Swahili Lessons

We are taking swahili lessons from some of the local mamas. It is great, although I have not yet ventured beyond greetings with the locals here. The locals always want to chat, either in swahili or english. About half of the conversation is in greetings. So here is a few clues for your next visit to Tanzania...

Hell0- Jambo!
What's up- Mambo!
Cool (response to mambo)- Poa!
Crazy cool like a banana (alternative response to mambo)- poa kichizi kama ndizi
Slowly (how everything moves here)- Polepole
Hello to an elder- Shikamoo
Response to Shikamoo- marahaba
Welcome (we hear this a lot, everyone is super friendly)- karibu
Thank you very much - Asante sana

An admission: Whenever I hear asante sana I always add "squashed banana" like in the lion king.... anyone? anyone?

Pics 3

This is a picture of where I work- Kiwodea (Kiliminjaro Women's Development Assoc).

I have probably already taken 50 pictures of this mountain. This is taken from where I work.

On the road to work in the morning.

Me and my new friend Isaac on our front porch.

Market day!

Today we went to the market where a few of the women from the group that I am working with have their businesses. The market is comprised of about 300 kiosks, each about five feet by five feet and constructed out of sticks and logs. Most people are selling used clothing, which are sold to the locals. I found out first hand where my clothes go when I donate them at home. It is weird to see the locals, especially the men, wearing t-shirts for colleges, restaurants, and businesses back home. One of the boys that I am getting to know has a lawn care t-shirt from arkansas and a t-shirt from a restaurant in texas. It is mostly the men who wear these t-shirts. The women wear kangas, long skirts with exquisite designs on them, and what we would consider formal dresses. It is not acceptable to take pictures of the people here so when I manage to sneak a picture I will post it. The market was really crazy and full of life. We visited one woman whose business it is selling tea and fried bread. While we were interviewing her, we watched another woman in another kiosk selling used bras. The women, in these gorgeous gowns, tried on the bras over their dresses, commenting on each others choice. This was a whole new kind of bra shopping, much different from the quiet privacy of a Macey's dressing room, and at about 100th the price.

More Pics

A local girl in front of her house. These kids are so freaking cute here, they shout "Mzungu" (the word for white foreginer) at the passing van every day.

This is the local pub. Behind that screen is the bar with the game on. This is in a village next to Moshi called Rau, and is their version of Ferrelli's.

Pics

This is the house.

This is a picture from the house of Mt. Kiliminjaro.

More coming later!

Moshi Town

Moshi is the city that we are next to. Homebase consists of two neighboring houses surrounded by a large hedge. The house that I am in s the central house and has the main hang out area and the kitchen in it. This is about a twenty minute walk from the middle of town. Most of the roads are not paved and the mud is slick and full of potholes that can be 2 feet deep. Almost all the citizens here do not have cars but take public transportation, called daladalas to and around town. The rule is that a daladala can not be full. We have seen people hanging off of them, people with the torsos out the window and more than 30 people stuffed in a van meant for 13. This is all quite usual.

The town has about a four block radius that is paved. The bus station is in the middle and there are two round-a-bouts on the outskirts. One is a clock tower and one has a giant statue of a soldier in the middle with a large sign that says "Water is Life" on it. The town is always packed with people. Citizens walk together according to age and sex, it is extremely rare to see women and men walking together. There are many people who have different businesses scattered around, usually in the form of kiosks and blankets on the street. There are a few different buildings that have several shops inside but all sell a limited selection of supplies. The town spreads out from this central part. For the most part, I feel very safe in Moshi. There are a few people who want to sell you crap but most are very friendly and want to help as best they can. It is hard to describe the organized chaos here. I hope to have pictures up soon. I will write more about Moshi as I observe and experience more. I am so happy that I chose to be in the same area for a significant amount of time. I am becoming less and less of a Mzungu (the slang word for foreigner) each day. Yesterday, while at the pool at a local hotel, I discovered how easy it is for tourists to come here and not experience any of the culture or the town. I am so excited to continue to learn more about this city and its people.

My Namesake

There are a group of about 5 guys (age 20-25) who are local volunteers from the community that help us translate within our placements. They are all really friendly and super helpful. And, best of all, they love me. And it is all because of my name, which also happens to be that of a football club in England that is much adored by them all. They have all assumed that I have a complete working knowledge of all the EPL games and teams and players. And, of course, I let them believe it.

The most shocking repercussion of this, however, was that as a part of our orientation we went to play soccer at the high school with all of the volunteers and staff and I of all people got chosen FIRST for the soccer teams. It was unbelievable. As we were lined up so that the captains, two local guys, could choose I was having nausea from all the terrible middle school flashbacks and could not believe it when I was chosen first, and all because of my name. And then to make it all that much better, they asked me to explain the rules to everyone. As a result, I ran my butt off like never before in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro in the blazing heat, made about 6 successful passes and a couple big boots, but now have about 5 good local friends. Nice pick on the name, mom and dad!