Well tomorrow morning super early I am headed over to Zanzibar to start my new life and job! I am excited sana! (A little swahinglish.) Pins and needles baby! What'll it be like? How will my Mkuu be? And my house! How ironic that the first time ever I should have a place all of my own is on the tiny island a hemisphere away from my country of origin. But really, I'll sleep and eat when and what I want...and it'll be my place! Yay! And I can decorate or not as much as I see fit, and no one can say boo about some tacky decoration that I like! But seriously, I will miss people, and my host family was great. But its really really exciting and a little bit scary to be suddenly so independent!
The swearing in ceremony was remarkably cooler than I thought it would be. Got to take an oath that I would protect and defend the constitution of the US both at home and abroad etc. etc. and really it made me feel kind of cool and important just to say it. Also sort of shored me up a bit to remind myself what I was doing. After talking with my assistant Mkuu (assistant head of school) the other day I was feeling a bit adrift. Almost like when I first arrived in country and I was thinking "Oh my goodness what did I just get myself into!" You know, slightly panicked. But then after the ceremony and the oath I felt better, and I haven't yet discovered why. Anyway, the assistant to the ambassador of the US was there to speak and he was a really cool guy. Theres something really great about seeing people in power talk sincerely and realistically about the need for idealists in the world and accomplishing goals. You could tell he was a really good guy. Its really heartning to see that. He also put out a plug for all of us to join the foreign service department after our service, and I must admit that he had me considering it. It would be kinda up my alley. We'll see, but its safe to say, I will be visiting him sometime in Dar to talk about it.
Anyway 3 minutes left. I just wanna say thanks for the letters and postcards from everyone. Tell Arnold line and Glens I said hi! Also will reply to all your letters about my school tomorrow when I get a chance to see it too!
Love you all and talk to you soon
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Friday, November 24, 2006
100,000 shilingi, a cell phone, and a tray of cashews
Ok its not my normal title so for the record this is the Nov 24 post. Some very exciting things happened this safari, and the title pertains to one of them.
First for the record, my new home of local will be in the Archipelego of Zanzibar...and thats as specific as I'm allowed to get on my blog..(peace corps rules). But we all know that it will be interesting cause after all, its got one heck of a name. Zanzibar. Therefore if you want more details you should email me. But in anycase, I'm psyched. And kind of complimented. It seems like it'll have lots of advantages but that also it'll be very culturally demanding. So I feel cool that they thought so well of me to put me there, or else I could feel cool that they thought I was cool enough to get such a rocking post, or just feel cool cause I somehow ended up in such a sweet place and many people are jealouse.
No but more seriously, there will only be one other guy from my training class there...which will be a challenge (cause most people will be able to see others more easily). I think we'll be good friends though, we've gotten along very well so far that I would call us good acquaintences. Also there is another married couple on the island and a health volunteer there as well. So I met the single health volunteer but haven't yet met the married couple. I'm sure they'll be great. The health volunteer was very cool.
Another sweet part about my site. All volunteers generally try to visit there, so I'll see people alot who are vacationing. In particular there is supposed to be a rocking New Years party there. Sweet huh? I'll be one of 3 trainees that can go for sure. (There are 2 volunteers on a different island who technically can go and I think will but plane tickets being somewhat expensive who knows?)
Went to the ambassadors for thanksgiving. He had all peace corps trainees and volunteers and marines and state dept personal there...basically if you are in Tanzania on official US business you were invited. ANd it was cool. He had a jazz band playing music, a dance floor, tents with tables for eating and just in general a nice outside set up , and he even let us walk around on the first floor of his house because it was so hot outside and he has sweet airconditioning. So I had pumpkin pie and apple (not nearly as good as yours mom!) and turkey. Yummy.
Oh and on the ride home, one of the sellers who runs up to the bus windows at pit stops to try to sell you water or biscuits, tried to buy my hand in marriage. The guy sitting next to me saw it and proceeded to negotiate (for me!) a better price...which before the bus got going it ended at 100,000 shilingi and his cell phone, and then he threw in his tray of cashews as we were leaving in a last ditch effort. I was tempted of course....yummy cashews...but alas! I'm still single. SO there you have it. My story.
Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving too!
Love and best wishes
Sarah
First for the record, my new home of local will be in the Archipelego of Zanzibar...and thats as specific as I'm allowed to get on my blog..(peace corps rules). But we all know that it will be interesting cause after all, its got one heck of a name. Zanzibar. Therefore if you want more details you should email me. But in anycase, I'm psyched. And kind of complimented. It seems like it'll have lots of advantages but that also it'll be very culturally demanding. So I feel cool that they thought so well of me to put me there, or else I could feel cool that they thought I was cool enough to get such a rocking post, or just feel cool cause I somehow ended up in such a sweet place and many people are jealouse.
No but more seriously, there will only be one other guy from my training class there...which will be a challenge (cause most people will be able to see others more easily). I think we'll be good friends though, we've gotten along very well so far that I would call us good acquaintences. Also there is another married couple on the island and a health volunteer there as well. So I met the single health volunteer but haven't yet met the married couple. I'm sure they'll be great. The health volunteer was very cool.
Another sweet part about my site. All volunteers generally try to visit there, so I'll see people alot who are vacationing. In particular there is supposed to be a rocking New Years party there. Sweet huh? I'll be one of 3 trainees that can go for sure. (There are 2 volunteers on a different island who technically can go and I think will but plane tickets being somewhat expensive who knows?)
Went to the ambassadors for thanksgiving. He had all peace corps trainees and volunteers and marines and state dept personal there...basically if you are in Tanzania on official US business you were invited. ANd it was cool. He had a jazz band playing music, a dance floor, tents with tables for eating and just in general a nice outside set up , and he even let us walk around on the first floor of his house because it was so hot outside and he has sweet airconditioning. So I had pumpkin pie and apple (not nearly as good as yours mom!) and turkey. Yummy.
Oh and on the ride home, one of the sellers who runs up to the bus windows at pit stops to try to sell you water or biscuits, tried to buy my hand in marriage. The guy sitting next to me saw it and proceeded to negotiate (for me!) a better price...which before the bus got going it ended at 100,000 shilingi and his cell phone, and then he threw in his tray of cashews as we were leaving in a last ditch effort. I was tempted of course....yummy cashews...but alas! I'm still single. SO there you have it. My story.
Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving too!
Love and best wishes
Sarah
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Nov. 19 (Still)
It worked!! It worked! Life is good. Shadow is great. I haven't found out my site yet but soon enough.
And now more seriously on to philosophy, because I can, AND because this blog post needs to get some meat in it.
First the easier thing. I have noticed that when I speak of England I don't automatically assume that it applys to Europe everywhere, however when I think about where I am I often say Africa, not Tanzania. Or I think things which apply to Tanzania automatically apply to all of Africa. Then I have to consciously stop myself and say, NO its Tanzania only, you have no idea if the rest of Africa is like this, you've never been there. I know this is because I know so much more about Western Europe and Eastern than anywhere else but its still wierd. Upon thinking this I realize I do this to much of Asia too, just sort of lump it together,...all Asian people are the same. So anyway, I'm just putting this out there to make you all wonder about it too. Why is Africa one of the biggest landmasses in the world, assumed to be so similar? Why do we know so little? Just semi-something to think about.
The other is this. I remember specifically before I came I thought, poverty equals misery. Somehow life in Tanzania would be less than an American life because of the less things and more poverty. But its really not true. I begin to question some of the intervention. Not all! Just some things. Its just not true to say that because someone has a running shower his life is somehow more happy. Really I mean everyone I talk to...you stop being horrified at how poor you are and you get on with life. Its like once you get over the shock of having to walk yourself to a friends house who lives 5 miles away you just do it. And it's life. Or if this is all sort of confusing what I mean to say is its a mistake to think that somehow Tanzanians are less happy than Americans (less healthy but not less happy), life goes on here like everywhere. People laugh and make jokes. People stress, people chafe against social constraints and complain about politics and people move on. People aren't starving and it isn't a warzone and besides for the material goods differences I would say that there are sooo many things about Tanzania which are soooo similar to America.
Now there are cultural differnces, and language and political and whatnot. BUT I just was suprised to discovor that I don't need to feel pity for someone always because they just don't pity themselves. Life is bad here, life is good here, but life is still life.
Anyway, thats just my for the moment experience, and I'll let you all know if it changes. Just so you know though. Tanzania is a cool place.
And now more seriously on to philosophy, because I can, AND because this blog post needs to get some meat in it.
First the easier thing. I have noticed that when I speak of England I don't automatically assume that it applys to Europe everywhere, however when I think about where I am I often say Africa, not Tanzania. Or I think things which apply to Tanzania automatically apply to all of Africa. Then I have to consciously stop myself and say, NO its Tanzania only, you have no idea if the rest of Africa is like this, you've never been there. I know this is because I know so much more about Western Europe and Eastern than anywhere else but its still wierd. Upon thinking this I realize I do this to much of Asia too, just sort of lump it together,...all Asian people are the same. So anyway, I'm just putting this out there to make you all wonder about it too. Why is Africa one of the biggest landmasses in the world, assumed to be so similar? Why do we know so little? Just semi-something to think about.
The other is this. I remember specifically before I came I thought, poverty equals misery. Somehow life in Tanzania would be less than an American life because of the less things and more poverty. But its really not true. I begin to question some of the intervention. Not all! Just some things. Its just not true to say that because someone has a running shower his life is somehow more happy. Really I mean everyone I talk to...you stop being horrified at how poor you are and you get on with life. Its like once you get over the shock of having to walk yourself to a friends house who lives 5 miles away you just do it. And it's life. Or if this is all sort of confusing what I mean to say is its a mistake to think that somehow Tanzanians are less happy than Americans (less healthy but not less happy), life goes on here like everywhere. People laugh and make jokes. People stress, people chafe against social constraints and complain about politics and people move on. People aren't starving and it isn't a warzone and besides for the material goods differences I would say that there are sooo many things about Tanzania which are soooo similar to America.
Now there are cultural differnces, and language and political and whatnot. BUT I just was suprised to discovor that I don't need to feel pity for someone always because they just don't pity themselves. Life is bad here, life is good here, but life is still life.
Anyway, thats just my for the moment experience, and I'll let you all know if it changes. Just so you know though. Tanzania is a cool place.
Nov 19
So I didn't think I'd be able to post but here I am, and with a picture to boot. This is all of us in our training group, the picture I tried to post a few weeks ago. Since this point the guy in the 3rd row up on the very left has left, but besides that everyone is still present. This picture is at our training main site CCT (Christian something something I forget) but anyway, its a safi (clean and cool) place. The mountains in the background is the Uruguru mountains. (I think thats how you spell it, its hard cause here people mess up r's and l's all the time...people sometimes spell my name Salah, even though they say Sarah. ) Anyway, Karibu to you all and thats it for now while I try to get this to work.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Nov 15
So its been an eventful few weeks. I've finished the training at our Community Based Training (CBT) school and now we just have the big group training sessions. It was a cool send off. Last Friday we had a big school assembly and I made an impromptu speech to 300 some kids, then we prepared a speech in KiSwahili to the teachers and gave it later to them at a seperate teacher assembly. AND I got a new kaanga, which is an African garment or at least East African. They are basically like all purpose fabric. You can take it to a fundi and have it sewed into a dress or shirt ( its cheaper in some cases to have one sewn than to buy one...sweet I know...), or you can just wrap it around your waist like a towel, and do housework or wrap it around your waist when you are in public and wearing pants but don't want to offend *instant skirt!*, or even in long distance trip situation you can use it as cover for you when you have to go pee. Also when you are in a formal place you use them to go outside to the shower, or at funerals women will wrap them into head scarf's *respectiful tradition I think* or if you want to carry water on your head you can make it into a head handkerchief to help balance things out. Wew! Its alot I know. I'm also assuming you all are like me and had never heard of them before. But really if you look at national geographic pictures it'll make so much more sense! Also there is the kitange, which is basically a big kaanga with no words. And then all the normal fabric you might wear in the states is called kitamba. Its generally somewhat finer fabric and also thicker (which means hotter here!).
So I'm done with my cultural lesson I swear! Anyway, we had the assembly I got the zawadi (gift in Kiswahili), and then Sunday we went out with the faculty and they bought us drinks. It was really fun.
Also happy upcoming hanksgiving to everyone. I head out tomorrow for my shadow visit, and I won't be returning until thanksgiving. Also when I return I will know where I will be posted for the next few years! Am I excited...just a bit! Especially now that I'm finished with one of the last exams! Woot! We finished the written kiswahili today and of course it was great. I think it was really fine though. Hamna shida! ( No problems!)
Also to explain, a shadow visit is basically where I and another trainee go and shadow a volunteer whos been working for a while now. We just pretty much follow them around and see what they are doing and how life really is like when we get to our sites. I'll be shadowing in Mafinga, which is in the region of Iringa for all you geography buffs, but apparently where you shadow is not related at all to where you will actually be so chances are I won't be placed there. HOWEVER, I did here it was cold there, which I must admit I am mighty excited about. After this we will return to Dar es Salaam, find out our sites, eat a quick thanksgiving dinner with the US ambassador (yes really!..I'm excited!) and come back to Morogoro that day.
So cross your fingers for a cool spot for me these next two years, and I' ll cross my fingers that you all will have a nice thaksgiving as well!
Love all, and best wishes
p.s. I've been reading a book this week called "The Road to Hell" and its really phenomenal book about aid organizations so I do have to recommend it sincerely, although I know its somewhat disheartening to read. Just remember "the truth will set you free" and also that the author isn't completely right just alot of the time.
p.p.s. Also its like 3 days until Michigan beats Ohio State at football so I'm excited. PLease PLEASE don't tell me the score, I'm getting it sent here and gonna watch it on TV with an OSU dude! Crazy I know. Anyway, GO BLUE BEAT THE buckeyes.
So I'm done with my cultural lesson I swear! Anyway, we had the assembly I got the zawadi (gift in Kiswahili), and then Sunday we went out with the faculty and they bought us drinks. It was really fun.
Also happy upcoming hanksgiving to everyone. I head out tomorrow for my shadow visit, and I won't be returning until thanksgiving. Also when I return I will know where I will be posted for the next few years! Am I excited...just a bit! Especially now that I'm finished with one of the last exams! Woot! We finished the written kiswahili today and of course it was great. I think it was really fine though. Hamna shida! ( No problems!)
Also to explain, a shadow visit is basically where I and another trainee go and shadow a volunteer whos been working for a while now. We just pretty much follow them around and see what they are doing and how life really is like when we get to our sites. I'll be shadowing in Mafinga, which is in the region of Iringa for all you geography buffs, but apparently where you shadow is not related at all to where you will actually be so chances are I won't be placed there. HOWEVER, I did here it was cold there, which I must admit I am mighty excited about. After this we will return to Dar es Salaam, find out our sites, eat a quick thanksgiving dinner with the US ambassador (yes really!..I'm excited!) and come back to Morogoro that day.
So cross your fingers for a cool spot for me these next two years, and I' ll cross my fingers that you all will have a nice thaksgiving as well!
Love all, and best wishes
p.s. I've been reading a book this week called "The Road to Hell" and its really phenomenal book about aid organizations so I do have to recommend it sincerely, although I know its somewhat disheartening to read. Just remember "the truth will set you free" and also that the author isn't completely right just alot of the time.
p.p.s. Also its like 3 days until Michigan beats Ohio State at football so I'm excited. PLease PLEASE don't tell me the score, I'm getting it sent here and gonna watch it on TV with an OSU dude! Crazy I know. Anyway, GO BLUE BEAT THE buckeyes.
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