Snickerdoodles

February 17, 2011

I received an email today that there was ammunition fired in Dar today, well it turns out that the military forgot that bombs expire and will apparently detonate. As a result, 12 people are dead and all flights in today were canceled for a bit. Which of course would happen today because Claire’s mom flew in today for her birthday. Claire also said that this has happened 3 times while she has been in country. Isn’t that crazy.

I spent today, trying to make banana bread on the stove which would have worked if the stove would have been light. Minor detail. I also spent most of the day reading about termites and trying to formulate some sort of thoughts for research. Now my head just really, really hurts.
Also I have eaten more passion fruits today than anyone ever should. And stirred the wine. All the important stuff has been taken care of.

Attempted to start translating a children’s story today. I think it is going to take awhile and Claire said it was easy. Very, very jealous of her Swahili.

February 18, 2011

Apparently since I have started running, the villagers think that now I am able to walk to their farms that are really far. This makes me wonder what they think I am capable of and how fat they really think I am. But as of now, Jessica says that I can come to her farm. (this is after weeks of asking and her saying no, it is too far, not sure what changed).

I had my second chicken meeting today, we only started 2 ½ hours later. This is goof by African standards. I started the meeting and Jessica taught about the benefits of keeping chickens. About 9 people showed up, I think this was a really good turnout. Actually more people than I expected, seeing as it rained the day before and most were at their farms.
Claire gave me a kids book in Swahili, so today me and Talita read it together. I might be the worst speaker in the world. Languages are not my strong suit. I told the little girls that I needed to come to school with them, while they learned to read. I think I might be serious too.

February 19, 2011

I do not know what it is about Saturdays, but this is the day that everyone invites me to eat with them. And as hard as I try, I always have to eat. Now as a result I am stuffed more than I ever thought possible. Worse than Aunt Joyce at thanksgiving. So I made some tea to calm my stomach, and realized I do not make very good tea. I really want to learn how to make it with cinnamon, cardamom, etc. Randi makes really good tea so I think I am going to have her teacher me.

I went to old Jessica’s today and learned how to make MaKande. It is a corn and beans dish. It is really easy although I think a lot of work for just one person, so I do not see me making this in the future. We are going to make maandazi (donuts)Tuesday after the shamba which I am really excited about. I also tried to farm with a plough today. OMG it was really hard, my lines were not straight at all. I think I will stick with the tractor.

February 20, 2011

Apparently, getting engaged is the thing to do when I leave the country. I am already up to 4 different people getting engaged and I have not even been away a year yet. Think makes me think that there are a lot more ahead. Han sent me a text this morning telling me that Ashleigh just got engages. Congrats Ashleigh. This also puts my life in perspective more and looking at, at what age I might get married, which seems is a VERY long ways away.
I was a very busy Tanzanian today. I woke up and washed clothes for 4 hours, washed all my dishes, and managed to make both cookies and bagels. I finally broke into the chocolate chips that Han brought here, which I think is both a good and bad thing. I am hoping I can make them last longer than the M and Ms. Not so sure. The cookies turned out really good, although I guess technically I made bars because I think actual cookies would take too long and I don’t own a spatula to scoop them out with. Either way though, they were amazing. But not good because now I am just craving sugar.

I also had another love/hate relationship with all the kids. At the moment we are on the outs. They managed to kill a tomato plant ( the tallest one I have ever seen) today ( I tried to perform emergency surgery on it, but it was a no go) and pull out all my basil leaves. I just don’t understand. They then were trying to get into my house and take my games and magazines while I was in my room. I am not happy at the moment. Again I am taking the magazines off the table, the only problem is they really have no idea that I am made at them .
Tomorrow I start my tour of the Jessica’s shambas. Old Jessica is taking me tomorrow to her farm and then she is going to show me how to make maandazi again, so hopefully I will be able to make them for everyone when I come home. I have tried a few times already, but I think I need a teacher again. Luckily Jessica loves showing me how to cook or at least I think so.

February 21, 2011

I forgot to also tell you that I thought the children stole my rope fence. I was certain of it until today when I looked and there it was stuck in the ground. I feel bad that I thought this, it reminds me of the time that me and Lindsey convinced ourselves Al and Stephi had moved the car at the drive in. This also was not the case. We just don’t have any sense of direction.

I went and helped Jessica plant beans today. For 2 hours I planted. I was so tired when I was done. I could hardly move and then I went to her house and helped her cook breakfast. It was an early morning. And tomorrow is another early morning because I am going with young Jessica to her shamba that is really far. How far you ask, I am not sure yet but I will find out tomorrow.

February 22, 2011

So Jessica finally let me go to the farm with her after months literally of asking. She said it is because I have been running that she thinks I can do it. And she was right. Although it was only an hour walk there carrying the hand hoe. Me one and Jessica one plus a kid on her back and a bucket on her head. We then farmed for 1 hour and returned home. Which was an 1 ½ hour because we had to walk up hill. I was literally dead when we returned home. I slept for like 2 hours. Do not know if I will ever become a machine like these Tanzanian women. While I slept Jessica ground some corn, washed some clothes, made lunch, weeded the garden, and picked leaves to eat for dinner. How can I compete with this.

February 23, 2011

Today I went into town to meet Claire, Randi, and Judith (Claire’s friend from Germany). We were going to celebrate Claire’s birthday, but she got really sick, so me, Randi, and Judith walked around town and did some errands. We went to the district office to get some paper work done and probably had one of the worst office visits in the history of office visits. The man we went to see, made us wait for like 2 hours outside his office and then when he finally said he had time to see us. Spent the next ½ hour on the phone and would only sign the paper but not answer the questions that he needed to because how was he suppose to know what is going on in his office. It was horrible and made me never want to work with him again. I really hope to avoid him in the future. We will see how well this goes. He was so not business like or Tanzanian for that matter. But finally we got that done and made snickerdoodle cookies (why are they called snickerdoodles anyway there is no snickers in them) and climbed the hill behind Claire’s house. It was a really nice day. Tomorrow Randi leaves to run the Mt. Kili marathon. I cannot believe she is going to do this, I wish I could run a marathon but as you know I am worried about a little 5k thus I do not think a marathon is in the near future.

I also talked to Han, stephi, and my mom today. It was really nice to talk to them and got me even more excited to come home. And to see what the cottage looks like. My dad keeps sending me pictures and everytime it is looking more and more different. I cannot wait to see it.

February 25, 2011

Me and Claire went over to her friend Herbert’s and watched a comedy show. I don’t know If I will ever get Tanzanian comedy. I think it is just really different which is weird because I thought I had a really good sense of humor but maybe I am mistaken because so far I do not find the show funny, of course this is after Claire has translated it back into English for me. Also not sure if I am ever going to be able to speak Swahili.

A few stories for you. First my friend was telling me about a witch doctor that used to live in the village when the last volunteer was here, who was going around cutting off the tongues of children, so they killed him and burned his house down. I am then retelling this story to Claire and Randi who then ask if there are any kids with no tongues in the village, and I have no idea. I never even thought about that. Secondly when the kids broke my tomato plant I went into surgery mode and tried to save it, which means that I found a long stick and started to break it, at this point the kids are screaming and running. I couldn’t figure out what was going on and then it hit me, they thought I was breaking the stick so that I could hit them with it. Because they are so used to this at home and even at school. It made me laugh a little and I think I might pretend to do this a little so maybe they will listen better.
I went to a village meeting today which of course started late and lasted forever. What did they want me to do, build them another dam. I was not prepared for this and really had no idea what to say. I just said in my broken Swahili that they needed to write out exactly what they wanted and think about how much they thought it would cost. This way it buys me some time to think if this is even plausible and something that will actual help and benefit the community. I have no idea. It seems like it would increase water, but then I think of all the broke parts of the water system. But then again the water system still does work with all the broken parts. So I guess we shall see where this goes.

3rd chicken meeting and people showed up. It was awesome.

I made a really stupid mistake today that I didn’t realize until it was too late. My neighbor came over to get her plate back and I gave her some of the homemade wine that I made. Afterwords I was thinking about it and I couldn’t remember but I was thinking that I just gave wine to a drunk. Needless to say this was true, she came by later 2 times and asked the same questions and was slurring her words really bad. I totally forgot or didn’t realize until today. I feel really stupid about this. For some reason this also reminds me of Grandpa Preston thinking that people are just happy all the time and not thinking they are drunk. I
guess I just think like Grandpa Preston.

My friend Mary, who is in the same program as me called me today from Cameroon. It was a really nice surprise.

February 26, 2011

So what is worse than seeing a cockroach in the choo??? A 10 inch long millipede. OMG. They gross me out so much. Luckily it ran for it when I put the light on him, but still is it too much to ask that I be left in peace while I go to the bathroom.

I made peanut butter cookies today and they turned out AMAZING. This is like the 4th time that I have made cookies in the last week. This is not going to help me get into shape at all. I kind of feel like Mrs. Deyoung, exercising every morning and then making cookies.
The kids came to the door today to show me a baby bird. At first I freak out because I thought they were caring a around a dead baby bird. It turns out it was still alive at least at this point. It was kind of cool until I thought how it was probably going to die today because it was only a baby. But maybe not.

I made salted sardines today for dinner with ugali. It actually was good. It might become a staple for me because it is really, really cheap to make and has at least a little nutritional value.

FYI: The termites are taking over everything. Every time I kill them and their colony they return. It is exhausting to continually be cleaning the same things over and over. Although I know I should just buy some spray but I am too lazy.

February 27, 2011

Not sure where to start with today. First I would like to say that I have to say hi to everyone in the village so much that apparently I am getting anxiety over it because I am not dreaming of it and waking up to me talking. Do not like where this is headed although this is slightly better than me in Colorado jumping out of bed and thinking I am running after a crying kid. (Jenna do you remember the night of I am Legend)

Anyways Claire came to visit today with Herbert (works with Claire, from Mt Kili area) and Herbert’s sister and brother. They walked all the way here and back. I was amazed that is like 5 hours total. It was great, we just sat around and talked and read old gossip magazines. After they left I went and talked to Jessica and we went to the open market to see what the tomatoes looked like. Well of course there were tons of people and everyone was drinking, I actually tried the pombe this time. It was bamboo pombe. It was alright, not something I am going to start drinking but it was alright. Also as I was walking Claire and everyone out of town I realized how much drinking goes on in my village and it is a LOT.
Not sure how true this is but Claire tells me it is true and she can actually speak Kiswahili so I might kind of believe her. But anyways, she says that a volunteer said that a kid in her village got eaten by a pig. I feel like this story might have some flaws but then I think of the movie I think it is snatch and how if you don’t feed a pig for a while it will eat a human body, so I am not sure what to think.

And actually the most important news I almost forgot. Randi finished the marathon today. She ran the entire time and was still standing when I talked to her. Congrats again. She is amazing, I do not know how she does it, especially because it is really, really, hot.
Oh and someone stole the one thing that was growing in my garden, a watermelon. I am heartbroken, I now have nothing to show for me being a good environment volunteer. I still cannot believe someone took it. It is heart breaking because this also means that anything else that grows is probably going to get taken. Not sure if this is just me or how it works in general yet. But I think I am going to plant things at Jessica’s from now on. Also my bebe told me that someone stole one of her chickens, the village chairman’s chickens, and another person’s chicken this week. It has not been a good week for the village.
But I did make amazing peanut sauce today. I cannot believe how much ginger makes a difference in things. I think I am going to start using it more. It is amazing.

February 28, 2011

So I thought the watermelon was a big deal, today they took my tomatoes that were just babies. I now know that God does not want me to have a garden. I have one more attempt with sweet potatoes so we shall see, if not I am throwing in the towel.

I have a huge love hate relationship with the children in the village, because on one hand they are really fun and are a good source of both entertainment but on the other hand. They are constantly around. I know most of them by now and I am pretty sure I know who is taking my produce, but I don’t think I will ever be able to prove it. I think it is one of the little girls. She is very sneaky, or at least she thinks she is. Also is it bad that I let the kids do my dishes today and sweep my yard. I went to do it and Zali who always helps me told me that she was going to do them all. She is really sweet, she also told me that I could tell the kids “stop and that was enough.” I am such a push over, it took a 10 year to do something that I should be more than capable of. I am really working on this mean/ strict thing and it is really hard.

I also went running in the evening today and now can tell you that I can run faster than a herd of cattle and sheep and that they very kindly move out of the way for you. I also ran past one of the bridges and saw like 40 kids playing in the sand, it was really cool. I think I am going to have to go down there, they were doing some really cool flips and jumps.
As usual I also cooked today and made the most perfect bread yet. I also have been using ginger and it just keeps making everything better.

March 1, 2011

I went running today in the mountains and ran into a pricker bush. My leg now looks like I got in a knife fight. I have no idea how I did this, it is like it came out of nowhere except that it was the only thing in the area. I think I have a depth perception problem. So then I tried to wear pants that would cover it but when I sit down you can see, so all the women have been asking what happened and then they see my arm that I burned on the stove. I think I am falling apart. Jessica also reminded me to use the road.

I went to school today and talked to the teachers. They want me to teach but I don’t want to right now because I know that I could not make every class and I do not think that is good. They also tell me that I need to come around more. I don’t understand it though, they are never in classes. Shouldn’t they be teaching all day and not have time to talk to me. This is just my view, but they should be working.

Me and my neighbor built my first fuel efficient stove today. I am really nervous to see how well it works. It looks good enough but ya never know. I really hope it works out well, so that I can continue to make them in the village. They would really help all the women out and cut down on the trips into the mountain to cut firewood. Thus I hope possibly freeing up some time and energy for other things.

I have to add Lawry’s salt to the list of best spices to use. That on some popcorn might be one of the best things ever.

March 3, 2011

Today started off bad. First I was woken up by a group of girls that wanted to sell me eggs. Which was nice but please can we do after I actually wake up and get out of bed. Then the kids came to play and when I told them it was time to leave, they would not and I had to practically push them out and lock the door. Why are they so hard to deal with some times and then at others are amazing.

I then decided to come into town tonight instead of tomorrow morning. And as soon as I left my house I got a flat. The flat happened in front of a bar full of people that were drinking pombe and I am pretty sure were not feeling anything. Well one of them said he was a Fundi and was going to fix my bike. Which he actually did, but I was skeptical the whole time and am actually still very skeptical about the whole thing. But I did make it into town in one piece, so I cannot complain. Although the entire way here I was thinking omg what if something happens and I don’t make it into town before dark, what am I going to do. But everything turned out fine. And now I Know by what time I need to leave so that I make it into town safely.

Claire and me then went to Herbert’s and had dinner. His sister made this amazing banana dish that is from their tribe it was awesome and I don’t really care for the bananas. Walter (Herbert’s Brother) was also there and we talked about aliens and how he thought they existed and our government was hiding them. He told me I needed to ask Alex because he is in the military. This all cracked me up. So then we looked on the internet. It was a great night.
I love coming into town, except for the mosquitoes.