There Is Time

I just finished getting ready for the day. Today is not a usual day because it's Nyerere Day, a public holiday for which we have school off in honor of Tanzania's first president. As I showered and dressed, there was no schedule calling me to do it all in a timely manner. My day is totally open. So, I took my time. Slowly washed my hair (a must anyway because of the water pressure, although I believe I have the shower with the best in the house), slowly got dressed, slowly did my makeup for the day and brushed out my wet hair. Done. And, it's amazing what not using a two-in-one shampoo/conditioner will do (my first hair wash here; this shower I made the switch).

It's amazing how in California we are all so busy and we always hear ourselves and others say there's just not enough time. Here, there is time. And, for the most part, rightfully so. Everything takes longer in Africa. A trip to the airport 30 to 40 miles away? Three and a half hours round trip. Traffic. Making spaghetti? Awhile, for you must make the sauce from scratch. Downloading a program from the internet? I don't know because I've yet to actually complete a download. Estimated time to download the iTunes program looked to be about three hours. (I will try again!)

Today, I have a lot of time on my hands, which I usually don't do well with, especially when I'm alone. There are only two other girls around the compound, and a young married couple, because everyone else has either gone away for the break (back to school Oct. 25) or went to a conference for a few days across town. I have committed myself to taking this down time, or quiet time, and appreciating it. Loving it for whatever it may hold for me. True, yesterday I made a list of things to do over break so that I could stay occupied and not end up homesick or a worrywort. But today, the first day of this 11-day break, I am pledging to myself that I will accept the solitude God gives me and rejoice in the companionship He provides. Yesterday one of my housemates mentioned a "silent retreat" she and some other girls went on to Bagamoyo a few years ago. They didn't talk to each other during the daytime and consciously chose to be "alone" during those few days. A silent retreat. Hmm. Instead of looking at being alone here as "abandonment," I hope to remember my housemate's story and see it as an opportunity for a silent retreat with God.

As for the rest of today, it's only 10:30 a.m. now and Heather has accepted my invitation to go with me to Mlimani City Mall, where I can finally get a SIM card and a Tanzanian phone number. That will certainly help me connect here! We'll also get lunch while we're out, so that should be fun. A stop at the grocery store (Shoprite) or the convienence store (Engen) is also on the agenda for the ride back. We'll take a bajaj ("buh-jah-gee" or "buh-jahg") and zip around. A bajaj is a three-wheel car that's pretty much like a golf cart on steroids and my favorite mode of transportation here. I've yet to get on one of the Dar dala-dalas. They're much bigger than the ones near Arusha where I was before.

As I type this I'm outside on the upstairs balcony of the first house. There is a cool breeze and I'm looking out past the palm trees and rooftops looking at the blue radiance that is the Indian Ocean. There's a plan to go to the beach with Heather once or twice over break. Should be good.

Will write more later. Still need to write about my first 10 days here! Oh, I'll get around to it. There is time.

L

PS: Here are two views of a bajaj... Man do they zip around traffic!