Happy Thanksgiving!

October 29, 2009

It has been a really hard couple of days, I am not sure where or how it started but I have been feeling the most miserable that I have felt since I have been here. I seriously considered coming home. But I called Andrew and talked to a few of my friends about it and I think/ hope that I am going to be ok. I guess only time will tell. I also told my friend Jessica (TZ and lives in the vill, speaks only Swahili) about it and she completely understands and is going to try and help me get out of the house more and talk to people. She thinks it is just because I cannot/ do not want to start anything before my seminar that I have in a month. And I think she is completely right.

Since I have had all this time to think and not thinking the best thoughts at times, I also realized that this is the first time that I have ever been away from my family and friends. Here I thought I could do things by myself without others and thinking about it, I went to Michigan with Meaghan and Andrew ( one of my best friends and brother), then I went to Colorado with Jenna (another best friend), and then I went to school and met Mary (another best friend) the first day. So I think I am still just adjusting or at least I hope this is the case. I am working on keeping busy as to not have too much time to think.

Yesterday I went and saw this tree that you could climb in. It was awesome. The inside of it was completely hollow. It just grew in a circle without a center. I took some pictures of it but I am not sure if they do it justice. It was awesome. Also I have been making the rounds of tv shows and just finished watching Entourage another great show if you haven’t seen it yet.
Sunday is election day so as of right now most of the village is walking around in t-shirts and hats with Kikwete on them. They also have a guy with something like a foghorn walking around using it and shouting something. It is really, really annoying. But the villagers are really excited about the elections and I have to say I am a little interested to see how they actually work too.

Tomorrow I am going to go cut firewood for the stove and learn how to cook TZ food. I am excited and hoping that if I stay busy enough I will feel good and not miss y’all so much. As usual I am a work in progress that it trying desperately hard to figure herself out even though I really thought I knew myself. Oh how a desert in the middle of nowhere without anyone or anything familiar can change your perspective.

October 30, 2010

I slept in the latest I have ever slept in while I have been in Lupeta. 6:30 AM really sleeping in these days. I went and cut kune (firewood) with my neighbors. We walked for 20 minutes around the mountain and then started to cut. They use an axe or a machete but the blade is super dull that it takes longer. It is crazy I cannot believe there are not more accidents from cutting the trees. I really thought my neighbor was going to lose a leg. I tried and was able to cut one tree, it took me a long time and was a lot of work. We then carried all the wood out on our heads. Needless to say I was really, really tired when I got home. I took a picture for you guys to see. Also they use the firewood as a source of fuel for their stoves if you were wondering.

I then went to my friend Jessica’s and learned how to make maandazi (TZ style donuts) they were wonderful, although they are fried so of course they are not good for you. I was thinking that they would taste amazing with ice cream and the Witte chocolate sauce. I will definitely be making these when I get home.

I kept myself pretty busy today, so I felt pretty good. Meaning I didn’t think of all of you too much. I am working on it but I think I am going to be able to get through this. It is just a lot harder than I ever thought it would be, mostly because I miss everyone and am homesick.

October 31, 2010

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! I am sad to announce that I forgot it was Halloween until my mom told me. This is horrible especially because I love Halloween. Watching Hocus Pocus, eating candy corn and drinking cider while carving a pumpkin. So much fun.

I finished painting my room and by painting I mean I painted one wall. It looks wonderful though and the villagers are all really impressed that I did it myself. I painted it 2 colors, checkered style. I might paint one of the walls in the other room I haven’t decided yet. It does seem to open up the room and not make it so dreadful looking. I took a picture so you guys can see it too.

I also learned to cook beans today using a firewood stove. It took 4 hours and then I had to make ugali. I have to say there is a reason I don’t cook TZ style, if I did I would never be able to leave the house. Beans take way to much work, the hours spent cooking them and the amount of resources, I don’t have that much extra firewood to spare this just means more work in cutting it and me being more tired. I think I am going to stick to my kerosene stove and American food for the most part. I will cook TZ style every once in a while but I really don’t think it is worth the work especially since it is only me eating it.

They picked the president today. Still not sure who it is yet but my guess is Kikwete. All the villagers went to the poles and had to present their voting card, they then got to pick who they wanted.

Not much else is new. Working on staying busy and talking to more people, so call me if you have time, anytime I am usually around. I am also trying to finish up the Harry Potter series although I have stuck on the 6th book at the moment. It is moving really slow compared to the other books I think. Also still listening to a lot of Miranda Lambert although I hear the new Taylor Swift cd is good, going to investigate this when I get the internet again.

November 1, 2010

Dodoma on Sunday for some much needed rest to clear my thoughts and figure out myself because at the moment I am chagalabagala (hot mess). But I am really lucky because I have wonderful friends here that listen and Andrew who calls me a lot and helps me work out my problems. I am very blest to have such great people in my life and of course everyone else. It is really nice to be able to talk to people that are going through the same thing as me, because as hard as you guys try to understand what it is like here, you will never know. You will have an idea but I will never be able to explain to you what it exactly it is like here and at the moment not sure if I want to. I am just trudging along. One more month and then I get a month holiday so I just need to hold on a little longer and I think everything will be ok. I just need to work through this.

On another note I forgot to tell you that I was riding my bike and a chicken ran into my front wheel. So in Michigan you have to worry about deer and here you need to worry about chickens when riding your bike. Although I am sure none of this compares to the dead kangaroos in Australia (Stephi, Alex, Uncle Ted).

November 2, 2010

I woke up and went and cut firewood today. This is my attempt at getting out into the community but really all it did was make me really tired. It is hard work cutting firewood and then carrying it back. I think the walk is about 20 minutes without wood on your head. But it was fun and it got me out of the house.

I then washed clothes today which went rather well, I need to start doing it more than once a week because it is making my fingers raw and then I get blood everywhere it is quite the fiasco.
I went to the open market again today which was still scary but I went with a mamma so it was a little better and when the drunks flocked she would just say Let’s go and they would leave and not follow us which was nice. She also said I did not have to say hi to everyone especially the drunk people which was nice.

November 8, 2010

After a nice trip to Dodoma with everyone I feel a million times better. It was so nice to be able to relax and just hand out and speak English. We went to some nice restaurants and walked around the market but for the most part just chilled and ate yogurt. I forgot how much I like yogurt. I have to say that the hotel we stayed it was pretty sketchy due to the fact that we forgot to call the normal hotel. We will definitely remember to call ahead next time to our normal hotel. Was a little reminded on a scary movie at this last hotel. Really only just the bathroom though, it really wasn’t all that bad, just not as nice as I am use to. Also the group that went was Paul who is really really tall, Tanya who is Pakistani , Randi who is blonde and blue eyed, Allie who is younger and Tanzanian, and me. We were quite the site to look at I am sure. I am sure more than one person took a second look at our group, I know that I would have.
I was very excited because I got to skype with everyone in my family which was really nice. I also got to talk to my grandma which was really, really nice considering I used to talk to her atleast once a week but now not so often. I really need to try and keep up on this, it is just
really hard with the time difference.

While I was gone, it rained in Mpwapwa and now the insects are huge and everywhere, which means in my house. (AAHH) There is also talk of going to Mafia Island for Christmas which I think would be great, but not sure yet if this is the plan. All I know is that I want to be with my friends preferably on the beach drinking some good beer, swimming, and evening out my farmers tan.

Also huge news, one of my best friends in the world is getting MARRIED. I cannot even believe this news. Lindsey Haggai is getting married. That is crazy.
I also met the new shadowers (new volunteers that are still in training) today and they seem really nice. No new volunteers are coming into our area but it was still really nice to meet them. They seem really fun.

Watched the movie Gamer this weekend. Thought it was ok, I really felt like I was playing a video game, but Gerard Butler was in it so of course I cannot complain that much. Also listened to the song Haunted by Taylor Swift. Thought it was pretty good. And really sad that I am missing the new Harry Potter movie, but possibly hoping to see it in Dar or bootlegged somewhere.
I am doing really well now, I think this weekend was just what I needed. I feel ready to go back into the village and learn.

November 9, 2010

I woke up and opened the door and a chicken ran inside the house. I then spent the next 10 minutes attempting to get the chicken out. This of course did not work and the chicken crapped everywhere. Luckily my neighbor came and grabbed the chicken with her bare hands like it was no big deal. Not sure I will ever be at the point where I can use my hands to get rid of a chicken. Also don’t plan on letting any more chickens into my house.

I bought a huge bag of hot peppers this weekend which are great, except I think I am eating to many and my stomach doesn’t appreciate it. I also thought I washed my hands thoroughly well before I took my contacts out. This was not the case. I soon might find my eyes in the same state that Andrews have been in.

I started the charcoal stove all by myself today in a relatively short time. I was very proud of myself and am currently cooking bread for tomorrow. Really excited because I really miss bread.

November 10, 2010

I spent all of today typing my rough draft of my report for PC. It is a report about the
village and the projects that I hope to do. I forgot how hard it is to write a report after not having to write one for so long. I used to be pretty good at them, but now I am not too impressed. Luckily it is only a rough draft so I have lots of time to improve it.
Also washed my jeans today and they turned out so clean I am really excited. I think every time that I do laundry I get a little better at it. Tomorrow I am going to LITI (livestock research institute) to talk with my friend about possibly projects. I am really excited because I really want to start doing something and I think LITI is going to be a great resource. I am also going to take the shadowers with me (education volunteers that are still in training). It is weird I am already not the newbie and people are asking my how site and the PC is. Crazy.

Also we are on the start of a new record. Six days now without water. Crossing my fingers that tomorrow is the day. And also the rains start really soon because I am sick of watching the amount of water that I use. I could definitely be cleaner.

November 11, 2010

We got water today. Yeah. I did have to wait about 2 hours today for it, which wasn’t too bad, but I am not going to say that I really enjoyed it. No matter how long I sit and watch the women get water, I cannot for the life of me figure out a rhyme or reason to it. And have come to the conclusion that there isn’t, but I still find this so hard to believe because there must be order. I just cannot imagine it without some sort of order. It apparently is just not in my site yet. Luckily I have 2 years to figure this out.

I had an epiphany today or at least over the last few days. As you know I have been having a really hard time and in my attempts to get out of it, has been a long slow processes, but today I feel like a million bucks. Not sure what exactly changed but I think part of it was just accepting that this is going to be my life for the next 2 years and realizing that I am always going to miss home and everyone. And that it is ok to miss home, frankly I think I would be a little scared if I didn’t miss home at all.

Hannah and Jenna both emailed me this week. And I think they might be coming to visit over Christmas if everything works out. I hope it does, I am really excited.
I went to LITI today and had an adventure. I took the shadowers with me because I thought they might like to see what I do (or at least have a change in scenery). So we went and I showed them all the different types of chickens that exist in TZ. I also accidently let one of the chickens into the wrong pen, so my friend Enock had to catch him with his bare hands. Luckily he grew up on a farm and is used to this. This could have been bad though. I also saw two chickens trying to fight each other, the only problem was that there was a wire fence between them. It was pretty funny,

I played spades today. Fun game, but I still think I prefer euchre better.

November 12, 2010

It is amazing how some days the days go on forever and other days they fly by. Today would have been one of those long days, but it wasn’t too boring. It stinks that I really don’t have a lot to do at the moment. It is just hanging out in the village, I really want to start projects but really want to wait until after seminar. So today I worked on my village report and homework. I am starting to freak out a little because I have no idea where to even start for my research. So far nothing has really grabbed my attention, hopefully something does, and I do have lots of time. So I think I will be spending a lot of time on the internet in the next couple of weeks/ months researching and gathering information.

I was awakened this morning by the neighbor kids. And do you know what they had. A mouse on a leash. I told them they needed to go and take that mouse as far away as possible. Of course they all thought this was hysterical. I however did not.

I also found out that my beautiful Papaya tree fell over within the night and all the fruit is conveniently gone. This is just another omen of how this environment is not good for trees. Interesting considering that is my field of study. But it was really sad I was looking forward to that fruit. It reminded me of when that semi fell over on the highway by the old union high school and water bottles went everywhere, so people took all of them. That is what happened to all my papaya.

Also made English muffins today. And they turned out horrible, so horrible I am not sure if I ever want to try them again. But we will see. I do love English muffin. Also I think I wanted them to taste like the sourdough English muffins and they did not so that of course did not help thing.

Question: How much flour do you think is a healthy amount to consume each day/week? I feel like I might be over my limit by a lot. It is weird when you can actually measure and see everything that you are eating.

I think it is official that Han and Jenna are coming to visit over Christmas. I am so excited, I cannot wait to see them and hangout with them. Not sure at all what we are going to do, but SO EXCITED that they are coming.

November 13, 2010

I went and helped out on the farm today, actually it was more of sitting and watching. The entire time I was thinking this is how it must have been in the 1800s. Most people here do everything by hand using a hoe. It is horrible and takes so much time. I am very happy that technology has come a long way so that I don’t have to work in the fields. I prefer a small garden and that is it.

On my way back today, I saw 2 white people at the village office. It was really weird I have never seen another white person in my village before. Turns out they are veterinarians from the UK and were out here vaccinating some of the animals. They were really nice. I showed them my house and they were really impressed. (Amazing how expectations go down when you live in here) They also really liked my painted wall, I have to say it does look pretty good.
Finally finished the 5th Harry Potter book. Totally forgot the ending. Turned out to be really good.

November 14, 2010

First off, I showed one of the neighbor boys ( Bonifice, age 13) a picture of everyone and he said that everyone was a mzungu (white person) except wait for it ….Stephi. The tan really threw him off, he would not hear of it.

Secondly I have been the most Tanzanian that I have ever been. I woke up this morning and choted (carried) water. Then I cleaned and organized my entire house, washed clothes, and cleaned the gutters. I also had time to cook ugali (stiff porridge) and make maandazi (donuts). And I still had a ridiculous amount of time to do nothing. I really need to come up with a hobby that will keep me and my mind occupied for a long time. But I am also hoping that after my seminar when I can start projects that I will have a lot more to do and to think about. Because as of right now. I am bored out of my mind.

Also here, people use fat as a compliment. I am still having a hard time getting used to that because I feel like a complete slob. Even though I walk a lot and bike.

November 18. 2010

I almost ate a whole head of cabbage today by myself. Not sure if I am proud of this or not, but I do know that now my stomach wishes I had had some restraint in eating it. It just tasted so good today. I have been all over the place in the last few days trying to make contacts and talk to people, so a lot has been happening and I have been keeping relatively busy by Tanzanian standards.

Cabbage recipe: (really easy and good)
Oil, salt, cabbage, 1 onion,2 roma tomatoes
Fry oil and onion. Add diced tomatoes. Add cabbage and salt to taste. Add water as needed. Ready when cabbage is soft.

I was cooking yesterday and went to reach into the oven mitt and guess what came crawling out on my hand. A cockroach. I screamed bloody murder. It was so gross, I hate cockroaches.
It also rained on Monday which was awesome and made me really happy that I cleaned my gutters the day before because now I have water in my water tank and don’t have to worry as much about water which is awesome.

As thanksgiving is coming up, we started to plan the menu. We decided on American food because there is no way we are going to be able to have a turkey and all the fixings so we are going to I think have stuffed duck and chicken with coleslaw, salad, and potatoes. For appetizers we are going to have chips and salsa and hummus and pita chips. And for desert pineapple upside down cake and pudding. Everything is going to be made from scratch on a charcoal grill. I hope everything turns out, I am really excited, it is going to be a lot of fun I think. This also reminded me of theme weeks at the cottage during the 4th. Oh how I miss the cottage and everyone, but this should be a good thanksgiving too. Hopefully I can take some good pictures of the festivities.

FYI to the family, I have a copy of zoolander now. So now we can start watching it again. I think this will be our third copy, hopefully I don’t lose this one too.

November 19, 2010

So I have been experimenting cooking and found that I am not a very good cook and am quite impatient when I am the only one eating it. This has led my standards in cooking to go down a lot needless to say. Today I spent all day trying to make French bread with varying results. It tastes like bread but definatey not a French bread. I then also tried to make beans which take several hour but found I could not wait that long and so ate have cooked beans. I really need to learn to have more patience. This was all done on the charcoal stove though so at least I am getting more comfortable with it. Also yesterday when I was cooking I forgot to turn off the kerosene stove so that was on for 2 hours with nothing but hot oil to cook. I also set my oven mitt on fire today. Not feeling like the best cook in the world at the moment, but it is fun to try to new things and gives me something to do so I cannot complain to much. To go along with my impatience I also have a blister inside my mouth because I couldn’t wait for it to cool down. I think I might have a problem.

I also went to a shamba (farm) today and helped clean up all the old plants, I used a stick like contraption and moved the plants into piles that were to be burned. I actually didn’t mind it, it gave me some much needed exercise and I got to hang out with more people from the village. I just wish I could understand more.

Also I have come to the conclusion that my favorite parts of the day are early morning and dusk. Everything is so peaceful. I really like it, the scenery is beautiful and it is quiet for the most part. ( I also think I might like it because I don’t have as many people to greet and talk to you, I might have a little bit of Grandma in me)

Finished the 6th book and am starting the 7th Harry Potter. I am racking my brain trying to remember what the seventh book is about but cannot remember for the life of me. Of course this is the abridged version from Jenna and Mallory because I never thought that I would actually ever get around to reading them. But as it turns out I have some extra time on my hands and am really, really enjoying them. Not sure what I will read after this though. My mom sent me The girl with the dragon tattoo. So I think I am going to read that next, I hear that book and the sequel are also really good. I am glad I have some good books to read, it helps pass some of the time.

November 20, 2010

Lately I have been so tired I don’t even remember that I already put my mosquito net down, which means that I end up walking into it and causing a disaster. It is amazing how hard they are to see in the dark. It feels something like walking into a spider web a little, especially when you are still half asleep.

I spent a good portion of the day explaining to my friend Bonifice that “nigger” is a bad word.
But he kept saying no and that he had heard Billy Blanks (remember tye-bo) say it. In the end I decided that whatever he had heard he was pronouncing it incorrectly but it took a lot out of me. Especially because I had a hard time explaining why because he even said he heard it in songs. Needless to say this was one of my least favorite conversations so far. I really hate that word, even here is gives me chills.

Also found a dog today that is scared of white people. The dog would not stop barking and trying to chase me. Luckily he was tied up. At the same time I saw 4 kids in a tree jumping all on the same branch. I am not sure how the tree did not fall over. It was a miracle.
It rained again today and it was glorious. It got a little cold and the wind was great. It was so relaxing, I want it to rain every day (this was also great because it means I don’t have to worry about water as much. Which is awesome, especially because I have not been the cleanest these last few weeks because of lack of water. But the rains are starting slowly.

I planted 4 tomato seeds today. This is going to be interesting to see if the grow, I have never started tomatoes from a seed, so we shall see how long they take to grow and if they are successful. I think I am going to start planting before I leave for seminar, but I am not sure yet. I am getting really excited though to have my own garden, it should be really fun.

On a final note, I was greeted this morning by another frog in my choo. I fished him out of my choo water only to have him reappear 2 more times. I couldn’t get rid of him, he even made it into my house once, which I was a little scared about because I thought I might lose him. That is all I need a dead frog in my house. But Bonifice got him out, although I while I did the humane thing and threw him out the door. He use him as somewhat a cross between a golf ball and a baseball. So of course I thought he was dead, but I swear this frog has as many lives as a cat. I wouldn’t be surprised if he showed up again tomorrow, although I really hope not because it is not the first face I want to see in the morning.

November 21, 2010

Today I went to the Pentecostal church. I think there were a total of 8 people at the church it was interesting. The songs were beautiful though, I am not sure why but all Africans have good voices. This is my theory because I have not heard a bad one yet, unlike in the USA where there are bad singers everywhere, I also being one of them.

I also spent much of the day finishing the last Harry Potter book, I know this is terrible because I couldn’t put it down, so I accomplished nothing today. I literally spent the entire day reading, the book is so good. But I have to say why do they make the books so big. I is so hard to read the big books, they make my arms hurt. Which probably also means I need to start lifting weights or something but I never really had any arm strength to start out with. But I have finished the serious now and they were all awesome. Next up is the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. (Hannah and my mom said it was really good)

Also realized today that I need to buy a radio, I think it will help with all the silence. Although I usually have my iPod in, I think the radio will add something different, make me feel not so in Africa.

November 22, 2010

I went and helped on the farm again today. This time I was given a piece of wood that loosely resembled a rake and helped rake up the crops from last year. We then lit the piles on fire. It was actually really nice because I got to learn more about how they farm and got some exercise, although now I have huge blisters on my hands. The women in the village were not too happy about my blisters, but there is really nothing I could have done, I get blisters in the US from working. Oh well.

I also learned today that the seed of a peanut is the actual peanut, which I guess makes sense. I just would have never guessed that. I am not sure what I expected but a peanut was not the answer. Also made dry roasted peanuts with salt today and they were delicious they tasted like the diamond almonds. Sometimes I amaze myself with cooking. (very rarely though)

I ate dinner at the neighbors house today so I sat in her kitchen with her. And I am not sure how I survived. Her kitchen consists of a room with 2 small windows and an open fire pit in the middle where wood is constantly being feed to keep the flame going. So there is smoke everywhere. I feel like I just smoked a carton of cigarettes. I don’t know how these women can do this, never mind the health effect, it is absolute torture to have to sit in that room. My eyes were watering, my throat aching, and the smell. I LOVE STOVES AND GAS.

November 23, 2010

I again did not do a lot today, but I had a very lovely day. I wrote the my family some letters and started to draw some Christmas cards, although I hate to admit I am having a hard time thinking of Christmas stuff.

November 25, 2010

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! I wish I could be home to celebrate with all of you. And I really wish I could watch the dog show and the parade, Oh well. I am at my friend Randi’s house today. We are not really doing anything special because on Saturday we are having our celebration, but I didn’t want to be alone so I came here. I think we are going to make banana bread and not sure what else.

Yesterday as I was on the bus waiting for it to leave, these are the thoughts that I had: First the perfect person to work on a bus as the ticket guy is a jockey (horse rider) because the bus is so crowded you can hardly move, but it you were a jockey you wouldn’t have any problems because you are short enough to fit under peoples arms and really slender. Secondly I was thinking about how I mix up a lot of words in Swahili and this reminded me of when I was in Poland talking to my teacher about my dream house and I got bed and bathroom mixed up so I went on and on about how my husband was going to have to sleep in the bathroom every night. This all made me laugh thinking about it, and made for a rather enjoyable bus ride.

I also attempted to make corn torilla chips this week and they might be the worst thing I have ever made. I was really hoping for something along the lines of El Matador but they were not even close. They tasted really grainy and oily and made my stomach hurt the worst it has ever hurt since I have been in country. I am thinking I will not even attempt this again with stinks because I was really looking forward to chips and guac and salsa. I think I might try salsa and guac with pita chips, that those might be really good together and I know I can make pita chips.