One time I went to East Africa

I went abroad and this is what happened.  Here is a summary of my East African experience abroad.  I hope you have enjoyed reading the blog and thanks to all who commented.  Sorry I'm too dysfunctional to be able to comment back on my own blog.  You guys have been super supportive of everything and i really appreciate it!  Have a great summer and the only rule is that if you go to East Africa, you must take me with you :-) Bye!!!

So many white people...

Africa has come to an end, for now.  Traveling was incredible and consisted of many good laughs, a giraffe kiss, petting an elephant, riding a camel (ostriches weren't allowed), riding in vans with way too many people, riding on a bus with chickens, going to Ngorongoro again, visiting my Rhotia munchkins, meeting up with Moses and seeing a Nairobi shopping mall which by the way are way classier than those in America.

I've never really been culture shocked before and frankly I wasn't really totally sure I would be when people were talking about it before we left.  The disorientation on how to act and dress in America before leaving was helpful.  But still...I have found myself a little, challenged, maybe?  First of all, the London airport was the most absurd thing I've seen in a while.  SO MANY WHITE PEOPLE!  Everyone was in a hurry and I felt like a complete slob (but seriously, who wears high heels on planes???).  Also everything was soooo expensive that I almost felt uncomfortable spending $7 for lunch.  The plane ride was fine except the first guy sitting next to me kept farting which only reminded me of the "no shooting on safari" rule.  Think about it: you're the driver and everybody standing through the hatches in back is shooting (farting in Africa).  Your life would suck.  Then the lady on the second flight kept taking pictures of herself and then telling me she was going out after we landed at midnight which first of all made me a little uncomfortable although I so badly wanted to grab the camera out of her hand and ask to see like all the munchkins do.  I also thought she was crazy for even being awake past 10 pm (bedtime in Africa).  But eventually I made it home...

Things I've realized/done since being home include:

-> my bed is far too comfortable...when the bed is that comfortable of course you aren't going to want to get out of it! 

-> I took a cold shower, okay, not ice cold, but mildly chilly so that I could close my eyes and pretend that there might be a black mamba about to crawl in the shower...I miss the danger factor :-)

-> when you get back from being abroad it's like you haven't eaten since you were last in America.  Dunkin donuts, popcorn, cereal, ice cream and pizza is on the way...it's kind of gross.

-> I gave my brother his spear so that I could pretend he was a Maasai warrior.

-> I braided my sisters hair and made her put on the dress and jewelry I bought her so that I could have a constant reminder.

-> The internet is far too fast here.  No wonder we are always on it, you can never get bored.  In Africa you need to find other things to occupy yourself between loading pages...sounds horrible but is actually pretty nice.  

-> I refuse to turn on lights anytime before 6 pm.  I'm sticking to the 6-11 "generator schedule".

-Still a little baffled by the cell phone, but I now remember what it looks like and have even managed to text a few people.  

-> Ice cubes should not be this readily available.  It leads to dangerous consumption.

-> I just realized I have had both earrings in the same ear all day....being classy is difficult.

-> I'm scared to do laundry because I don't think that I will recognize/like my clothes when they are clean. 

-> I can't stop looking through pictures and watching videos and I apologize for all the people I'm going to make go through them with me.  You must pretend to be interested for at least 20 minutes, then you can do that thing where you try and change the subject without me noticing. It will probably work.

But, this probably doesn't make sense and so I'll try and write again and post some of the videos and pictures that the internet is now capable of loading.  And I think I've gone crazy cuz I just looked up if there were any restaurants that serve ugali in America...yikes.    

Family

My 38 page paper is finally finished and the only schoolwork left is our community presentation which I used to think was a big deal, but now not so much.  I can’t seem to wrap my mind around the fact that the program is ending so quickly.  I’ve been spending endless hours with my favorite munchkins, and watching cartoons in the house down the street with my new family.  I’ve been staying up way past my bedtime and doing ridiculous things like hiking up hills for sunrises in order to try and postpone leaving.  It’s like the second to last day of camp where you are super excited for trip day but never want the last day to come.  I’m going to miss the people here so much.  I feel like I have a whole new family of love and support between my SFS students and staff in both Kenya and Tanzania as well as my family here in Rhotia.  I’ve been giving out my email but I’m scared that keeping in touch will only be a saying.  I have this feeling of trying to not think about it, but at the same time being the thing I base all of my actions off of…leaving.  I don’t want to go but it comforts me to know that I will back, probably sooner than I imagine.  I can’t go too long without seeing these people again, breathing this air, being embraced into this culture, or called a mzungu everywhere I go.  I can’t do it, so I’m hoping some of you will join me next time I come back.  So you can see the beauty of this place, understand the simplicity and joy, and yet feel empowered to do just about anything.  I don’t know how you did it Africa, but you did.  You made me the person I’ve always wanted to be and I can certainly say that I will never ever forget you.  And to my new family, I hope we can keep in touch forever! 

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.