Habari Rafiki na Familia! A quick greetings from my new home (quick because i have like ten min of computer battery!)
Where to begin? Well my new home is what I like to call a Tanzanian apartment. Its two rooms, attached to the WEO (Ward Executive Officer)'s office. It has concrete floors, mosquito screens on the windows, a NEW porcelean choo. Lucky girl, right? I had a desk, a cabinent to hold my clothes and coffee table made to supplement the bed, couch, and two bookshelves the previous volunteer left for me. Its starting to feel like a home, and I was able to hang some pictures that I have been dying to get out of the plastic baggie they have been in since October.
Like I said my "house" is right by the WEO's office, and very near the village office and a place where they grind corn into flour (when there is electricity--another story). So, I pretty much always have people walking by, and my neighbors are literally right outside my window. Everyone is sweet, and my broken, awful Swahili has garnered a few smiles and nods. The kids play "football" (mpira la miguu) on a field near my house, and the little bitty kids play their own version under a tree right outside my window. Nothing like hearing a little kid laugh to turn a day around! :)
My VEO, Joyce, has been a God-Send. She has led me to meetings, visited schools with me, taken me along to her family gatherings, and generally led me around like a puppy. Thank God for her! She was the previous volunteer's counterpart, and I wasn't sure how it would work, but she has been such a help to me. Like I said, I have visited the two primary schools (i could write a whole blog about the kids and schools! :)), visited the 4 sub-villages of my village--yeah, its pretty huge! People sometimes teasingly ask why I dont' remember their names....i think i've met 300 people! I'm trying to remember names, but it will take time.
Which leads me to title of this blog, "Pole Pole" or slowly, slowly. I think I repeat this phrase 400 times a day: when trying to explain i'm trying to learn Kiswahilli, or that I can't remember someone's name, or just asking them to speak slower! Its definetely a trying time, but I just keep reminding myself this is the time to learn about my village, and what it needs and how I can help. I have been visiting the Zahanati (clinic) to "help" (more like wave at/tickle the babies bellies that come in for weighing or shots on Fridays...imagine that?). The nurses and "daktari" are very welcoming, like my village government.
Now to the important stuff, because my computer is on the brink and it'll be at least a few weeks before I can charge it. I haven't found that special "mama" yet to follow around/beg food off of, but my neighbors are kind, and everyday I feel more and more a part of the community. I did however, find a little "chai" stand, where I've been frequenting for a morning cup of chai, chappati, and beans. All for 400 shillings! (20 cents or so!). Helps with getting to know people and beats cooking! :) I'm taking after Grandpa Hand, sitting in the coffee shop.
My village is blessed with a pretty good variety of foods! I can buy bananas, oranges, mangoes, potatoes, rice, beans, flour, break, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, and a few other things---that's like everything! What I can't I supplement with trips to Muheza (kerosene, oatmeal, etc), which I'm getting the hang of! Speaking of Muheza, I now have a PO box! (check fb or contact my fam for it...not putting it on the web i don't think). Hope to get to check it about once a week or so, so can't wait to be pen pals! :)
While my daily routine has differed day to day, without electricity, I've been heading to bed so early. Which is nice, because with the motorcycles, *^#^%@! Roosters, and other village sounds, its often I wake up before 6. For those of you who know me at all, I know this is a shocker! :) Life is the village is slow paced, which is nice, considering the sweltering heat we've had. This is supposedly the hottest time of year, and let me tell you, it is rather warm! :) Come June, I'll probabbly wish for this.
My battery is blinking, so I better close. I appreciate the AMAZING support I constantly have from all of you at home, and it helps me to continue on this crazy journey I've begun. I'm still unsure of the work i'll do here, but everyday I feel closer to my village, and the new job i've undertaken. Know I"m thinking of all of you, and willl randomly find myself rememering funny stories with friends and fam, so know you are never far from mind.
Lots of love and I will eat a Mango/Orange for you! :)
p.s. no electricty in my village til next month! Yikes! Cell phone may be dead. alot. hope it gets resolved soon!
