Water is a problem when you live in the desert!

September 27, 2010
I rode my friends bike from my house into town this weekend with my big backpack on. It is a pretty insane ride because none of the road are paved so it is a mixture of a guessing game as to where the soft sand is as well as the loose rocks and gravel. It was really fun though and reminded me a lot of mountain biking in Steamboat. Except there are is no shade. I also have found out that some things never change and again I live on top of a hill. It doesn’t look that bad but it is a gradual climb up to my house from town. At least it isn’t as steep as Houghton. I also have been wearing my helmet if anyone was wondering and I feel like the biggest idiot with it on but at least when I fall and I am sure this is going to happen that my head will be intact or at least I hope so.
Me and some friends also went to Dodoma this weekend and it was so nice. I loved it. It was exactly what I needed because although I really like my village it is really hard to be alone and apart from other people that are like me. And also it was nice to talk about work and ideas that we have because I always need input from other people before I start things. It makes me feel better. I don’t trust myself and it is good to have people talk about it. Things you never think of come up and help.
I also talked to Alex and all the little Preston cousins which was really nice because I haven’t talked to them since I have been here. It was really nice. I wish I could be at all their football, soccer, and volleyball games but it sound like they are all doing really good even without me cheering them on.
I am sure you are asking what I did in Dodoma. Well they sell oatmeal, whole wheat flour, and raisins so I stocked up on the essentials and ate some really good food and again got to use the internet and eat ice cream. Which was amazing. We went to the New Dodoma Hotel and ate Chinese food which was amazing but also really expensive. (we usually pay 2000 shs for dinner instead we paid 15000 shs) I felt rich for a second then I realized how poor I was again. It also reminded me of eating Chinese in Italy maybe this will be a new thing and any country that I go to, I must eat at Chinese restaurant. It was really nice to do as a YEAH we made it through the first month.
Also playing chicken with a frog while you are trying to pee is scary because you don’t know if the frog is going to attack (FYI frogs in Africa are small, nothing like Hawaii Ashleigh) or you are going to pee on yourself. Thankfully it is still a waiting game.
September 28, 2010
I had my first group meeting with the secondary school students and was very lucky that Paul was doing the group with me because I totally froze when I needed to talk. I couldn’t even put a simple question/ phrase together. I totally choked. Hopefully Thursday goes better when we meet again.
I spent all of today reading and going through all of the paperwork that I have, only to realize how overwhelmed I am with things. The not wanting to start anything to soon, but at the same time being so bored that I want to start something.
I also have found out that Tanzanians have no problem sitting in long periods of silence while talking. I have a hard time with this and have found that I am usually the first to give in and talk. But I am experimenting with staying quiet to see how long of a silence it can be. It reminds me of the staring game only in this case it is the talking game.
September 29, 2010
Went into town today and again forgot that I am in Africa. It is weird how that can happen and good at the same time. It is also weird that I was so nervous about going back to the village and then when I left today, was sad that I was going to be gone again.
September 30, 2010
I got an internet modem today and am now in the process of trying to figure out where if anywhere in my house I can get internet, which I am hoping is a yes somewhere. I returned from town today and was really happy to be back, I have such a love hate relationship with my situation right now. It makes me sick. I am constantly putting myself through every emotion imaginable in the matter of hours. But I am really happy to be back and have a lot of good ideas for the next few weeks.
I taught my second class to the health and environment group. This was to a total of 3 kids today which I was actually really happy with because it was a lot less scary this way.
October 1, 2010
Yeah I have made it to October. I am thinking maybe a Halloween Party for the village. Not exactly sure how this is going to work yet but I still have some time to think about it. I am assimilating better into this culture than I thought. I have been really late for meetings this last week or not showed up at all. This is not good, I hate when this happens to me, so I am going to make extra effort to be where I say I am going to be. I also spent 2 hours listening to the women’s choir sing and dance. It was wonderful. I am always amazed when people can play instruments and keep a beat because I cannot at all.
On another note, I made biscuits’ today using the kerosene stove and they were wonderful. I added butter and honey to them and think that I might really like honey now. Before I was kind of iffy on the subject of honey but I think that I might really like it now. This might be because of the lack of sugar in my life. I also am trying to read this book called “What’s the matter with Kansas?” It is a political book and I am thinking that although I am desperate for reading material at the moment. I am not sure that I am that desperate. I have got about 10 pages through it so far and am not impressed at all.
I watched this movie called “Once” this weekend. Dad I think that you would really like it because it is a foreign film, although it is a little slow the music in it is really good and all the actors have accents. I think it might be a British film but I don’t know. Steph and Andrew I think you guys might really like the music in it too. It is about this guys that plays the guitar and meets this girl and they somewhat start a band.
Random note: A lot of people here have the same ringtone of the girl in “Love Actually”. I hear it everywhere.
October 3, 2010
I spent an hour yesterday trying to get a signal for my modem only to find out that the network was down. While this was a good thing, I also think this is going to be a problem in the future, but I am hoping this modem makes my life easier instead of harder although at the moment it is definitely adding stress to my life. Also Happy Pulaski Days, I hope you all ate tons of kielbasa and drank lots of beer while polkaing.
I was visited again by the kids that wanted to save me a few weeks ago only this time they want to me to help them get to the USA. After explaining to them that I was here to help the people of TZ with the environment and health they continued to ask me to help them. So I gave them my phone number, but they wanted more information when I left. I don’t know why they cannot understand that I will be here for 2 years. I said this in both English and Swahili but they wouldn’t stop. Finally I got them to leave and guess what they aren’t even from my village. I not sure why they want my help considering that I am not saved. I was very polite to them, but I really hate when people come up and want me to help them get to the USA. I am not here for that, I am here to help people living in TZ. This is my rant for the day.
After arriving to church really late today, I was invited over to someone’s house, where I had a great time. We had chai and scones and talked about possible projects and life in general. It was wonderful the entire conversation was in Swahili. The lady was very patient and talked really slow. I definitely do better on one to one conversations.
I also think I am going to actually start painting this week. I took before pictures so hopefully the after pictures are better. We shall see.
October 4, 2010
I got water all by myself for the first time today. It took me about 1 hour and I think the ladies let me cut. I carried 1 small bucket and 1 big bucket on my head. I don’t know how these ladies do it, my neck hurt really bad and that was only after 1 they carry stuff on their heads all the time. I am amazed.
No table yet, hopefully this week though. Keep your fingers crossed. I was suppose to have a meeting with my village government today but the chairperson was gone. This is the conversation that I had with one of the chairmen. “Where is Bwana Juma” “He went to Bumila because someone died. (he then points to the village office and the door) And this then say something about hitting and that they had to go to the police.” From this I thought that someone had broken into the Bumila village office and died inside so they had to go to the police and figure things out. I imagined the chairman walking in the morning to a dead body but I talked to the chairman later and he just said someone had been hit at their house and they were dead. Which is still really bad but I imagined a different scene playing out.
I also made peanut butter pancakes today. They were pretty good but I think I like banana pancakes or crepes better. But at least it adds so variety to my life. Also finding out more and more that I cannot talk, luckily now people are at least correcting me so at some point in time I will actually be able to speak.
October 5, 2010
I woke up to a giant cockroach on its back next to my bed. I have never seen a live cockroach in my house but every morning I am usually greeted by 1 or 2 dead ones. Still not sure how this happens, I can only assume that they are falling to their deaths from the rafters or the lizards are having some fun. Not sure but at least if I have cockroaches, they are dead ones.
I cooked TZ style today and made rice and vegetables. The vegetables consisted of onion, tomatoes, and the leaves of sweet potatoes. It was alright for one meal but of course I made too much and have had it twice today and I am thinking possibly breakfast tomorrow if I can swallow it. I can’t seem to get my portions right yet. Also don’t think I like rice as much as I did in the US, it just seems really bland here. This also might be because of my lack of anything else to eat. I need to work on the variety of food that I am eating. It is hard. I also are a papaya from the tree in front of my house today. It was the best papaya that I have ever had, I thought I didn’t like Papaya in TZ turns out I just had a run of bad papayas.
I taught my group at school about good sanitation today and how they need to wash their hands and boil their water before drinking so they will not get sick. We shall see if anyone takes this to heart. I also brought my Frisbee and we played together I think it was really fun. And hopefully they liked it so they will keep coming back to learn more.
Also I wore my pick aviators today and the little kids loved them. They loved watching themselves in my lens and making funny face.
October 6, 2010
Today I accomplished a lot for me. I talked to my village government and we are suppose to have a meeting tomorrow. I gave them the questions that I want to ask so hopefully they understand my Kiswahili and they show up to the meeting tomorrow. Tanzanians do meetings and appointments very differently. So far we are going on 2 weeks of trying to have this meeting. But I am confident tomorrow will be the day or at least I hope. I also started to take pictures of the village and have found that everyone wants their picture taken and they all want a copy. I am not going to start giving people pictures though because I think this would be really expensive and how would I stop. I also want to one of the sub villages today and talked with 3 different people about groups that they had and the problems that they faced. All of their problems are within grasp of my knowledge, I just need to find the right person and also continue to explain to everyone that I am not here to give them money.
I also think I made the best dinner yet. I made roti an Indian bread (Aunt Marti and Aunt Tricia I think you would like this bread, it is fun and really easy) all it consists of is wheat flour and warm water and you knead the dough and let it rest for 20 minutes. Then you roll out thin and cook in a Teflon pan. It is really easy and really good. I made this with a delicious egg, tomatoes, onion, spinach, and basil omelet. I felt like a real chef today. Now I just need to work on eating slower and enjoying my food more, I take my time cooking and then when it is time to eat, eat it really really fast. I would like to say this is because I am eating alone but even with people I eat really fast or maybe my friends just eat really really slow.
Also rode a bike today and loved it. I always forget how much I love to ride bikes. It is so much fun and good exercise. Although I am still having a hard time pedaling on the right side of the road. I get really confused and this scares me for when I return to the US to drive. If I were you I wouldn’t let me drive for at least a few months, I almost had 2 huge accidents today. The other people were not pleased to say the least.
Also I want to shout out to all the October Birthday’s, I know there are a lot so happy birthday to everyone. I hope you have wonderful birthdays and get to eat your favorite cake and ice cream.
October 7, 2010
So I again waited for my table to come, this time very optimistic because the fundi was at my house to measure the doors and then he left, I assumed to bring my table and of course I was wrong. Everyday the guy says he is coming, it is so frustrating because by the time I realize they are not just late ( because TZ are usually at least 1-2 hours late) it is to dark to go and find them, Next time I am not waiting I am just going to go right there and guide my table to me.
I am going to spend a few days with Randi in her sub village because I need to get out of my village and talk about projects and all that jazz. I need another Americans input to tell me if my ideas are good or bad/ how/ where to begin. It’s hard when you are the only person to bounce ideas off of.
Also had a meeting with the VEO (Village executive Officer) today and it went wonderful after weeks of trying to have it. I accomplished a lot and I really like my VEO which is good because I will be working with him in the future I think.
Sorry nothing funny or exciting has happened here. It is weird that me living in half a world away in a environment that is the complete opposite of what I am use to and life is dull. I think this might have to do with my lack of language hopefully after my language picks up, life gets funnier. I am hoping I just cannot understand TZ humor at the moment.
October 11, 2010
Just when I thought life was getting boring, it stops. This weekend I went and saw my friend Randi’s site. She lives about a 2 hour bus ride away, I cannot believe how different our sites are. It is like night and day but still against a sand storm background. I had a lot of fun hanging out with her. I then went to leave and the bus was packed. So packed I really didn’t think I was ever going to fit. But somehow me and 15 other people managed to fit. (think a minivan packed so full you cannot mover with stiff piled 3 feet high in the top and people sitting up there too) It was unreal I had my hands clinging for life on a pole and only 1 foot on the ground. Then when we got to the bus station all of the passengers unloaded and then the bus drove away. My bag was on the bus. So I went up to another person on the bus and he said it would be back in a minute. 20 minutes later I was still freaking out, thinking how could I be so stupid and my computer was in there. So as I am calling my friend to tell her I turn the corner and the conductor smiles at me and hands me my bag. I felt like an idiot. I was also the most freak out I have been yet. It made me feel better though when a Tanzanian asked where I got my bag from because he was looking for the bus to.
I then headed up to Dodoma to hang out with my friend Tanya. It was wonderful all we did was talk, eat great food, and watch movies. I got to eat ice cream and yogurt which was amazing and peanut brittle. This doesn’t sound that exciting but when it doesn’t exist within your town, you would be pretty excited too. We bought a huge tub of ice cream and split it. At night we got street food that was amazing and reminded me of the fair. They had flat bread, samosa’s, fried bean bread, meat on a stick, coleslaw, and fries. It was the best food I have had yet. We also watched 2 movies: Shutter Island (Steph you were right I am glad I didn’t see it in the theater) and The Hurt Locker, which was awesome.
I also got my bike and found that I am really, really out of shape. That and I hate biking on sand. When I arrived home I was greeted by a dead lizard in my bedroom. It really freaked me out especially because it somewhat resembles a snake. I then thought the worst was over until I went to use the bathroom only to discover 2 frogs swimming around in it. I got them out, but there were still in my courtyard when I went to take a shower. I really hope they didn’t retreat to my house.
I also got my modem to work which was awesome and was able to skype with my family. I made the mistake of calling Hannah and Andrew during the MSU vs U of M tailgate (I heard Michigan didn’t play that well) and got to talk to Hannah in her prime. It was great, it made me feel like I was there for a little bit.
October 12, 2010
I almost forgot to tell you I did my first liftie (hitchhike) kind of. As I started out the morning to walk into town a car stopped and asked if I wanted a ride. It was wonderful. Something that should have taken 2 hours only took me 10 minutes. Sometimes it is nice being the white person. That way I am easy to remember and stick out.
I was also horrified today when my carpenter came to put in my door to my bathroom. First off, he built a door that was too big for the frame and instead of cutting the door down which would have been easy because it was made of wood and metal, he started pounding on the cement creating a huge mess. Something that could have easily been avoided had he measured correctly and if he would have measured himself. He had his son do it. I watched both of them and they did a horrible job, there was slack in the measuring tape and I tried to point it out. I also had try and open the door for the carpenter to see that it wasn’t fixed yet. In the end, the door fits and I have a huge mess in my yard but at least I have a door now. I just think the job could have gone differently and a lot easier if he had done it a different way. This is obviously my American view but in the end I have a door so I really cannot complain.
My boss is also coming this weekend and I am a little nervous. I am not sure what I am suppose to show him or what he want to see. Hopefully it goes well, but I feel my Swahili is getting worse by the day, so I am really scared. I feel like I should be further along, although in actuality I am not suppose to be doing anything so hopefully I am fine. I just kind of feel useless right now.
October 14, 2010
STO LATA DAD!!! I hope you have a wonderful birthday. Today felt somewhat normal, which is really good. Although I spent the entire morning looking out my window every five minutes to see if it was time to go get water. They don’t have a schedule for when the water gets turned on, so far I have found no rhyme or rhythm to it. (not that I have not tried) But luckily I saw people and then I made a mad dash for the bomba (pipe). I got water all by myself today, although they always let me cut even when I try not to. I carried 4 buckets on my head today and so far my head feels fine. Although I am not the best walker with a bucket on my head so after 4 buckets it looked like I had just taken a shower with my clothes on. Needless to say I had to change. But I am very proud that I was able to carry 4 buckets all by myself. I do have to say it sucks having to plan your day/week around water, I am very thankful for a kitchen sink. I am understanding more and more how women in Tanzania live. It seems they spend a lot of their time just surviving, hopefully I will be able to make some impact that could possibly make their lives a little bit easier. We shall see if this is possible, although at the moment I have no idea how.
October 15, 2010
As they say one man’s junk is another man’s treasures, this was the case today when I went to burn my trash and my cell phone box, juice container, and deodorant container were pulled out. They also took my razor and a broken pen. I will be interested to see what they make out of this. This also has led me to have 2 separate trashes, one that I burn and one that I throw away in town. I really don’t want the entire village knowing everything that I bought or playing with my deodorant. It is just too weird.
I started reading the Harry Potter books on Tuesday and am already on the third one. I really like them. I tried to read them before but couldn’t get through them, but now I have all the time in the world and I am reading them pretty fast.
PC comes tomorrow so I cleaned my house and washed the floors. It took me about 5 hours to clean the house and do all my laundry. Man I miss washing machines. It is great that PC is coming tomorrow because I might actually get my table now and they might finish my doors. Keep your fingers crossed, I am .