I miss the Snow

January 20, 2011

I cannot tell you how much fun I had this last time that I went into town. It was so much fun. Randi, Claire, and me just hung out, made amazing food, and watched chick flicks. It is really weird because when I am at Claire’s house I don’t feel like I am in Africa, I feel like I am at college. We all just sit around and talk while we are all doing our work. It is so much fun. They are the best, I couldn’t of asked for better people to be placed with. We get along great and have a lot of fun together. We made sushi with salmon, caramel corn, bagels with rosemary, salsa and ate it with the tortilla chips that Jenna carried all the way over here from the US, and crepes with vegetables. I have to say it was some of the best homemade food ever. I am trying to think of fun food to make when we all go into town because it is so much fun to make food together and eat it. I hate taking the time when it is just me, so it is really nice when I am with people. Tell me if you guys have any ideas for food that I could cook here.

I felt like I somewhat accomplished things, I was able to catch up on all my emails, send out some letters, talk to offices that I have been trying to talk to you, and read some more research papers. My professor Blair also sent me some books about livestock which was awesome so me and Randi looked at this for a while. Claire thinks we are nuts, why would we ever want to have a pet pig or goat. Every time we see one she reminds us that they are going to grow. I don’t think she has to worry, I really want one, but I don’t think I want to spend the money on it or have to ask someone to take care of it when I am not around. But I still might cave one of these days.

I came home and went and a talked to a member of my government to talk about possible projects, only to find out that our water is seriously having problems. People have stopped paying the 500shs each month and as a result there is no money to fix the water taps. Which is just great because the 2 taps nearest me are both broken. I am not sure what the community thinks of this yet, as they have lots of water at the moment due to the rains. If this is not addressed though, we are going to have water problems even more than normal. Oh the joys of living in Africa.

I also went to a meeting to again find no one there. This one does and doesn’t make me made because I didn’t really want to go. And all I had to tell them was that I might be able to help them later on, but at the moment I am focusing on these certain projects. But this did get me to thinking that I really, really need to have a talk with people about time management and what I expect. Because these I think are one my biggest frustrations which in turn lead me into bad moods and then they just spiral from there. So hopefully we can work this out.
I came back to see J1 starting to weed my garden. I was yelling at her, but she just kept doing it. I have so blessed to have such an amazing friend, she really is just like my mom and sisters rolled into one. Of course she told me that I didn’t know how to farm because tractors do it for me. So she and all the neighbors came over to show me. I don’t think I impressed them at all. I think it might just be me, but I don’t have a problem how people get rid of weeds as long as there gone. But with everyone there was definitely a right and wrong way and I was definitely doing it wrong. So I think I need to practice a lot. Luckily I have lots more weeding to do.

While I wrote this, I had the same bug attack me like 15 times. How did he keep finding me after I kept trying to kill him. He is dead now. Also saw a scorpion today in the garden, killed that as well. And I did see a really cool yellow bug. I need to get a insect book, it would be interesting to see what types of insects are found here.

The goal this week is to get some sort of research proposal going or to at least get some ideas onto paper. Wish me luck.

I also talked to my mom and Andrew this week. It was really great, especially because I have not had a chance to talk to them since before the holidays. It was really nice to catch up. Andrew is auditing a class at Northwestern and is starting a new job in the next few weeks. I am so proud on him, this is good too because it means at least one of us is going to be successful. Also my mom and dad have been redoing the cottage and send me updates. OMG it already looks so different. I cannot wait to see it in person. It is going to be like a whole new cottage.

January 21, 2011

I have been waking up pretty late lately. I just cannot seem to get myself out of bed, I am so comfortable and I since everyone leaves really early for their farms, it is so quiet I can actually sleep. I love it. It is funny though every morning J1 greets me on the way to her farm through my window. This is at like 6 in the morning. It reminds me that I am living on top of everyone, both a comfort and a burden.

So I finally got up and decided to start cleaning only to find out that termites had set up residence in my floor mat. It was unreal how far they had got in a matter of days. So it took me awhile to get that all cleaned up, especially because that meant that I couldn’t put off mopping. Then I did some laundry. I still cannot believe how fast everything gets dirty.
The WEO (ward executive officer) then came over and we went and looked at some more water pipes. Only to help me realize even more that water is going to be a big issue. I don’t think there is a single tap that is not broken in some way and no one seems to care at the moment which sucks because after the rains come we are going to have a huge problem. I really hope they can get their act together before then because I don’t want to have to go to town to get water or pay to have it brought to me. I really think in the current state this could become a reality, but I hope I am wrong.

After dinner, I was invited to a neighbor’s house to pray together before bed. It was kind of cool, the dad sang and then everyone else sang. It was defiantly different than my usual Hail Mary or Our Father. I find it so interesting the amount of singing and dancing that are done together in Church here compared to home.

I also made popcorn with Lawry’s salt. So good, it reminds me of movie nights at home.


January 22, 2011

As is becoming my norm, I woke up again really late today. My villagers must think I am so lazy now. But then I read a book, did some laundry, and made biscuits that I didn’t cook all the way through. Not too much exciting happened today, all the kids came over as usual and we read magazines. I then did a little weeding in the garden and fixed my water filter. A pretty boring day, I also made another meeting with my village government so hopefully this time the meeting will actually happen, we shall see.

I have been trying for the last 2 months to go the farm with J1. And she continues to tell me she isn’t going or it is too far. Hopefully by the end of the season, she will let me go with her.

I watched some of the boys playing cards today. I still am not sure how exactly to play but it looks close to UNO. I am hopefully going to learn it and be able to play with them. They wanted me to learn today but I didn’t have my dictionary and was actually really tired from all the kids today. It is amazing how tired one can get even when they are doing nothing.
My Swahili is getting worse by the day. I really need to work on this, but I get so comfortable in my bubble of a village where everyone understands me or at least knows what I am trying to say. I really need to start studying again. Even J1 said that my Swahili is getting bad. It doesn’t help that Claire and Paul came here and they are amazing at it, but it still could be a lot better. I have lived here for 6 months are should be better than I am. Luckily I can still get the point across even if it is like nails on the chalk board for whoever I am talking to.

January 23, 2011

Again I did nothing today, but it was really nice. I didn’t let the children into my house until the afternoon so I had a nice morning where I just read my book and drank tea. I also worked on my homework a little. Still not sure where to go but Blair suggested just start trying to write something and see where it goes. Smart man. I feel a little better now, but I know I still have a long way to go.

I started running today if you can call it that. I ran for 15 minutes and it was horrible. I think my body forgot how to run, not that I was any good at it before. My legs were all jelloy like on Run Fat Boy Run. I am really lucky stairs do not exist in my village. The kids got a kick out of me running and stretching. I am starting to get used to this being laughed at and stared at all the time.

I am reading Three Cups of Tea right now. Again everyone loves this book, but so far I cannot see it. Hopefully that changes.

Oh yeah and I think I broke my ipod. The verdict is still out, but this would happen because Han just left. Luckily I brought my iriver too, so hopefully that still works. Not sure how it broke but all it will do now is beep. This cannot be a good sign. If anyone knows how to fix it, email me because I really liked the music on it.

January 24, 2011

So much happened today I am not sure where to begin. As usual, I did not have my meeting, so now I am cutting the government out of my plans which is fine, it would have been nice to have them with me but it is just too much of a hassle. But because I didn’t have this meeting this morning, it spiraled me into a horrible state. I was wanted to get out of here so bad. I am just so sick of all of this. I know that I am not going to make a huge difference here but at the same time, please give me the time that I deserve. I really need the bullshitting to stop. This is one of the first things that will be addressed if a meeting every happens. I also really hate how my mood can change so fast. It freaks me out, this has never happened to me before. I think it is a mixture of being here and taking malaria medications. So instead of malaria, I have horrible mood swings and sleepless nights. I think I would rather have malaria.

I finally got back on track and did some reading and tried to prepare to have my first meeting with the village to talk about chickens. Hopefully this goes better than the village government meetings.

Someone told me that if you boil water and beans together and put it in a thermos over night the beans will be done in the morning. This is definitely not true. Which is really sad because this would have saved me so much work, time, and fuel. This also means that I will be eating less beans. But I still get protein by way of peanuts and peanut butter.
I also ran again today, I am making a calendar tonight and taping it to my door to help me stay on track. All my muscles really hurt, I am so out of shape it is embarrassing.
And I washed my hair today and used conditioner, I forgot how wonderful conditioner is. I am also trying to have better hygiene out in the village. Not that it was bad before, but it definitely could be better. WE might even try a shower everyday now that I have a huge surplus of water.

January 25, 2011

As usual I am really frustrated. Only this time it is almost all my own doing. Earlier this week, a baba came to me and said he wanted me to pray with his family every night. I said that I would do it like once a week, but somehow I got pulled into every night. Which I have been meaning to talk to the baba about, but as usual I put it off. I missed one night and they thought I had some big problem so I went tonight because I still have yet to have the conversation with him and he wasn’t there. Here I tried to do as I say and what happens I could totally have just stayed home. Instead I went to his house and his kids asked me a thousand questions and one of the girls talked smack on me. Of course I didn’t hear everything, but I heard enough to hear one of her brother’s say that she can understand you (me). Oh and I also told them that we don’t have banana is the US. They asked all these questions about my house but when I think of my house, I think of Tanzania now so when I was asked about banana’s. I said no because she said “do you have banana’s at your house.” And of course I was thinking, god your asking me for stuff already. Only to realize she was wondering about the US. But at this point I didn’t feel like correcting myself. From this I have come to 2 conclusions: First I am starting Swahili lessons 2 times a week again so that I understand everything that is being said and not just the jist and secondly I am just going to be blunt with people from now on. Forget culturally appropriate if they are going to be rude to me, I have no problem being rude back.

Also I helped a neighbor with her English homework today. And realized even more how bad the school systems are here. The homework was terrible, I even had a hard time doing it and it should have been preschool work. How do they expect the kids to learn if the teachers cannot even teach. I am very happy not to be teacher right now, but I am really sad too because how are they suppose to learn if the teachers don’t even know the material. I am very happy that I have received the education that I have. I know I take it for granted but I am reminded a lot here of what I have and don’t have.

Reading The Girl who Played with Fire right now and mom you are right, it is really good. I am having a hard time doing anything else. Which luckily isn’t a problem because I have hardly anything to do until I have my meetings. I also went running again today. I cannot decide which I should try and train for yet the 25K, 10K, or the 5K. I know I have all this time but I honestly don’t know if I could finish a 25 or 10K even if I did train for it. I am going to look at work out plans this weekend and make a decision. I am also going to talk to my friend Randi about it. (she runs every day and is running the Mt. Kili marathon in Feb, she is insane) I am also really lazy still, cannot seem to get up early but the last 2 days one of the mama’s has come to my door really early to get her phone charged so I think I might need to start getting up a little earlier or at least get up and open my doors so it appears that I got up.

Also I looked up today while cooking and met a new friend. I now have conformation that a bat does live in my house. Not too happy about this. I know he is harmless but I still cannot get pictures of him attacking me and biting me out of my head. I know this will never happen it is right up there with sharks attacking in a pool (James Bond anyone? Stephi you’ll get this if you read this). I know it will never happen, but the mind plays weird tricks, especially when you live by yourself in a third world country.

Cell phone is going crazy as well. Very nerve racking, I keep trying to use it, but I have no network in places that I have always had it.

January 26, 2011

I am sitting in my bed minding my own business reading a book when a cockroach comes flying towards me and lands on my pillow. I freaked out and hit it with the flashlight and it flew off my bed but where I am still not sure. I didn’t know cockroaches could even fly, I knew they had wings but I had never actually seen one fly. This is also one of the first cockroaches that I have seen alive. Usually there dead on their backs or I see parts of them that fell off as the lizards were trying to eat it. I hate cockroaches so much.
I was in the cooking mood today and attempted to make oatmeal bread. I was lazy and used the yeast that I bought last week instead of going to the duka to buy more and because of that one point my bread sucked. I am still eating it but it didn’t really rise. Also I put it in the sun to rise and was inside finishing The girl who played with fire (awesome book, I really want to read the last one now) and the kids came without me hearing and they took some of my dough to eat. I could have screamed. I am so happy to be leaving for a few days tomorrow. These kids are driving me nuts. Yesterday they were throwing rocks at my roof while I was in the shower and today they were stealing my dough. And what is even more frustrating is I lack the skills to properly yell at them. All I had to say to them the last few days is “I saw you do that” and “ I dislike”. I really need to work on my language skills. So in retaliation I am not letting them look at any of my magazines or play any of my games. We will see how long it takes before I finally give in, but these kids are walking all over me. And the sad part is that I let them.

January 27, 2011

I again spent another day not having a meeting. I cannot even believe this. But for some reason, this did not bother me as much as not having the last meeting. The only think that sucks is I went in to the office in the morning to make sure it was still on and they said yes. So I did nothing for the whole day except prepare and read. I have now almost finished the Kite Runner.

Other than that not to much is new. Although I did get eaten by mosquitoes really bad last night. To the point that I didn’t even sleep. It has been a long time since a night without sleep. I am not sure if it was the actual mosquitoes or just the sound of them buzzing in my ears that makes me live in fear, but something does.