Ex Pats Live a Sweet life

March 15, 2011

Rest In Peace Sister.

So I feel like I am in a funk. First I am definitely in a food funk. I cannot wait to get to Dar so I can eat something other than Tanzanian food. I am just really sick of having the same thing all the time. I am also having no revelations as to what to try and make here to get out of this funk. I need some ideas for food. I did make vegetarian tacos yesterday which were really good. I made my own taco shells, which I am pretty sure I will not do again. They were ok, but I am bringing some back from the states. I will also be visiting Between the Tracks when I get home for a burrito and chips and salsa. I think I just need to add something new into my diet. BUT WHAT.

Secondly last week I was on cloud nine. I finished my homework and was actually impressed at the amount of things that I had accomplished In the village work wise. But this week I feel like I have done nothing and there is no point to me being here. I know there is, but it is so hard to hear what other people are doing and not compare myself. I know everyone and every situation is different, but I just feel like I need to do more this week. But I am still stuck with the question of what and how. I really want to help with water, but I still am at square one on that. Especially because I am pretty sure whatever I do is going to involve money. It is so hard to try do things, especially because everything cost money.

Thirdly, today we had a big meeting with the district. I was suppose to go but didn’t. I came home and got ready, but then I decided to just wait at my house until it started because they always tell me to go home and they will come and get me when it is starting. Well they didn’t. And by the time I realized, I ended up not going because I guess I kind of got freaked out. I get kind of scared/ intimidated when I have to be in a meeting with the government. So I didn’t go. But Paul went, why he didn’t come and get me I do not know. But he went. He said it was ok. But that really I never need to be at any of them unless I need something from them or am working on something with them. Which I guess he is right. I still probably should have went, but there is nothing I can do now.

I just need to say again how much I love hanging out with Randi and Claire. I had a great time yesterday with them. We just hung out and watched movies as usual but it was fun and is always relaxing. The only thing that sucks is sleeping at Claire’s is horrible. I hardly ever sleep. It has something to do with the environment and the insects. Which is weird because I have my own room and bed, yet every time I so wish I was at home.
I also hear Michigan is doing well in the tournament. That is awesome.

I almost forgot. Claire keeps forgetting that it is Lent so she freaks out every time she offers me candy or cookies. It is really funny. It always cracks me up because people get so mad at themselves for bringing up stuff that people gave up for Lent and trying to offer it. I do not know why. It doesn’t bother me at all, I forget myself sometimes that it is Lent. Also in the spirit of Lent Randi is attempting to give up Carbs. Not sure why or really what she will eat but she is trying it. I think she is trying it because Claire and her both did not know if they could last that long giving something up. I do not understand this either. Maybe since I have always done lent it seems not that big of a deal but it always seems like a huge deal to everyone else. Also I told them about the different dilemma’s if you give up certain things. Like if you give up chocolate does that include chocolate milk. Or sweets does that include the milk too. They had different thoughts too. I tried to explain that it just depends on the person and but I am not sure if they got it.

March 16, 2011

I just cannot understand it. I have the hardest time waking up here. Not sure why, but I cannot get out of bed before 8 am to save my life unless I really need to. I have also felt sluggish the last few days and today I came home and feel asleep, which I never do. I was just telling Randi how I was sad that I couldn’t take naps anymore which stinks because I love to take naps. She thought naps were unhealthy. I just think they are wonderful. So my sleeping is all over the place.

I went to old Jessica’s today and we made maandazi. She made me do everything so that I would know how to make them when I visit. I hope I remember although it was pretty simple. They are so good. They are like little donuts just not as sweet. Tanzanian do not like to eat sweet things, but they love to drink it. The amount of sugar they put in their tea is unbelievable. Tomorrow I am going to farm with Jessica and then we are going to make bread. Hopefully it turns out.

I went running today and did not really listen to the people hollering at me today. Usually I do but today I didn’t. It turns out one of the girls was yelling for me to wait for her. Sorry, so tomorrow I said I would come and get her. My neighbor is going to, so instead of me feeling like crap I get to feel even worse because I just got slaughtered by two Tanzanians. It should be fun though because I love running with people, it reminds me of Sarah McCormick and me running cross country in high school. We were horrible, all we did was run and talk. But we were really, really slow.

Also reading a book called Flowers for Algernon. It is a science fiction book that Claire’s brother gave her for her birthday. It is pretty good so far. Not at all what I expected. I always thought science fiction were about outer space but this one is about a genius. Not sure how it ends yet, but I think I like it.

Again I am going to say this. I really like running here. It gets me out of the house and I feel like I am doing something and interacting with people. Because Tanzanians are always outside. I have lots of people to say hi to. I like it.

Jessica bought a huge cup of bamboo pombe today. So I of course helped her drink it. I think I really like it which I think might turn out to be a problem later on . But anyway in small doses obviously it is ok. I just cannot get into the habit of drinking it a lot because I think this could also lead to me going to the open market to drink which I think will just lead to bad things. So I will drink with Jessica and maybe a select few but that is it. Pombe is homemade alcohol if you did not know.

March 17, 2011

Happy St. Patrick’s Day. I hope everyone is eating lots of corn beef and cabbage today and has at least one Irish Car Bomb. Oh how I miss a good St. Patrick’s Day with Jenna.
So I feel really weird about today. This is how my day went. Again I had really hard time getting up this morning and finally pulled myself out of bed because I was already late. I went to old Jessica’s to help her farm and then I ended up staying and we cooked bread together. It was great, but then she got a call and we spent the next 2 hours on the side of the road waiting for a friend of hers or relative, I still do not understand. Well he came, in his own car. Turns out he is in the military so he had on his army fatigues. Did not see if he had a gun or not. So we got in his car and went to his mother’s house. Where it was just weird. Not like I would act with my mom and dad. We then got back in the car and drove to Jessica’s house, which there was no reason to go because we got there and turned right back around. It was weird and then we went to my house. Which I didn’t really want to but I didn’t know what else to do. SO we rode in the car again to my house. Which I didn’t like because I feel really weird about riding in a car around here. I just get even more stares. So they came in and stayed for like 2 minutes and then they left. It was really weird. I am not sure if this is just a Tanzanian thing or if this is normal. I felt like he was just showing off his car. (which I did not like) But the day is done and there is nothing I can do about it, I just feel weird about it.

I think I am going insane, I keep losing things and cannot figure out where they went. Today I lost my pajama bottoms and have torn the place a part looking for them. I know I am going to wake up tomorrow and they are going to be staring me in the face.

Also I think I have decided I am having trouble sleeping because a mixture of my malaria medication, the fact that I live on top of people, and the fact that things keep happening in my village and I am reading murder mysteries (which are really addicting). But I find myself up at all hours of the night, dead set that I heard something and someone is trying to get into the house. One morning it was the sound of someone sharpening a knife. I was dead set that they were sawing off my locks. I really need to stop this imagination, this might also explain why I have been tired so much lately. Paul told me it was because I needed to exercise but I said that I actually do that.

Also Jessica asked me about Paul and Randi’s projects. It is funny after talking to her I did not feel so bad about what I was doing. I really wish I could stay on one emotional level with everything instead of all over the place.

March 18, 2011

Again I had trouble sleeping again. But I think I have become somewhat used to it at least. Today I cleaned my house, did all my laundry, and packed for my trip to Dar and Iringa. I am so excited. Especially because also Tanya and Randi are coming into Mpwapwa tomorrow. It should be a good day, but first I am going with old Jessica to see her daughter in town. This should be interesting considering my Swahili. But it will be fun I think.

I had a chicken meeting today and it went wonderful as usual. I think I found a really good group of women to work with, which makes me very happy. This is our 6 meeting so far. Today we talked about building bandas. I am really excited. I just need to submit my grant and hopefully you are looking at the buyer of 60 chickens. We shall see. Cross your fingers.
I also used my charcoal stove today. Which I hate to light, but I did. I made 2 loaves of bread and chickpeas. The chickpeas take like 3 hours, it is insane. I also grilled some corn that my neighbor gave me, it was awesome. It still doesn’t compare to sweet corn, but it will do. I also ate guava fruit today. They are really good, I am not sure how to describe them though. You eat the entire thing, seeds and skin.

I have not been running in 2 days and I feel really bad about it. Hopefully I can tomorrow, but if not Tanya and my friend Natalie said that they would run with me in Dar. Although it is going to be so hot, we shall see. I also might be preoccupied with all the food options. I am dreaming of a BLT and seafood pizza with a glass of wine at the moment. Two more days and I can have American food.

March 19, 2011

So there was a miscommunication with Jessica so I ended up having to ride my bike into town, which I planned on doing at one point during our conversation, but then I thought I did not have to. Well it turns out I did, and ended up riding in a skirt, which is really hard. I had one hand on the handle bars and one hand on my skirt the entire time. Scared to death that I was going to fall to my death, luckily this did not happen. In the end I made it fine and me and Randi went with Jessica to visit her daughter. I have also decided that I hate visiting Tanzanians’. It is always just weird and awkward. I figure I have enough of this already, so I will keep this visits to a minimum.

Very excited because tomorrow I am going to Dar and get real food. I cannot wait.

March 20, 2011

So yesterday I forgot to tell you that my friend Jessica asked Randi in Swahili why her Swahili was so much better than mine in front of me. I then told her in Swahili that I could understand her. I think this caught her by surprise. I wonder if she would understand that I actually do understand a lot I just cannot talk to save my life. Either way she totally thought I didn’t understand. Then we went and met another friend of hers where she told me that I was fat. (I know they mean fat as healthy, but even still I cannot help but take it literally) But luckily Claire’s friend came over that night and he told me I was beautiful, so that kind of made up for the day.

I have arrived in Dar with Tanya after a horrible bus ride. I really thought that I was going puke, the only question was where. Luckily I didn’t, I just told Tanya I couldn’t talk, move, or open my eyes until we got there. So we arrived and then we went and had BURGERS, they were awesome. And now I am watching skiing on ESPN in air conditioning at an Ex Pats house. They are a really nice family that work at the Embassy. I think I could live like this for a while.

March 22, 2011

I have spent the last few days in Dar and it has been amazing. I have had both a burger and pizza. What more could you ask for. I spent the last few days at warden training which means that if shit hits the fan here I am in charge of 8 individuals and their safety. Kind of scary, luckily I think everything will be find but incase not I will be prepared. Also I am do not no really where to go with this I am just so overwhelmed with everything here and so much has happened. I think I am going to need a few days to processes this first.
Tomorrow I head to Iringa to see my friend Kenzi’s village. I am excited because I love visiting people and seeing their site. I am also hoping she can help me figure out a research project. We shall see.

March 24, 2011

After a very eventful morning of us trying to get to the bus, we finally made it to the bus. I then sat on a bus for the next 12 hours to make my way to Kenzi’s village. The bus ride was not that bad except that my chair didn’t recline, so my back is in horrible condition. But I made it to Kenzi’s village. After getting off the bus, we walked an hour on the dirt road into her village. I feel like I have entered another planet. The environment is so different. It is similar to the Midwest, Kenzi says southern Wisconsin. There are pine trees and trees in general as well as lots and lots of water. It is amazing, just think the complete opposite of where I live. And things actually grow here. The corn is huge, I took a picture of it. I cannot believe we actually live in the same place. It is so interesting to go to other people’s villages and see what it is like because everyone’s is so, so different. I think hers is closer to what I expected. She does live a little ways off from people which I am not sure if I would but I also do not particularly like living on top of people either.
We are going to walk around her village and hang out with our friend dan. It should be fun. I am also really excited because she is an amazing cook, so we are going to make cinnamon rolls. I am cannot wait.

March 25, 2011

It has been a full day of cooking. We woke up and had oatmeal and then walked 1 ½ hour one way to get flour because they were out in the village. It was really nice, but I cannot image having to do that, especially because flour and the basics exist literally 100 feet in front of my house. It is definitely a different world here. On top of that Kenzi was freaking out at how hot it was today. The sad thing is that her hot might, and let me stress might be my cold. Oh how jealous I am. So after returning we started to cook and make lunch. We made a rice dish that was very good. Kenzi might be the best cook in out group so I definitely lucked out. We then made ginger bars with lemon frosting. Although I am not sure what my thoughts are on this yet, but I still defiantly ate it so. It was good. We then made homemade bagels and cooked up some goat meat that we bought today. It was really good.

March 26, 2011

Today was another eventful day within Kemzi’s village. We went with her counterpart to her garden and picked corn. We then came back and had lunch before heading out to take a nice long walk to the Ruaha river. Yes, they actually have running rivers here. Not a drop of rain in Dodoma and Iringa has a river. I think I might have one of the worst spots in the country, environment wise. I do hear that Singida is worse but I am skeptical. But at least now I am used to it and except it. Although this just reinforces more that I will be living somewhere with a cold, cold winter. And of course lots and lots of snow. Anyways after that we returned and hung out and talked. We had crepes with bananas and chocolate sauce for dinner and made cinnamon rolls that I am going to eat tomorrow before I make the long trek home. I am really hoping to make it home in one day. Not sure if this is possible yet, but hoping it is. Especially because I hate traveling alone.

I am having a great time with Kenzi. It is so much fun to just walk around, talk, and cook. It was also nice too because I talked to Kenzi about my research and think as before I might have come up with a better research project. But as usual I have no idea and am hoping for the best, but I think this next idea might be actually be plausible. We shall see what my professors think of it.

Also funny thing, Kenzi has a dog and Tanzanian’s are scared to death of dogs. I think I need one so that the kids will stay away. This might actually be a good investment.
Disclaimer: Not sure if you noticed but I have eaten sweets. But I have decided that I am on vacation. Also really if we cannot cook, what are we going to do way out here in the bush. So I gave myself a few free days.

March 27, 2011

I left Kenzi’s village today and actually traveled by myself a little bit. Kenzi walked with me a little ways and then I walked the rest of the way and took a coasta into Iringa. It was kind of scary for me because I really do not like doing things by myself. I usually con Claire or Randi into do everything with me. I am going to blame it on being a twin. But it was really nice and I was very proud of myself for making it here all by myself. Tomorrow I travel to Dodoma by myself and then finally back to the Village. It stinks how long it takes to get in and out of my village. It is crazy that it is easier to get to Dar than anywhere else.

But I met up with some friends in Iringa and it was really fun. We went to this really nice restauarant that over looks the city. It was beautiful and I had a club sandwich so I was in heaven. I also bought a new purse which I am really excited about.
Before I left Kenzi made cinnamon rolls and they were amazing. OMG. I think I am going to have to start making them in the village. The only problem is they are kind of expensive because they take a lot of butter and sugar which is expensive. But I am really excited to try and make them.