Appearence Matters

So many things happen in such a short time that its impossible (of course as I'm sure everyone suspected) to convey the experience through blog. But lets see
So what's up with the U.S. lately? Did I hear correctly that a mine collapsed in Utah, AND a bridge in Minnesota? And how's those presidential debates going? I think its gonna be such an exciting race now that its more diverse. Really, I mean for the first time in my entire life and in the history of this country the leader of the United States could look like...me. I know the argument, its not the sex but the politics that matter. Or the race but the politics. But for all the white men out there who read this, just try to imagine a country where for the entire history of the country it was run by black, or hispanic or indian women, andtry to imagine how exciting it would be for once to see a canidate who looked like you. Sure there's many arguments for disregarding appearance, but doesn't just a little part of you wish to vote for them anyway?
Its just this, appearance does matter. Really. Not obviously for the most important people in your life who will love you however you look, but alot of first appearances affect alot of things. And second etc. For example one of the things I will relish coming back to the US is anonymity. Wherever I go here I always stand out. Always, except when I am in Stonetown. And even then I have an appearance issue, of appearing to be a tourist because people really sometimes do not look beyond skin color. Even when I cover my hair and wear long skirts and long shirts, and speak kiswahili, people take one look at me and give me the mzungu price. I stick out like a sore thumb. So everything I do is like on candid camera, with kids "look Bi Sarah is buying an orange" or "Mzungu is riding a daladala", and when every little action that you take is a big event in others lives, it gets very...tiring. So I'm looking forward to the annonymity. But then it got me to thinking, in the US this is also part of a racial problem we have. When I go somewhere I am annonymous, but for black people in St. Ignace to go somewhere, not so much. They would have exactly the same problem I have here. And Indian people too (India Indian), and most certainly Muslims. So in very many cases, I am relishing to return to an anonymity which some people will never have. Because of their outward appearance. Which makes places like Isreal, and Mecca and any cultural/racial enclave in the US SOOOOO much more understandable. You don't realize how much you take for granted your racial appearance until you are the odd one out and how comforting it is to be not the odd one out just once in a while. And I'm sure this applies to race as easily as it applies to physical deformities, and other differentiating characteristics. This makes the U.S. such an interesting thing really as mentioned in Newsweek, because here you have a country not founded on a shared history, but a shared set of ideals. And that is REALLY REALLY wierder and wierder when you think about it. It's incredibly unique. Anyway the philosophy could go on and on, but the point is, in very many aspects of society in a way I didn't realize and don't think is necessarily bad -it just is-, outward appearances matter.
So on the US note, I'm excited cause this weekend I met and had lunch with some very friendly big wigs in the US government, and I have the pictures to prove it. My 1hr of fame. From Zanzibar, we had the first lady, Mama Shadya Karume, and the Minister of Health Sultan Mohammed Mugheiry, and the General Secretary to the minister (I shook the first ladies hand, eek!). And from the US there were more important people than I can remember, but a very friendly one I talked to throughout the lunch Admiral Tim Zeimer, who was head of the Presidents Malaria Initiative (a 1.5 billion dollar project and he's the head man!). He was great and totally a regular joe when I talked to him even though he probably knows Mr. George W. Bush well - since he was appointed by the pres. And also there was the head of the Center for Disease Control(from washington) and the Tanzania country director of the CDC as well. Furthermore Mr. Mark. Diebold the director of PEPFAR (Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief - a 15 billion dollar organization and he's the main man!) was there as well as a nice man from Nigeria, Mr. Smuel Adeniyi-Jones, from the US health and Human Services (he is the director of the Africa region) and the head of the US department of Health and Human Services Michael O. Leavitt who most certainly knows the president well. And I shook his hand and got a picture with him and Mama Karume and some others which I will show you. Also of course the US Ambassador in Tanzania was there. So I shook hands with bigwigs and felt important. It was cool. And then not a half hour later, I was asking someone a favor to use their squat choo on the normal streets of Zanzibar. So back to reality for me, but it was fun and a delicious dinner while it lasted. Anyway, I'll post the picture next time, but hope you all are doing well. Wishing the school bound good luck with the start of school. I'm getting excited here for my upcoming vacation!

love much