you somewhere. I actually didn’t realize until two days ago that it can also be
used in response to thank you. It seems odd or like you did something wrong,
like you didn’t say thank you. I’m trying to get used to it though.
Last night when my mama and I got our matching dresses,
Catherine went back and forth between us saying “mama, dada, mama, dada”. Today
as I was holding her she kept pulling down my shirt to try to breast feed.
Everyone was staring but not thinking it was weird or inappropriate.
I made everyone in my family friendship bracelets. They said
I’m a fundi and should open my own shop. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.
Thank you Marissa for teaching me, and thank you Kleinfelder family for all the
string.
It is weird to think that I won’t see summer for another
year. It is normally about 85 degrees here, but it is technically their winter.
Today it even rained. I do miss pools and the beach.
This morning I got given a foot long sugar cane by the
neighbor of another volunteer. The 3 year old was just gnawing on it and then
started hacking it with an axe. I’d never eaten a sugar cane and it was
delicious. I ate about a half inch and gave the rest to my family.
I’m really trying to upload picture of my family and my
living situation. I have my own room (but I think they moved beds around
because there are 2 beds jammed in another room). The kids start school at 8am
I think. I am usually gone by 7:20 so they are just barely getting up and
dressed. I’m still confused about when they eat and bathe in the morning
because I’m served chai alone and I’ve only seen other people shower twice.
When I get home (somewhere between 5-7pm) we all sit around outside where
dinner is prepared on the coal cooking burners. I either study/practice
pronouncing things or I help prepare the meal. I think they think I’m pretty
worthless at cutting anything but their knives are so dull! We eat dinner
around 8pm. Sometimes I’ll play cards with the kids, sometimes they watch part
of a movie on their dad’s laptop, or sometimes they will just go to bed right
after dinner. Us adults sit at a separate table and continue sitting there for
at least a half hour after eating. I then shower and am in bed around 9:15pm.
My bathroom, or “choo” is a hole in the ground. They
installed a toilet paper roll just for me! I take bucket baths twice a day. The
shower room is tiled with just a small hole in the ground for a drain. There
are two 5 gallon buckets…one with freshly boiled water which I mix with a few
scoops of room temperature water. I use a plastic cup to scoop water over my
head.
So far, I have only had a few ants and one mouse in my room.
A lot of other volunteers have serious problems with pests. My house was
actually just built (my family moved in 3 days before I arrived) and they “mop”
every day. Also, they cook outside even though there is a kitchen type area
inside. I think that helps keep bugs out.
Also, my mom is going to post a blog about how to contact me. I would LOVE letters or emails. Tell me about YOUR life. It is hard to explain my life to others, so honestly it would be really nice to hear about life in the USA!
XOXO
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