Amani, Upendo, na Maisha

Amani means "peace" in Kiswahili, and its one of my favorite Swahili words. It also describes my state of being in the village right now. Upendo is "love", and when you have a title like "peace," I think its obligatory to add "love," :). And Maisha is  "life". A little hippy, a little sentimental, a whole-lot Chelsea, haha.

Well, it's been about a month now since I've returned to the 'vil, and as difficult as reintegration after being away (and around Americans and modern amenities), I am beginning to be really at peace in the my village. The first few weeks were a pretty tough, but as of this week, I have begun to teach at the secondary school, and present on health topics at the clinic, or in other words, do "real" work. As opposed to my visiting, taking walks, and generally just hanging around that I otherwise do. :)

Starting to present/teach/interact even further in the community has really be wonderful, and being back around my neighbors, friends, and smiling/peeing babies, who were generally happy to see me again, and with whom I can now have slightly more in-depth conversations, (they were mostly 'hello, how are you? how's your family? Have a good day' there for a while...). Sure, there are days/moments/times where I get in a homesick or sad funk, but maybe its the starting work, maybe its the amazing support I get from home, but I'm starting to feel like I'm not COMPLETELY out of place in my village. Its a good feeling. I'm in town this weekend, after spending over two weeks in the village straight. As I was preparing to leave, I was excited (needed to use the atm and hit the supermarket, as well as hanging out with my lovely sitemates!), but I didn't feel like I HAD to leave the village, like I had in moments before. Don't get me wrong, I'm SO happy to be in town and definitely needed it, but, I realized I am really getting to LOVE my village. Which, at times, seems crazy when the roosters start crowing at 3 am, the teenagers cat-call and do other generally annoying things, I can't take a five second walk for pleasure without interrogation of where I am going, but I really am. People are recongizing me and introducing me to others, I get regular "zawadi" (gifts) of fruits from villagers, and the kids as SO excited when I come up the path to my house.

Besides theses mushy-gushy reasons, I have been thinking of other reasons  

Why I love my village/TZ:
(In no particular order, and will probably add to it in future blogs)

1. Where else can I indulge my embarrassing music tastes and sing along without being ridiculed? Yes, Tanzanians love Celine, too.

2. There is no such thing as LOW carb anything here. Andazi, Chapati, Sconzi, etc. Being the bread queen, I'm loving it.

3. No make-up? Haven't washed your hair in a few days? These are the days I get the most compliments. Not sure what that says about me, but the vanity is different here, and refreshing.

4. You greet EVERYONE you meet EVERYWHERE you go in the village. It was frustrating at first, but now I'm going to go back to the states and get stares from the strangers I can't help but greet. I LOVE the friendliness of Tanzanians.

5. You running late? You forget something? It's "hamna shida" (no worries). For the perpetual worrier in me, the relaxed, understanding of Tanzanians has been a lesson in life for me.

6. Kids. Though there are times (almost daily) that I wish there weren't a million little kids playing around outside my house, being loud and driving me crazy, when I hear "Shel-She, Mkono, Mkunde" from a group of toddlers and see them waving and jumping around like they haven't seen me in weeks (sometimes its just later that day), I can't help but smile and feel so warm and fuzzy. Then, there's my baby who loves me so much, she pees on me. Can't put a price on love like that. Seriously though, the kids here are respectful, sweet, and always helpful. I promised Mom I wouldn't smuggle any home in a couple years, but we'll see. 


7. Dukas. These are the little stores/more like stands where you stand behind a screen or at the front of the booth and the proprieter gathers all your items for you. The reason I love these is the fact that you never know what they will have. Granted most, have your standard TZ village duka staples: rice, beans, cigarrettes, pens, paper, soda (sometimes), string, razor blades, locks, and other things, but it's the times like the other day when I found a hologram Obama belt buckle, spaghetti (usually just towns!), and bobby pins, that I got excited. Neither have been purchased (yet--trying to be frugal but just got paid, so we'll see), but the discovery was just as exciting . Tanzania makes so much sense, and so little, but I'm loving discovering all its little quirks. 

Maybe it's the cooler weather, maybe it the less stress after beginning work, or the super- resfreshing cold, fresh juice I just drank (one of my fav spots in Tanga!) but I'm feeling pretty positive today. Of course that could change tommorow, or even later this afternoon, but for now, I think I'm supposed to be here and this is what I'm supposed to be doing. For all the being alone and figuring things out on my own, I could NOT do this without the support that radiates to me here from my family and friends at home, and my fellow PCV friends, who, thanks to a free PCV-PCV calling plan, I can to talk often! Cards, letters, packages, and texts are constant reminders of that support, but I also know its the prayers, good vibes, karma, and whatever other positive energy you all send across the pond. I appreciate it and it helps me everyday, because despite growing to love my village, it is a challenge every single day. But then again, I guess life itself is a challenge, right?

The next month holds teaching once a week at the school and clinic, participating in the village health group, and possibly starting a teen-health/excerise club in the next month or so, a site visit from PC, and continuing to try to learn Swahili and make my village understand my broken Swahili, cooking (hey I used my charcoal jiko for the first time the other day--woo hoo rice and lentils!), and trying to maintain this postive attitude. But with the aforementioned (and probably ongoing) list, that shouldn't be too hard. :)

Lots of Love from Lion King Land <3

p.s. I still promise to put pics up here eventually. Technology was not my friend in the 'states, and I am still fighting it here! :)

Ishirini na Nne (24)

Mambo, Rafiki!
Today I have officially entered my "mid" twenties...in Tanzania! Didn't feel very much different as I woke up, but then got to thinking about life on my two bus rides to town this morning, and in some ways I feel very much more adult, but then I looked down and realized I was eating my Cinnamon Toast Crunch (from an awesome 'merica package--thanks, Mom!), and in some ways I'm very much a kid still. Guess that's how your twenties go right? Well, I guess at least for me.
I'm in town (Tanga) for my birthday/Easter/seeing PCV friends who are passing through, but will head back to the village to stay for a while after this weekend. I just got back this past weekend from a two week training trip to Morogoro for our In-Service Training with Peace Corps, where I had internet access,but completely goofed on getting a blog out, whoops! It was a wonderful two weeks, full of Peace Corps friends, HAMBURGERS, pulled pork, milkshakes, all night dance parties, and movies nights with a big projector. It was almost too good, meaning the transisition back to living alone and being in the village will require a little more effort, but in some ways, its great to be back again. I feel like half the village has asked where I was, and that they were looking for me, and then are happy I'm back. That's a good feeling. :)
So it looks like it's time to start projects. I am planning to start teaching teh secondary school students "life skills" and present to patients at the clinic as they wait, with other projects to begin as time goes on. Its a little scary, and intimidating, but its time, and what I came here to do. Knowing I have the best support system in the WORLD helps immensely.
I wish I had more quirky anicdotes to add, but I guess i'm on birthday brain right now, and am just hoping the rain will stop so we can hit the beach this weekend! :) Hopefully will be able to check internet at site, or in the next month or so (after this weekend), so hit me up with questions, comments and whatever! Someday I'll get pictures up maybe here.
Until then, I'll be trying to act 24.....well, maybe. :)