Oct 29

Woot 2 blogs in less than a week! I know y'all are freaking out.
Well its been a quite a week, so much to write about. I caught my first gross disease. Yes its true. No one can touch me... seriously it is scabies. Ewww! Yes I know. I'm not totally convinced I got it. But the medicine so far is making stuff better, which means I must admit the obvious. Well fortunately though I am a wimp so I went to the hospital early and it didn't develop into an all out body scratching, just a funky hand rash. Which admittedly is alot better than the malaria, giardia and ameobas that others have. One of our number is headed to a bigger hospital to take care of the malaria, so we all are crossing our fingers for her.
And also its not so bad because I DID go on the safari. Yes. SAFARI. So when you ask if I saw a wild elephant or zebra or warthog I really will tell you yes. I have pictures to prove it. I just got back infact so I haven't even gone home yet. Yes we went to the nearby National Park and rocked it. Unfortunately all members couldn't go because one was sick with something we aren't sure yet, although it isn't Malaria which is good. The girl who organized the trip though did come down with Malaria, and though she did end up going she and the girl with Giardia left early because they weren't feeling well. She's headed to the bigger hospital now. Which is good. Anyway, I'm trying to be purposely vague because of rules regarding giving out to much info over the internet so sorry if you are getting confused. The point is we took a one night trip over to the park. Went that day and this morning to the park, and came back now. Last night had a great party afterwords. A good trip for most, even those who were feeling ill came out to at least see a giraffe. Didn't see a lion yet, but I did stay in a hotel for the american equivalent of less than two dollars and fifty cents. And it had a shower, AND a fan, AND electricity. Can't shake a stick at a price like that.
And also I hope you all notice my attempt at picture posting. I do hope this works and I will try again if it doesn't. What you are seeing is all 40 of the peace corps trainees in my group. We are at our weekly group meeting place.
So enjoy.

Swahili words of the week.
Twiga (twee-ga)--giraffe
simba (watch the lion king) ---lion

Love you all!

Sidenote. Yes I tried to publish this in less than a week, but the first picture made this thing not come up. SO! If at first you don't succeed try try again, no? Here we are now at least....And its not happening this time. Sorry. Third times the charm. I shall try again later! Maybe I can hit up the zebras then. Love

Oct 22

So I'm probably the worst blogger ever! But nevertheless here I am again. Here's a shout out to the friends and family I haven't talked to in a while. Or maybe I have talked to too much. Its hard to tell sometimes. I try to send out emails to people but sometimes say the same thing twice I think.
One month in country has gone by! Crazy. I read a newspaper just yesterday and it really hit me. I'll need to do this. This will be my form of communication with the outside world. Besides of course emails from all the lovely people out their. But somehow it just really makes it hit home. I'm reading a Tanzanian newspaper and caring about events very much on this side of the world. This is my home now...not just a place I am visiting for a while. I think the same thing happened at U of M. You start getting wrapped up in the people around you and it does make the place you are at more homey.
Anyway, I'm starting to feel more comfortable here. Which is nice. It'll be even nicer when I'm more fluent but its nice to feel like you know alittle something at least. For example when I first got here the first week was sort of tough. Its tough because all the time you don't really understand what is happening. Not just what people are saying, but all the little non-verbal cues you are completely blank on. Nothing is familiar. You are in a constant state of misunderstanding. Now that negativity is overcourse countered by the intial euphoria of being in another country. However its nice now to feel the peacefulness of not being so completely out of the know.
The other day I was watching the kids at our school play soccer and it was really great. I said to myself, I'm in Africa, and I'm not just visiting but I'm living. I'm a part of it too. And I know there are different levels of happiness so its nice to know that on the outside though I am stressed, on the inside, deep down I am really content with my life right now and happy to be here. I had to say to myself. I wished for this and it came true! How marvoleous.
Today is a day off, a muslim holiday and its really very nice. Its just like in the U.S. you get most major Christian holidays off. Here you get Muslim holidays as well. So happy El-Idi everyone! Its the end of Ramadhan.
I went to a first communion party the other day and I could have kicked myself for not bringing my camera. You all should have seen it. The cultural atmosphere was really neat. The party was much the same as at home but also different. The little girl was wearing a pretty white dress and all decked out, but she also had her 2 friends/sisters/ I'm not sure what with her and there was a whole ceremony part to the party. They had a seperate table all decked out with congrats signs. And her father was like the MC of the party. First he welcomed us all, then we ate. Then there was extending of gifts. The close family went first, then extended family, then friends and neighbors. And when each group of people would come up to give their gift someone would turn up the music and every gift giver would get in a line and dance the gift up to the little girls recieving table. And she would thank them and then her 2 friends would take the gifts and put them to the side. Then her mom came out with the cake. And the little girl got to cut it, and then they used toothpicks to feed all the major parties a small piece of cake. And it was the same order as before. First the girl ate, then she fed her friends then her family then the neighbors, and everytime one group of people got up to be fed, they danced their way up to the table and kissed the girl on both cheeks as she fed them. Also whenever anyone came in late they would turn up the music then too, and everyone would greet the person and that person would dance their way to a seat.
So it was a very neat experience! Anyway the point is its been a good month. I haven't yet figured out how to add pictures to this blog so it''ll have to wait till next time! Sorry all.

Anyway heres me wishing you well, and hope you have sunny weather!

Oct 2

Ha I hope that is the day. I just wanna say sorry to the friends and family I haven't had a chance to email yet! My time is so limited, that I can only do a few at a time but that doesn't mean I don't think of you. The days have been moving fast so far. 2 weeks ago seems ages away. I think I can do this though. Its challenging, but the parts I were most afraid of, just seem to require some effort and they can get done. I went hiking Uruguru Mountain the other day. I got some great pictures, but I haven't had time to send them all out yet. I 'll do my best. Oh and also, many people have trouble saying my name and keeps adding a fina at the end. So twice now I have been called Sarafina. Nice huh? I think my teacher name will be Miss Sarah... because as tough as their last names are for me, mine is as tough for them. No sense freaking out the students. Maybe I'll end up being Miss Sarafina, who knows? Anyway, no one has asked if I was related to Bruce in weeks! One of the advantages of being overseas.
Hope you all are well. I'm still struggling with the language and culture. Its a real challenge. But they said just give it time. Most people aren't fluent until months after arriving at their site. So the fact that I haven't mastered the language in 1 week and a half isn't actually suprising them. Hope everyone is well.

Fun fact of the week: In Africa, in Tanzania, Older people are much more respected than younger. Every time you talk to a person more than 5 years older you should say Shikamoo.. (Shick-a-mow). as a sign of respect, and the response is Marahaba. This is like saying "Hello respected wise one"

Words of the week: Elewa (ay-lay-wa)--to understand
Lewa (Lay-wa)---to be drunk
Chelewa (Chay-la-way)---to be late

Which are not to be confused. Signing off for now.

Yours truly.