Munchkin playtime

Sorry for the lack of updates.  Once upon a time this thing called Directed Research came into my life and I have spent the last 3 days trapped in a classroom, eating, sleeping, working, the whole deal.  I had to analyze immense amounts of data with the rest of my WE group and then write an official scientific paper about it with the abstract through conclusion and even acknowledgements section.  So needless to say, not the happiest person the last few days and stress levels were high but I made it through and handed in my draft which I’m supposed to be getting back tomorrow. 

But, on to the fun stuff!  So every day at 5:30 Tanzanian time (aka any time in the late afternoon after school) I have this thing called munchkin playtime.  I go down the street and really find just about any kid that’s around and usually 4-10 more join in once they find out a Mzungu has come to play. We play Mambo Mambo Poa (duck duck goose) most of their time because that is their favorite game but recently we have taken on Mpira (some form of soccer) and other games.  It’s my favorite time of day and recently I’ve been invited into their homes which are beautiful and all the mamas are so welcoming.  Usually I just say “Hodi!”(can I come in?) Ninataka kucheza na watoto (I want to play with kids).  Then they say “Karibu” (welcome) and hand them over to me.  I tell them “Nitaroudi baadaye” (I’ll come back later) and take their kids off into the distance.  I have to remember that this would be totally creepy and police worthy in the U.S. but for now, it’s the most fun thing ever!  I normally don’t bring my camera cuz the kids get crazy and all want to see it, but we were coming back from town and I decided to take a couple pictures and let the mama take a few, but here are some of my favorites….Now you can virtually participate in munchkin playtime!

Happy Pasaka!

Happy Pasaka everybody!

Today started off with an early church service during which I had no idea what was going on because it was a Catholic service in a foreign language, so I basically spent my time making faces at the cutest little munchkins decked out in their Sunday bests.  The church was decorated with bright streamers and the singing and dancing was incredible.  Yet another time when I wish it wasn’t so culturally inappropriate to take pictures…

Then we went on a hike up a waterfall which was quite difficult and included Bura (the best askari ever!) lifting us up in some places in order to get up some of the boulders.  But overall it was one of the best hikes I have been on here, or anywhere for that matter.

Beautiful view

Bura and I

Rachel, me and Crossley

typical

And lastly, everyone spends time with their family on Easter…well usually.  Since the 29 of us have become so close doing everything together for the past 3 months they really have become my family…dysfunctional as it is.  But we decided to give each other roles for dinner.  Some of them included the great grandma whose spouse just passed, the aunt and uncle who are a lawyer and a doctor, the crazy cat lady, the two 5 year old twins, the foreign exchange student, and more.  I was given the role of being the 23 year old who is pregnant with no “baby daddy”.  Not really quite sure why that role was given to me but it was awesome to “eat for two” at dinner, and dress up!  So overall it was a ton of fun, and the staff now officially think we are crazy.  Mission accomplished.

Happy Easter everyone!

Happiness is a 10!

My entire life I've been the average person in terms of happiness I feel.  I've always loved to joke around, be absolutely ridiculous, laugh a lot, and be quite chatty with other people, proof of my love for summer camp.   I've never let things bother me too much and I've remained pretty calm in most situations.  I would call myself a social person and if I had to rate my happiness on a scale of 1-10 I would give it an 8.  Because like most other people I know I always think the grass is greener on the other side.  I always wanted what somebody else had, whatever it may have been.  But suddenly within the past few days I have realized something...

I’ve realized that it is true, the grass is often greener on the other side.  There is always going to be something I want to be, want to do, something I dream of but that isn’t a bad thing.  I should be always looking forward to something, because as I’ve learned, looking forward to something gives me almost as much happiness as actually doing it.  And why shouldn’t it?  So I’m not going to dwell on always wanting to be something else because if I really want to I can make that happen.  The grass is greener over there but all you have to do is go there.  Sometimes you may have to be quite creative in your means of going there and often there are sacrifices you have to make but if you really want it you can find a way.  I’ve come to where the grass is greener, in fact super green, here in Africa and here I have barely even thought about anything else I want.  I want to be here and here I am, which translates to a 10 on the happiness scale J

Africa has given me a lot….the greatest friends, the most wonderful mentors, the cutest little kids in the whole world, the ability to view elephants and giraffes as regular sights, the knowledge that money isn’t everything, the inspiration to do what I want to do, a reminder as to how wonderful my friends/family are at home, but most of all happiness and hope.  I feel like I could take on the world right now, similar to my teenage years where I was clearly invincible.  That’s the same way I feel now and I couldn’t ask for anything else.  Because I’m happy and loving life….now I just need some more Wyatt Beard in it J (creativity is needed on that one!)

I encourage you to go to the other side where the grass is beautiful and green, wherever that may be, and to not feel bad about leaving the side you’re on.  Now is a better time than ever, so why wait?   

Yup, I have a pet warthog

I <3 Africa

Call me crazy

There is this traditional healer in Tanzania named Ambilikile Mwasapile who is offering a medicine that he claims to cure many diseases from diabetes (type 1 vs 2 not distinguished) to AIDS, blood pressure, and cancer.  The medicine is the same for all diseases but it has to be administered from the healer himself.  It only costs 500 Tanzania shillings (30 cents), however the conditions to see him are strenuous.  He is so popular that people are flocking from around the globe and it takes about 3-5 days to see him right now and the line has no food, water, or restrooms, and is generally unsanitary as the average land cruiser is packed with 10-15 people.

Now before I came here I would have thought this whole thing was absurd and ridiculous and even though I love ridiculous there is absolutely no way I would have done it.  I'm pretty confident that most of you would feel the same way and to be honest I will be shocked if I don't get a couple "this is crazy, it won't work, don't do it" emails after this.  But since being here I have learned so much about hope and confidence that it seems absurd not to try.  I'm not sure if it's because I'm not at summer camp where diabetes is totally cool and normal, or if it's because of huge diabetes burnout.  But right now, sitting in these conditions for 4 days to even have a chance of being diabetes free seems like the logical thing to do.  Plus, it would be an amazing experience and I would learn so much from it.  Everyone from the people in my cruiser to the healer himself will teach me so much about life that I would do it even without the possible cure.

I realize that the word crazy does not even begin to define it in your mind and believe me I'm still a little shocked as well.  I don't know what is sparking my interest and if it is even related to me living here for 3 months, but it just feels right.  I have this gut feeling that something good will come out of it.  I'm not sure what that will be, whether it be new friends, a realization about how wonderful life is, a cure, or simply an epic story for later in life.  But I know it will be something, just not sure what yet.

Oh and for all of you worry warts, don't panic.  Because I will be bringing enough food and water and juice boxes for two weeks and one of my friends from here will be coming with me for the experience.  Also, word on the street is that it only takes a day now to do the trip.  So things are already looking good.  Yes, hand sanitizer will be involved and masks will be worn and with effective planning I really feel as though this could be one of the best things I have done....ever.                  

What a day!

Starting my birthday off strong with a great quote…

Me: Moses!  Guess what day it is?

Moses: What?

Me: It’s my birthday!

Moses:  Oh of course, we have to slaughter a chicken.

Me: Why a chicken?

Moses: Or a goat…

Today might have been the best birthday I’ve had… like ever.  It consisted of me interviewing farmers about their issues with wildlife damaging their crops with a local guide, Tatu (one of the few women guides, but super stellar!).  The interviewees complimented my Swahili, but frankly did not care at all about the fact it was my birthday because they don’t celebrate birthdays here.  Then we were told that we had to walk back to our meeting point (pizza shop J ) because the car was far away but we didn’t want to walk the 10 km back to the shop.  So instead we hired two motorcycles and rode the way there for only 500 shillings ($.30).  It was incredible!

Then it followed by going to Safari Park which is a local bar.  I ordered my first drink which was Malibu rum mixed with mango juice and it was quite tasty.  I never thought I would be at a bar with my professor, but then again I never thought a lot of things would happen until I came to Africa. 

After returning from Safari Park I decided to kucheza na watoto (play with the kids) down the street.  I discovered a new baby that I might just have to visit daily and turned duck duck goose into a mambo mambo poa game where the poa was just me tickling the chosen one because the running just wasn’t going to happen.  After the adorable children I came back to cookies from Erica, our student affairs manager, and then dinner followed by cake.  The cake tastes delicious in my mind but actually no baked things here are really good.  It was a crunchy, thick, mushy, corn bread like, cake with orange hinted frosting that literally still had solid chunks of sugar in it.  Yet, it was a big deal. 

But, as if the day wasn’t miraculous enough I’ve realized that it’s going to be weird not being famous when I go home.  Every time I step out of the gates of our school people flock towards me.  All of them want to hear me speak Swahili, kids want to hold my hand, they want my pens because they are “higher quality” pens than they have here, and the waving and yelling “Hallo” is never ending.  I don’t know if you guys realized, but in Karatu I’m kind of a big deal.  Not sure that will transfer to Tolland….

Baby Love

Today we had a non-program day and we spent the morning helping paint rooms for the kids at an orphanage in Mto Wa Mbu.  The kids were on break where most of them spent time with their closest relatives so that the orphanage could be renovated.  We painted crazy flowers, animals, even some mushrooms with gnomes on the walls and I was surprised at how artistic everyone was.  However, to be honest I didn’t spend that much time painting.  I spent almost the whole time with this cutie in my arms.  Her name is Righteous and she is 4 months old and quite the diva already (note: the hoop earrings and pink boots).  I’m usually not that fond of babies due to the crying/fussy/wake me up at night factor.  However,  I may have discovered a new love for them.  But how could you not?  I mean look at that face…

Then, the rest of the day I hung out in Mto Wa Mbu.  I got a shirt made at the tailor, bargained for a Tanzania soccer jersey for around $6 (usually $12-15), and enjoyed chatting in Swahili with some locals. 

Also, side note:  I think I’ve been here way too long because yesterday they had a goat roast and I came back from a run to them slaughtering it and I didn’t think twice… just waved and asked how their days were.  Life back in the U.S. could be interesting.

I think it's supposed to be awkward but it wasn't....

I would consider myself a fairly awkward person, but it has never really bothered me because I just blame it on living at a summer camp for 1/4 of my life.  However, here in Africa many words have been redefined including clean, middle of nowhere, delicious, easy, parent, confusion and many more.  Today, during my Directed Research I encountered a situation which I'm pretty sure should have been way more awkward than it was during our interviews.  After a full day of mapping an area using GPS, walking 12 km by foot in the hot sun, I was more than thrilled to be on interviews the next day (today).  We had a two page questionnaire that was quite extensive about wildlife and their interactions that were supposed to take approximately 30 minutes each.

Now, just to set the scene for this situation.  We, Crossley, Stanley (our local guide translator) and I, are out in the middle of nowhere with a couple bomas (temporary settlements) full of Maasai families that we set out to interview.  I was wearing my culturally appropriate long skirt with my loose shirt and a tie-dye bandana on my head that I was prepared to trade later at the market.  Oh and I was caked in sunscreen giving me that overall strangely shiny look.  Put the backpack with the huge smiley face on my back and you've got quite the outfit.

We had just been told by our professor via radio that we needed to conduct the interviews in Swahili.  Now, my swahili is still not very good and I can't talk to anyone for more than 3 minutes if they aren't under the age of 10.  All of a sudden I was told that I had to interview these people who also barely know swahili (they speak kimaasai) and get something out of it with the help of my local guide.  A teenage boy who knows swahili offers to translate from Kimaasai to Kiswahili and then our local guide would translate from Kiswahili to english.  So the interview begins and they put out their cute little chairs to welcome us into their home and we sit under the tree....sounds peaceful right?

All of a sudden word gets around the homestead that wazungu (white people) are present and the interview becomes a family event.  There are probably about 10 little munchkins with snot dripping from their nose and a third of them are not clothed.  There are 5 teenagers with their sassy faces who gather together and whisper things to each other followed by loud laughter and you know they are talking about you.  Then we have the mommas who are yelling at you for taking pictures even though it wasn't a camera but actually a GPS and asking for money.  Add on the multiple women who have breasts blatantly out of their robe "breast feeding" aka within one hour of the last time the kid was around.  We can't forget about the men with their herding sticks and skirts that are shorter than mine that too are finding it difficult not to make jokes.  Lastly, the mzee, who is the old man that is in charge of the boma, who people told us was not mentally stable that we were supposedly interviewing (probably not the best scientific choice) was leaning against a tree mumbling to himself.

Now I try and bring some sort of normality to the situation and start the interview by whipping out my swahili with of course the worst accent ever and reading off some questions.  After every third word or any word more than 4 letters they would burst into laughter and have at least a 15 second discussion, about what, I have no idea.  There were lots of giggles and stares and of course the pointing.  So between the avoiding people's stares and giggles and whatever impressions they had of us white people there was the fact that there were literally hundreds of flies swarming around my face to the point that I can't write and I don't think I have ever hated something more.  But, this is totally normal for them and the Maasai actually like when there are a lot of flies because that means there is a lot of milk to go around.  So slapping at them or setting up some sort of swatting system = completely inappropriate.  So, barely breathing, letting flies go up my nose and in my eyes, being made fun of for speaking swahili, followed by the general family appearance really wraps it up.

Forever, I will appreciate that there aren't that many flies at my camp on Moyo Hill and I am realizing just how much of a culture shock it will be to return to the U.S.  You mean women's breasts flying around, flies eating your eyes, people mumbling things in other languages while laughing at you, and drawing a crowd because I'm white isn't normal?

No cookies, no walking...those are the rules

So the past few days have been academics with a little fun on the side.  I probably emphasized the second part a little too much for my grades' liking, but hey.  So we took our exam which I think went well but we never know in Africa.  Then I learned that I was in Wildlife Management directed research which isn't the one I chose but it was my second choice so I was okay with it.  So I started talking to people as everybody got excited about their new groups and I found out that everybody got their first choice in the entire group except for me.  This is when I started getting a bit skeptical.  So I approached one of the professors (wearing my sass pants of course) and asked if I could switch.  He told me it was logistics and that there were too many people in the group.  To which I knew he was not telling the truth because people who ranked WM and Wildlife Ecology (my choice) evenly got put in WE.  So I admitted this to him and he looked a bit stunned.  Finally after quite some time they admitted that they had decided as faculty and with the safety director at SFS that it would be safer for me to be in WM because I was in a vehicle at all times and WE consists of long hikes.  "We didn't think walking was the safest option for you with your diabetes."  Well, that's a new one I thought.  Apparently not only can we not eat cookies but we can't walk now either.  I was extremely annoyed and put my sass sweatshirt on and said, "I think it's completely unfair for you all to make decisions about me without even consulting me especially when you know little to nothing about diabetes.  I would like you to tell me everything you know about diabetes."  To which he was a little stunned and after a little finally blurted, "well I know it's caused by too much insulin. And we think the walking will make your diabetes worse."  Okay, so now I can't walk and apparently it's getting worse in case I didn't have it "bad enough" before.  I wasn't even really sure where to begin.  So I started explaining him the basics such as diabetes isn't caused by too much insulin, and yes I can walk (even run on good days :-) ), and yes I will be eating a slice of my birthday cake in a week.  I think he was a little embarrassed because he got pretty quiet and said he would talk it over with the other professors and our Student Affairs Manager.  Finally it was decided that I could go with the WE Directed Research but at that point I was already behind and I just now caught up, handing in my proposal a day late.  But, the research starts tomorrow and my goals include 1) publishing my final paper on the human impacts on the ecology and distribution of large mammalian wildlife 2) showing the professors that diabetes doesn't mean you can't walk and that they shouldn't make assumptions without even remotely any knowledge behind it and 3) to visit the kids at the primary school for reading time every day after fieldwork whether I'm exhausted or not.  Hopefully the goals will go well and that at least I'll change one person's misperceptions of diabetes....possibly even two if it goes really well.  But, for now, this is what I will look like for the next 10 days, hopefully the happiness will stick. 

Mto wa mbu

Yesterday we went on a biking trip in Mto wa mbu which is the coolest little town ever.  The bike trip was awesome including a charging wildebeest right in front of us (slightly scary).  It was super hot at first which led to some serious dehydration issues, however we finally got to the lake with tons of flamingoes...epic jumping picture coming later.  Then we biked to the hippo pool which was also fairly frightening but super cool.  Oh and everybody wore their Tanzania jerseys they bought at the market in Karatu with over 5,000 people (amazing experience) where I didn't get a jersey but bought a cute dress for $3000 shillings or 2 dollars, but we looked like a white African cycling team.  On the way back it started raining and it felt so good!  During the trip over 6 people's bikes broke which in the United States people would have been demanding a refund and been really angry but here...it's kind of expected.  It was just another of those only in Africa moments.  Nobody really cared and a couple of athletic guys just ran the last couple of miles so it was totally chill.  But overall it was really cool and some students from the SIT program actually saw us and our whiteness and met up with us which was awesome.  Oh and pizza was involved afterward which was deluxe.  So overall a pretty exciting day!  We have our final exam tomorrow which I need to get 156% on but I think it should go well....but I should probably still study anyway, right?          

Ana maria...love of my life

we are so happy!

Serengeti National Park Camping Extravaganza

Okay, sorry for taking forever and a half to write this.  But an update on the most incredible camping adventure ever!!!  We went to Serengeti National Park for five days and spent countless hours going on game drives and seeing the coolest animals ever.  We saw leopards, lions, cheetahs, hippos, hyenas, giraffes, and so many more!  However there were two moments that really stuck out in my mind.  

One was the very first day after about 6 hours in the car and waking up at 5 for cook crew we finally arrived at the park gate where we could stand out of the hatches and go on a game drive towards our campsite.  Within twenty minutes of entering park we saw a cheetah which is very rarely seen and as if that weren't cool enough we saw a lion hunting her.  She was pregnant however she used her speed and got away but it was so fascinating to watch and the lion ran right by my car in which there were some not so very nice words exclaimed.  You should already be excited for the video that I will post when I'm home.  

The second thing was that every night if you wanted to stay up late you went into the vehicle (land cruiser) so that you wouldn't keep everybody else at the site.  The last night I decided to stay up late and around 11:30 pm we witnessed our askari Bura (more on him later cuz he is awesome!!!) chase after a hyena full speed to try and get it to let go of our trash can.  Now the trash can is quite large, one you would find in a cafeteria and was full of trash which you can imagine was pretty heavy, however the hyena lugged it like it was nothing.  It was hilarious to watch and yet a little scary at the same time.

Other events of the trip included listening to a graduate student talk about her research for the lion project, bird watching (not a personal favorite but better than I imagined), studying elephants which took 5 hours to find (quite the game drive!) and going to the lodge to swim and rinse the filth off our bodies.  On the last day we also saw a lion hunting warthogs and you would never believe how fast warthogs are.  I thought they had no chance but let me tell you, don't underestimate them!  

But my favorite animal of the whole trip was definitely lions, especially the cubs.  Multiple times they were within two meters of our car and often I didn't even have to use zoom on my camera.  They are absolutely beautiful and I'm highly considering working with them later in life, along with the millions of other things I want to do.  Here are some of my favorite pictures, most of them lions because I'm obsessed, but enjoy!!!!  

pregnant cheetah before being hunted

lions on their honeymoon where they spend 7 days by themselves

Simba? Is that you?

Hey adorable!

Familia

Hyenas and their awkward body structure

baby hyena!!!

playtime

of course, my new sunset obsession

oh hey tourism

baby is so excited

why did the hippo cross the road?

last view of a lion for the trip!

Oh and on a totally different note happy belated 15th birthday to the best little sister in the whole world!  I love you Sierra and hope it was the best one ever!