Things I do because I've lived in Tanzania (#1-10)

I've been on "summer" for about four hours now. And it feels great to be alone in my apartment. I love being home and can't wait to enjoy my little place more during the mornings/afternoons for the next few months.

About two months ago I really started to make an effort at transitioning to life back in the States. I know, by that point I'd already been home nine months, the same amount of time I was even in TZ. But when I came home last June, I immediately occupied myself with finding a job, then found one, then dealt with transitioning/adjusting to it, then got engaged (whoo!), and then... then I finally started getting my life organized bit by bit, and in March realized it was time to focus on me. 


Repatriation is the word, and it means returning and adjusting to your country of origin. Handling repatriation is a very important step in taking care of yourself—mind, body and soul. Just as there are transitions to deal with as an ex-pat abroad, there is processing to be done once you've returned home. March was when I started paying attention to this and finally started taking steps to process my life in Dar.

One of those steps was reading this article. I read it multiple times within days of finding it and I think about what I read in it all the time.

So here I am. "Summer." Time on my hands to plan our wedding and hunt for a teaching job, but most importantly for me, time to process my beautiful life in Dar es Salaam.

To start, I've decided to compile a list of quirky habits I picked up living in Tanzania. The way these habits continue to pop up truly amazes me, as I've been home 11 months now. It sure doesn't seem like it. Not at all.

Things I do because I've lived in Tanzania (#1-10)

1. Make sure my computer is always 80%+ charged. (Because you never know when the power will go out and you need something to keep you entertained at home after dark!)

2. Throw away perfectly good milk (sometimes opened, sometimes unopened) from the fridge because it's been in there a week. (And therefore must have gone bad since the power goes out and things can't keep in the fridge longer than 2 days max.)

3. Lay on my bed and watch the trees move in the breeze outside my window. (Because what else is there to do with the power is out and I'm about to die of heatstroke?)

4. Don't respond to text messages in a timely manner. (Because I how can I when I get more than two a day?)

5. Force myself to wash my hair regularly (which I do! It's just forced LOL Sorry, sounds gross LOL) (Because in my imagination brushing out my wet hair will will take forever—15 min—and I fear it will seriously hurt.)

6. Turn off even the smallest outlet/charger when not being used. (Because you don't want to run out of electricity! Save it! Save it!)

7. Crave ramen—and only ramen—for dinner on a sweltering day. (Because that's all I can cook on days without power! As in every other day, pretty much.)

8. Happily watch TV shows/movies on my laptop instead of on a bigger screen TV. (Because anything's bigger than my 8-inch DVD player in Dar.)

9. Drive without the radio/music. (Because, unless it's a "party bajaj," I only have the sound of life to listen to as I go along!)

10. Wear my hair any way except in a messy bun. (Because when you live in humidity and wear it up for nine months straight, messy bun takes on a new meaning: hot mess.)

Joyfully,

LG

What It Means to Know Me

My best friend in TZ recently shared these two verses with me and they have already had a profound effect on my heart as I begin to reflect on my experiences here.

Jeremiah 22:16 

¹⁶ He defended the cause of the poor and needy,
   and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know me?”
   declares the Lord.

Isaiah 58:10-11

¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
   and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
   and your night will become like the noonday.
¹¹ The Lord will guide you always;
   he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
   and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
   like a spring whose waters never fail. 


 L

The Bigger Picture

As I look back on this blog, it doesn't capture even a speck of my life and experiences here in Dar es Salaam. But honestly my goal was to have one post a month and I succeeded, and such a minimal goal was no mistake.

Awhile ago (December, actually), I decided I would post more about my TZ experiences after I got home. I believe this will allow for more honest and thorough stories, and will serve as a great processing device once I am back on the Pacific coast.

It might sound silly, but I believe I will be able to describe and retell the scents, sounds, tastes, feels, images, pain, laughter, struggles, victories better once I am stateside rather than while I am here. You see, long ago most aspects of my life in Tanzania became normal, so it's harder to fully and adequately write about them. It's a challenge to write about everyday things, especially when, once I'm back in California, they will be so much more than everyday things. The life I have created here is invaluable to me, and I want to honor it in a way it deserves. This means writing about it later, not logging it live.

There are three weeks left until I board the plane out of Julius K. Nyerere International Airport. The anticipation of departure weighs heavy on my heart. I force myself to think about what I'm excited about back home, but the first things I came up with are actually quite lame: Shopping. Food. A bigger, comfier bed. Yes, these are nice things, but it just makes me feel so superficial, and dare I say a tad bit like an ugly American.

In an effort to push through such trivialities and gain momentum in my excitement, I've started identifying personal interests I'll want to be disciplined about when I get home: Spending time outdoors daily. Jogging, dancing, bike riding. Walking places and using public transit. Being present with others. Meeting new people. Being more diverse in recreational choices. Pursuing my passion for global development and all the angles it entails.

One regret I have continually struggled with is not being involved with a nonprofit here. My dream job is to work for Camfed and the Camfed Tanzania office is only a 20-minute bajaj ride away. What is wrong with me? To be fair, my first month here I sent out numerous emails to a few agencies hoping to hear some response to my I-want-to-volunteer-and-I'll-do-anything offer. Never heard anything from any of them. Most addresses listed on their websites are P.O. boxes, so, for the most part, I'm not able find an actual office location to just show up at.

Still, the more I think about it, the more it all just sounds like excuses in my mind and a hugely wasted opportunity. I keep trying to believe that what I've done with my time here is exactly what God wanted of me. But I really struggle with that. It's especially inconceivable because I know I am called to international development. My life after Dar will take me into it. I know it. Those are His plans for me, somehow. So that is why it's confusing as to why I wasn't more hands-on with it here, why there weren't more open doors and less red tape. Maybe I didn't try hard enough. I don't think I tried hard enough.

My 2010-2011 time in Dar is almost over. I can't go back or gain more of it. And feeling this way will eventually be detrimental to the overall joy of my memories here. I must remember the bigger picture.

Sisters at William's village, May 2011

Yesterday, like most Saturday mornings since I've been here, I went to William's village. As we drove away in the bajaj, bumping and bouncing like mad along the rough dirt road, I finally realized that I had gotten involved. I had been a part of something that will forever have a place in my heart. I suspect that what I have been filled with from William's village is the equivalent of what I could have would have gained at a nonprofit here. The only difference is I won't have a letterhead to prove it or to express what it was or what I did. What we did.

So I must look at the bigger picture of it all, and to me that is change and sustainability. Improved lives with lasting effects. Perhaps loving on those children week after week wasn't the most grand of sustainable gestures, but showing them that they matter, planting a seed of self-worth and value in them, will hopefully endure even after I am half a world away. Development must start somewhere, I keep telling myself, and I am reminded of this through one of my favorite quotes:

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little." —Edmund Burke

As I wrap up my life here (literally, as I might start packing today), I will keep those faces, those personalities, in my mind. They forever changed me, and I pray one day they will be given the opportunities to shine their brightest and improve their country, a place already filled with so many beautiful and magnificent people.


L

Photo Post: Easter Break in Egypt

My housemate and best gal pal in TZ, Erin, and I went to Cairo, Egypt, for a few days during our Easter Break in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. For two blondes in Africa, Egypt was an adventure to say the least. A fantastic time. 

A few highlights: Re-routed to Yemen (almost Saudi Arabia) because of a missed connector flight, saw breathtaking pyramids and went inside them, rode camels, ate Egyptian food (koshary and fatta, yum!), visited sites where the Holy Family lived, saw the mummy of the Ramses II, enjoyed nightlife on the Nile in a city that practically never sleeps, and made sure to "Enjoy the Revolution," as the wall graffiti asserted in Tahrir Square. (April 21-26, 2011)

Click here for Easter Break in Egypt photos: "Enjoy the Revolution, Part I"

Love,

L

Photo Post: Zanzibar w/ Dave

I ran out of "free" room on Flickr, so I now have another account with Photobucket! Check out my "Zanzibar w/ Dave" album there.


Love,

LG

Photo Post: Bagamoyo, Blood Donation, Rika Tano, Birthday

About a month ago I discovered where I could upload photos! Blogspot and Facebook both don't like my internet connection here, but I won with Flickr, even though I think the site is confusing to navigate.

Anyway, photos are here! Well, some of them. I still have too many for International Day (back in November) and from safari with my family (and now with Dave).

Bookmark my photo gallery at http://www.flickr.com/photos/alifeinspired  :)

Specific Album Links
February 2011: Bagamoyo Trip w/ Erin & Heather

February 2011: Donating Blood in Africa

February 2011: Last Night w/ YoungLife Africa's Rika Tano

March 2011: Birthday in TZ

Enjoy! And drop me a line at ms.gordon@ymail.com :)


Much love,

LG

Just a Great Day

Great things happened today that made it a really good day here in TZ. An especially welcomed event since Dave left yesterday and it could have been long and sad.

A brief list:

• Went to "Swahili church" for the first time. Mbezi Chapel, just a short walk down the road. It was great. Felt God, felt love, even if I didn't understand the sermon. Hooray for understanding some of the songs though!
  
• Opened up a bag of Pepperidge Farm double chocolate milano cookies my grandma and poppy sent with Dave. Sooo tasty.
  
• Spent time with Marie, a friend and former housemate who I always feel blessed to be around.
  
• Enjoyed the breeze in the bajaj during the ride to Sea Cliffe.
  
• Ate celery for the first time in six months!! My favorite vegetable that I thought was non-existent here. Alas, I found it in the chicken salad I ordered at Africafe. DELICIOUS!
  
• Purchased and successfully downloaded Britney Spears' new album "Femme Fatale." Finally figured out the loophole on how to get music here since iTunes hates me: Amazon.com. Yay!
  
• Completely splurged and had not one but two mocha frosties w/ hazelnut.
  
• Heard from Dave via text saying he was in DC ready for the last two legs of his journey home.
  
• Now unwinding with a quiet night at home with power. A good day. No, great day.
  

LG

Less

    I am not less because I am different.
I am not less because my views vary from yours.
I am not less because my experiences are not like yours.
I am not less because my choices are not ones you would make.
    Or have had to make.
        Or will ever make.

    I am not less because I am different.
I am not less because my interests aren’t the same.
I am not less because my words don’t match yours.
I am not less because my path is its own.
    Exposed.
        Diverse.

    I am not less because I am different.
I am not less because I am outspoken.
I am not less because I appreciate dissemblance.
I am not less because of my appearance
    My dress
        And my makeup.

    I am not less because I am different.
I am not less because my beliefs are not symmetrical to yours.
I am not less because my relationships are intimate.
I am not less because I choose to live
    Openly
        And risk to learn.

    I am not less because I am different.
I am not
    Less
        Loved.

LG


This song came to mind just before I started writing.

Artist: Third Day
Album: Wherever You Are
Song: Carry My Cross

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K_Ny_oUtL0

As long as I remember
I've been walking through the wilderness
Praying to the Father
And waiting for my time
I've come here with a mission
And soon I'll give my life for this world

I'm praying in the garden
And I'm looking for a miracle
I find the journey hard but
It's the reason I was born
Can this cup be passed on
Lord, I pray your will be done
In this world

So I'll carry my cross
And I'll carry the shame
To the end of the road
Through the struggle and pain
And I'll do it for love
No, it won't be in vain
Yes, I'll carry my cross
And I'll carry the shame

I feel like I'm alone here
And I'm treated like a criminal
The time has come for me now
Even though I've done no wrong
Father, please forgive them
They know not what they've done
In this world

Three more days and I'll be coming back again
Three more days and I'll be coming back again 

So I'll carry my cross
And I'll carry the shame
To the end of the road
Through the struggle and pain
And I'll do it for love
No, it won't be in vain
Yes, I'll carry my cross
And I'll carry the shame 

Oh, I'll carry my cross
And I'll carry the shame

Food (period)

We're on day three of 10-12 hour daytime power cuts. I'm not fed up with the no-power so much as I'm over being hungry, devoid of the strength/nourishment food provides because I can't cook anything. It's rough not having a working gas stove, really a basic necessity here, I think. At this point, our electric stove is probably only 25 percent useful. The consecutive day outages make me feel like I'm on a hunger strike I didn't sign up for.

I dream of salad bars, Chili's, Chipotle and, most recently, Apollo Burger (or, day I say, Al's Big Burger). Oh, to have calories in my stomach! Yes, I know there are people just outside my housing compound who are living on rice and beans or practically nothing. I know there are people right here, people I see as I walk outside, who are much hungrier I am. I know this. But it doesn't change the fact that I have a full-time teaching job to do and doing it with minimum nourishment is just not really working out for me. I feel like I can force myself to push through the extreme frustrations of a horrible Internet connection (or none at all). I can deal with the sauna that is my office when we are on generator at school and can’t use the air conditioner. I can get a grip on my workload that is seriously intense and slightly overwhelming right now. But the thing is, when running on a shortage of calories, these aspects of my life are just that much more challenging, when they were trying to begin with.

I am not complaining. These days I’m simply tired, weak, dizzy, unfocused, frazzled, slow. And I’m sharing why. I don’t have anywhere near an appropriate diet needed to overcome these things. Coming here, we all believed I would finally learn to cook because I’d be on my own and living where that’s predominantly the only food choice. (No fast food fixes and any real restaurant is at least 30 minutes away.) It’s March, and I’ve been here almost five and a half months. I have never cooked meat. Not once. Don’t get me wrong, I am a pasta-cooking queen now. Al dente is my special. And, of course, there’s always heating up a frozen chapati (kind of like naan) on the stove. Yet even chapatis have taken a back seat, since they don’t stay frozen in my freezer (thanks, power cuts) and when they’re not totally frozen they don’t cook right. Oh, to have chapati and cheese today. Yum. But I digress. I want to cook so badly here. I know that when I get back to the States, I will be a cooking machine. That’s because I may. I'll be allowed to. With elements refusing to let me cook here, it has only increased my desire to spend time in the kitchen. I bought some chicken breasts two days ago and must cook them today or else they’ll go bad for sure. I finally said “I’ve had it” and bought some meat to cook. Not the first time; the other meat purchases just never made it to pass because they spoiled before I had power available at time when I could cook them. Waste of money, waste of excitement, waste of food.

To be honest, I’m having trouble focusing on finishing this post. Kind of dizzy and should go eat an apple. Or two. Or five. I do have the option of going over to Jen and Heather’s next door to use their gas stove. I’ll try to take them up on that offer today. (Those chicken breasts will not go to waste!) It’s just not the same though, and it’s not all that convenient. I also have the wonderful help of our two house ladies, Esther and Jacki. Unfortunately, their work schedules at our home are on the days we are “scheduled” for daytime power outages. We practically never have power when they are here, so even they can’t cook for us. (One week, however, they did manage to coordinate the use of the oven at another house on the compound that uses a generator. They did it all on their own, and they made pizza for us. They are awesome.)

So I guess I’m looking forward to eating fruit. Lots and lots of fruit this week, as I will give Esther a shopping list on Tuesday for nanasi (pineapple), ndizi (banana) and tikiti maji (watermelon). What else is there to eat when you have no way to cook and everything spoils so fast? Fruit it is, but even that fare can only take me so far.

Laura

Give Love

Since one of my first weekends here, perhaps it was my second, I've been going to a rural area called Mandale that we simply refer to as "William's village" about 35 minutes from my home. William Jacob is a Tanzanian and the head of cleaning at HOPAC. More than that, he is one of the most amazing men I have ever met. His spirit is always joyful, genuine, and thankful, despite many personal hardships. (His wife has miscarried twice and he has had two other children die after just after birth. They continue to hope and pray for a healthy child, and his wife is currently seven months pregnant.) William leads the church in his village, and purposefully chose it's semi-isolated location because it was important for him to reach out to that community.

For the most part, I go to William's village very Saturday morning for a few hours. Marie Christianson, an incredible woman and former housemate, has been helping William run a consistent children's ministry for six months. (I've been involved for four months now.) We play games (relay races!) and do crafts (coloring!) with the kids, who range from itty bitty to teenage. It's awesome to just go and love them every week. Today was especially great because we focused on love in our lives and God's love for us. It was an incredible morning.

As it's two days before Valentine's Day, my TZ bestie Erin Steinhoff had made valentines for the children by cutting hearts out of construction paper and gluing them onto a piece of folded construction paper. Inside each one, she wrote: "[name] Nakupenda! <3, Yesu." In English, "[name] I love you! <3 Jesus." With William translating, the children learned and understood that these were Valentine's Day cards and that they were "from God." They knew to keep them as reminders of His love for us. Marie had prepared photocopied papers that each had an angel with heart-shaped wings. The angel also held a heart in which Marie had written "Upendo kutoka kwa Mungu." Translation: Love comes from God. Above the angel, the verse 1 John 4:7 was written in Kiswahili. The children--all ages--love coloring, and they took much pride using their precious crayons to decorate their heart angel papers.

I'm not a parent, so I admit I can't possibly fully understand what it is like to experience those "first time" moments in the growth of your own child. But today sure came close.

I've fallen in love with a 3-year-old boy named Yahaya, but who I refer to as my "little old man." He never wears a shirt, and his shorts are always a little too big for him. Like almost all the other children around, he doesn't have shoes and runs around the sun-scorched ground barefoot. Somehow, his small, Tanzanian body and posture remind me of Walter Matthau, and his face kind of looks like a grandpa's. When I first met him, about four months ago, he wasn't as big (he has since had a growth spurt!) and was sick for several weeks, as indicated by low energy, a runny nose and sad eyes. Most of our little friends here spoke timidly when they first met us. (There were, of course, some high-energy, go-getters in the group right from the start though.) My little old man was one of the quiet ones.

But today, we reached a milestone. When I walked into the one-room church, he came right up with outstretched arms and spoke to me. For the first time. He spoke to me. I bent down and scooped him up, my jaw gaping but my mouth smiling. I have no idea what he said. I instantly played it over and over in my mind. Words. Some kind of words I could not decipher and probably don't know in Kiswahili yet anyway. By way of grunts or quiet, paired words, my little old man had been laughing and chatting with his older brother (a 13-year-old boy named Ridiwani) for the past few weeks, but today he spoke to me--and in a full sentence. He hadn't even so much as uttered one direct word to me before. Just grins and telling eyes to communicate. Until today. I can only imagine what it must be like for parents to hear their child's first words, for what I experienced this morning was an amazing and unforgettable moment. What a day of love.

xoxo,

Laura



 

Yahaya, my little old man.



Artist: Third Day
Album: Revelations
Song: Give Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjOn5VrrYGc

Whisper softly to me
Share with me your heart
And just ignore the world and what it does
I know that you've been hurting, you've been torn apart
And I pull you close and hold you in my arms

If you give love
I'll return the love and you will see
So much more than you gave away
If you give love
Give it to me

Listen very closely as I sing this song
And please believe that I mean every word
When I say I love you
I mean it with all my heart
Let it be the best thing that you've ever heard
If you give love
I'll return the love and you will see
So much more than you gave away
If you give love
Give it to me

Oh, give it to me
Oh, give it to me

Whisper softly to me
Share with me your heart 

Quotes of the Week 1

I approach the tables of goodies that make up the snackbar at the school's nightime football (soccer) game.
Student 1: Oh, Miss House!
LG: What?
Student 2: [leans over to friend] That's Miss STEINHOFF!
LG: [blank stare]
Student 3: NO you guys! That's MISS GORDON.

hahahahaha I was so amused. I told the third student to find me on Monday and I'd give her a housepoint. LOL

In the bajaj, Erin was on a roll after her Kiswahili lesson of the week.
Erin: [to the driver] Sisi ni walimu hapa. [We are teachers here.]

Later, in another bajaj.
LG: Tell him your line! Say your line to him!
Erin: [to the driver] Sisi ni walimu hapa. [We are teachers here.]


Bajaj driver has had enough of our grammar.
Erin: Unajui?
Driver: [laughs]
Erin: ... unajui ...
Driver: [kinda laughs]
Erin: ... unajui ...
Driver: [sternly] unaJUA
Us: Ohhhhhh

Jen M. walks up with a pretty gift bag.
LG: Ooo, what's in the bag?
Jen: Cheeeeeese!

Totally Backlogged, But Gotta Start Somewhere

Ohhhh do I feel bad about not updating this blog more often. Yikes!! I have good reasons though. Well, OK, fine. Only one good reason that expired almost 20 days ago: My family was here!! SO awesome and SO amazing!! But, let me be honest: As I sit down to write this, I'm coming off of a very disheartening day. For the greater part of the day I have been trying to remind myself of all the numerous blessings God has been providing for me every day. I've been trying to keep those positive thoughts at the forefront of my mind, but I'm still just feeling downright down. Today, two hours before I was scheduled to teach my first journalism course (an elective), I learned it was cancelled because only one student signed up; other students (grade 11-12) signed up for drama, photography, business, etc. It broke my heart. Truly. And, I had just finished putting together an AWESOME intro to journalism PowerPoint on what is media and the role of journalism. I was completely psyched and went from a super high to a super low. Now, as I type, I'm trying to find the balance of somewhere in between again; that good, nay great, place I was in just yesterday.

The best news is my life has been filled with SO MANY things to be thankful for. God is providing and I am SO grateful for His love and grace. I could not be doing any of this without Him. One of the great joys was having my mom, dad and sister come for two weeks over Christmas break. We spent a few days running around Dar, then up to Arusha, next on to safari before returning to Arusha and back home to Dar. A separate post to come on that incredible time!!!

For now, I feel like I should just write what comes to my head. Life feels normal here, so it's hard to pick out exactly what to write about. To me, the following will probably be random thoughts, but for you it will be a good overall of various aspects here, both trivial and not-so-trivial.

I'm eating a lollipop right now. (Score one for trivial!) They are one of my highlights here. It's my last one so gotta go to the store soon. Food here is definitely one of my, well, I wouldn't say challenges, but subjects that make me miss home I guess you could say. Take anything back home in California, take away half the flavor and that's pretty much what everything is like here. I am lucky my family brought me a luggage of goodies, which I'm consuming sparingly because when they're gone, they're gone! I might sound ghetto revealing this, but one of the first places I want to eat when I get home is Sizzler. I miss lettuce soooooooo much and dream of eating salads again!! Oh and those diced ham bits on top! You can occasionally find lettuce here, but it is a real pain to clean it (i.e. prep by soaking in bleach water, etc.) and to be sure it's totally rid of bacteria.

Speaking of bacteria, I have been so lucky (*knock on wood!!*) that I have had pretty darn good health here. I'm always scared to say (or write) such things because I don't want to jinx myself. I will admit that for the past three and a half months I have been holding my breath waiting for something really stressful or extremely challenging to happen. It hasn't. Thanks be to God!! Oh, and can I get an AMEN for dropping a pant size? Hooray! I eat so much less here; smaller portions, less snacking, fresher meals, lots of water. And of course sweating and walking to/from/around school add to it too!

I love our house lady. (No transition there, sorry.) We have two actually. Esther comes three times a week and cleans and bakes bread, and Jacki comes once a week to cook. We've only had Jacki make fruit salad so far, but boy is that an effort. Everything, especially food prep, takes longer here, and fruit especially takes time. I rejoice having these two beautiful, hardworking women in my home. I especially love when I come home to a bed that is made so crisply that someone would think it was ironed. (I only have a tight sheet and a loose sheet for my bedding here; no comforters or duvets--no way!) But more than the perfectly made bed is how adorable it is to see my Stitch doll (a la "Lilo & Stitch") propped up in difference places. Esther and Jacki do an incredible job taking care of my home and I am so thankful. Sometimes items in my bedroom will be moved around and I smile because I think it's entertaining for them to redecorate and see all the different ways the can style the room. Just the other day when I came home from school, I entered and said "hodiii" (may I enter) and Esther, in a happy and high-pitched voice, sang from the kitchen "karibuuu!" (welcome) They are great women.

The heat has not been bad except for the last week of December/first week fo January. I think it was because Arusha was cold (i.e. 70 degrees) and my body wasn't into getting thrown back into the high temperatures and humidity. I actually don't notice how humid it is until, like the other night, I realize my body is so drenched I literally have to take out a towel and dry myself off. That was the other evening when I was getting ready to go out. I don't use the air conditioner in my bedroom. Never had A/C at home, so I don't totally know what I'm missing. Plus, I always wanted a ceiling fan and using that lets me keep my two sets of windows open so I can enjoy the view from my room. But, I definitely notice (and struggle with) the heat when the power goes out at school. We don't use the air conditioners when we are getting power from the generator, so when I'm in my office (sans fan), I sit there and just soak in my own sweat. Lesson planning is impossible and grading is totally out of the question. I just cannot think straight! However, when Heather (the grade 6-8 English teacher) isn't teaching in our English classroom, I can move my office work in there because the ceiling fans are rockin'. I also get hot when I walk home from school and the sun is blazing down on me. TZ is like 11 degrees south of the equator or something, so the sun's strength is major. Shade is awesome here! Oh, and cloud cover!! I love mornings when I walk to school in the "shade" because the sun is hiding behind the big ol' clouds.

God has been good in answering prayers. One of my goals for the new year (no "resolutions" this year, just "goals") was to enjoy my classes more. Not that I wasn't enjoying them; I was. I just knew that I could really appreciate my lessons, teaching and students more. And I have been. The month is half over and every class period I have ended with a smile on my face. I feel like my students are learning more, too, so that is very rewarding. I am planning on starting a creative writing club and eventually publish a student literary journal, complete with a "book launch" affair that will be a collaboration between the English, art and music departments. Kind of like a night of the arts! Also want to do a speech and debate club.

However, time is working against me. Term 2 and term 3 go so fast. In fact, between April 1 and May 6, I only have 12 teaching days with my students in grades 10-12 (due to Service Emphasis Week and spring break). May 6 is their last day at school before the go on home study leave for end-of-the-year examinations. I will be teaching my grade 9 until the last day of school, June 17. The next six months are going to fly by, and I already feel like the last day of school will get here and I will be saying "it's all over?!?!?!" I had actually been dreading my family leaving because then it would leave a six-month abyss before me. However, God had other plans and I am doing great and receiving amazing news every day. In fact, Dave is coming to see me!! He leaves San Diego on my birthday (March 24 for those of you playing along at home) and arrives in Dar two days later on Erin's (my roomie's) birthday! Just in time for the parrrtayyy! Haha He is staying an incredible two weeks and I thank God for this opportunity for him and for me and for us.

I am happy here, to say the least. I give every day up to God and He gives me the strength and the patience and the ability to carry on. Not just carry on, but to live. A life here is not easy, and I by no means mean to make is appear so. However, with constant thankfulness I am able to enjoy this Tanzanian life and feel like I belong. Life is normal, and I love it.

L

Photo Post: Housewarming Party

A wonderful housewarming party was organized for us the Saturday we moved across the compound from the tembo house to the twiga house. Even though it had only been inhabited for less than a day, the house already felt like a home by having good people gathered in it. (Nov. 13, 2010)

An overview of the party in our downstairs living room/dining room.

Background to foreground from back left: Erin, Marie, Kate, Steve, Dyan and Lisa.

Left to right: Ben, Mary, Jen and Heather.

A pretty package of cleaning supplies!

Kitchen wares!

Placemats, plant and cutting board!



Rug/mat for upstairs living room!



Opening up the cleaning bucket!

We're excited with all our generous gifts!

Proof of Erin's "crazy face." LOL

Friends again! Ben, Mary, Jen, Heather and Lisa.

Housemates' first night at home! Kate, Erin and me.

December in Dar

Tomorrow is HOPAC's Christmas Fair and Tanzania's Independence Day (i.e. no school). I plan on grading, grading, grading. Because the next few days (perhaps week) are going to be so busy, I thought I'd post a quick update now.

I'm getting over a cold (as I sit here sniffing) and today was a crazy day. Things have been really busy because Term 1 grades are due on Monday and the grading system is insane. And I'm still grading assignments, nevermind attempting the calculation system. So, it's going to be a crazy few days for me as I want to try to get ahead of the grading because I have a ton of more grading to do that's due Jan. 7 and that's for the Grade 10 mocks. They sat for (practice) exams this whole week and I have about five essays per student to grade (read: 110). Ugh. And that grading scale is even more insane than the regular one. Lots to learn. Don't want to have to do it or worry about it over Christmas break.

We (Erin, Kate, Carley, Jen and I) went to see a play, "The Wizard of Oz," tonight. There's a place called The Little Theatre and they do productions. Two of my students were in it. Cute. Nice to get out for a change.

I played my first-ever soccer game today. 'Tis true! A bunch of athletes are going up to Moshi (near Arusha) for a sports weekend against other leagues from around the country, and as a send off to them the afternoon periods were shortened and the last 40 minutes of school we had staff vs. girls/boys soccer game. I played! OK, so I only kicked at the ball three times (and missed twice), but I made contact once and kicked it so I "officially" played in the game! LOL I think my position was left defense... IDK if that even makes sense. I played during the game against the girls team. We won (2-1). It was pretty fun. Would have played/tried a lot more, but with this cold I was like, um, not willing to take a step back with my progress just for the match.

And it rained today! Yesterday and today were much cooler because of the clouds layering the sky and blocking the sun. What a difference. Tonight, just as we left for the play, it rained. Loved it! We sang "Let It Snow," like a Dar version, on the way for a few minutes.

At the grocery store (Shoprite) two days ago I bought an artificial tree! It's 120 cm, however big that is. I haven't taken it out of the box yet. It was on clearance because the box is all ripped and banged up so I got it for 8,000 tsh which is like $5!! Probably going to set it up in my room tomorrow.

With the power out again last night (although not according to the "schedule"), Erin, Kate and I brought Christmas into our home by candlelight. I decorated our lil' Christmas tree while they bedecked the house with holiday cheer. It's truly December in Dar.

Thanks to everyone who is reading about my life here and for those who are keeping me in their thoughts and prayers. Please pray for traveling mercies for family and friends coming to and leaving TZ as everyone will be going their separate ways in a week's time. Please pray for the country's power (electricity) and for the water supply. Prayers of praise for cloudy weather and Christmas memories.

Love,

LG

PS: Emails count as Christmas cards! Please send! LOL

Living Matthew 7:12

For me, one of the most challenging parts of living in Tanzania isn't the heat. It isn't the language barrier or the currency exchange or even the indefinite power outages. What it is, really, is not being able to go anywhere by myself and, in effect, having to rely on other people to be able to do what I desire to do. Yes, there are some places I could venture myself, but most places are a little too far to travel solo. And when I think of going alone, I think about how I am, even slightly, lowering my safety level and I wonder if it's worth it. So far, no. Instead, I find something else to do and fight off disappointment because in-room entertainment is the order of the day (or night)--again.

What's difficult is not being able to go to a restaurant or a coffee shop when I feel like it. Or not being able to drop off fabric at the tailor down the street because there's no one to walk with me. Or not being able to go buy a T-frame for my bed's mosquito net because no one is available to accompany me in a bajaj to the next little town, perhaps a one-hour excursion start to finish. The "daily life" tasks that are dependent upon having another person around.

These last few days I've felt like a bit of a grump. Finally, now midweek, I've realized the reason why. There are a variety of emotions that go with it (disappointment, frustration, patience, grace), but I think I'm just a little bit sad that I'm so on my own in a place where that "lone" factor unfortunately results in a limited lifestyle.

Don't get me wrong. God has been blessing me countlessly with companionship and convenient opportunities to go and get things done. But what about when it stops being convenient? For me, I came into this experience knowing I would need others to help me, and I committed myself to helping fellow expats whenever and however I am called upon. It's not always about being willing and able. Here, I believe, it's about just being able.

Should I be asked, I will always accompany someone for a bajaj ride (or car ride) to the mall, to the grocery store, anywhere. I will always make plans with someone who seeks a partner (barring no previously arranged commitments), be it to go to a restaurant, a coffee shop, the tailor, the fruit duka, furniture hunting, whatever. I will offer my time and assistance because I am able.

What has been disappointing to me (and led to my recent case of the grumpies) is that I do not find such availability in the people around me.* Now, yes, people have their own lives, schedules, commitments. I am slowly growing mine. But such availability is not what I am referencing. By availability, I mean having the right combination of flexiblity and ability to help someone. I am available to the people around me. I am flexible and able to assist others, even when it's not convenient. Note "not convenient" doesn't necessarily equate to inconvenient. I'm not expecting people to inconvenience themselves. Living in a completely different country has enough inconveniences of its own. And I'm not expecting people to help me just because helped them. It just goes back to being able and being flexible.

Considering we're all pretty much in the same boat (eek, pardon the cliche), I am amazed at the situation I find myself in. We are all starting our new lives here (although some have been here a few years; adjustments are always on-going) and I see many of us building in various directions. God made us all so different, and yet we were all called here. I feel especially called to be out among the community and really connecting with native Tanzanians. I can honestly say that I am not totally fulfilled working at HOPAC. I absolutely love the school, the students and the staff, and I am happy I am here, but I know I am called to do more rural or poverty-based work. I see students in green and white uniforms walking from the school down the road and I get so excited to see them. What I felt in my heart while teaching at Nkoaranga Vocational Centre near Arusha is so different than what I feel here in Dar. I don't know if I can explain it yet, but I know that as I build my life here, I need to find a consistent way to connect to a native community. I am sure that will bring me much joy.

I also want to go out more and experience more culture around the city. I just want to experience more. Some people I have met are very content with a HOPAC-focused life. Some people use up all their time and energy with their job here. I want more than that. I am not here just for a job, and that is why I sometimes end up feeling frustrated, as I'm trying to fight off a stationary lifestyle. Today was an unexpectedly crazy day. I felt like all day I was going here and there and covered every inch of campus. Today was supposed to be my easy day. Today I was supposed to be free of teaching by 10:20 a.m. and spend the rest of the day grading. Didn't happen. But that is OK. And after work, when my right eye started being kinda fuzzy and was burning slightly, I said "yes" to a walking companion request. My tiredness and other ailment weren't so dire or important that I couldn't put forth the effort to meet someone else's needs. What are my time, effort and energy worth when it comes to lightening someone's load or easing someone's burden? The answer is in Matthew 7:12: "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you..."

LG

*This said, I have also met some of the most generous, exemplary people right here in Dar. There is no shortage of God's love in many of the people I have met, and I am thankful for them.

A TZ Thanksgiving

My Thanksgiving didn't start with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. My Thanksgiving started with a bajaj bumpin' Eminem's latest single and passing Maasai warriors on the street.

Erin and I went to Dyan and Steve Larmey's house, where we celebrated with 29 other folks and gorged ourselves on turkey (white meat, hooray!), stuffing (delish), sweet potatoes (yes, I know!), REAL cranberries, and even a few pies. All day it didn't feel like Thanksgiving (um, hi, I went to school and taught), but I kept sharing joyful "Happy Thanksgiving" wishes to all my fellow Americans on campus. Tonight, I was blessed by the Larmey family with a true-blue Thanksgiving meal (minus Gramma's epic shrimp cocktail, of course), and I am thankful for the fellowship I was so lucky to experience. Americans, Tanzanians, Brits, all were most welcome (karibu sana), and it was amazing to meet many new faces for the first time and still feel like we were, for this night, a family.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the ones I love back home!! Miss you Gordons, Grovers, Partches and Bechters! (And Hollingsworths across the miles!)

Erin and I in the Eminem-enhanced bajaj.

Table for 31?

God gave me a little nudge of home when I saw we all had nameplates. <3

A Larmey family thankfulness turkey. It reminded me of the one we have at home. I made it when I was little and labeled every feather "fether."

Erin and me before dinner.

Mary and me. She lives on the compound, too, with her husband who's the school's sports coordinator. They coach swim together.

Turkey anyone? Erin, Dyan and me.

Apple pie and pumpkin pie. Post feast, I had only enough room for one bite of Erin's slice of pumpkin pie.

The bird.
(Notice the African drums in the upper right corner.)

My place at the table. My nameplate turkey-shaped cookie is orange, just above my plate.

About to sit down to dinner.

Dyan and me.

Marmalade!! The Larmey family's pet goat. I finally got a photo of her! She's on the first-floor patio railing.

Forgot to wear this over to dinner! Took a photo and wore it around my room when I got home. Oh, Target dollar bins.

My right leg in its pink-spotted glory. My body total is up to 21 bug bites today. Happy Thanksgiving!! Haha

Feeling especially grateful for my supportive family and boyfriend and for God's daily presence in my life. I couldn't do any of this without them.

Much love,

LG

Wet Clothes & Cold Showers

I've been in Dar a month and a half now and I'm beginning my transition/adjustments all over again. I just moved last Saturday and now I'm living with Erin and Kate in the Twiga house. (All the houses on the compound have names.) My room is upstairs and I have my own bathroom attached to it (and a small balcony patio, too). After living with my parents and sister for 27 years, it's amazing that "my first place" is half a world away. God sure had a plan. There were numerous times I thought I would move out of my parents' house in Cali: when I was 18 to go away to school at San Jose State University, then later when I thought I'd transfer from CSUF to finish college at SJSU, then once I landed my first full-time job, and even later when I had other full-time work. None of those situations panned out for various reasons, but looking back on my life I see how every corner I turned has led me to living here in Tanzania. The steps I didn't get to take toward living on my own before were actually steps toward living my life here. I'm supposed to be here and I'm supposed to be here now.

That sentiment is one I hold to on days when I feel frustrated or lonely or weird. For the past few days I've been feeling like I felt the first couple of weeks here. The move has created the sense of starting over from the beginning. I shared that with Dyan, an awesome woman who leads YoungLife Africa, and her insight was very encouraging: You've been through this beginning stage of adjustment before, so what would you do differently this time around? She was right. It isn't new territory since I've been at this point of adjustment before. I've been keeping her words in mind.

Every day, throughout the day, I try to find things to be joyful about. It helps me feel better overall, no matter what might be on my heart or mind at any given moment. It is amazing at how many opportunities there are to be thankful for things big and small. Thank you, God, for the afternoon breeze so the air isn't so stifling. Thank you, God, for the invitation to go out with a friend so I don't go stir crazy. Thank you for cold showers on hot, sticky days. Thank you for the food in the staff lounge on the day I only brought oatmeal for lunch, and thank you for helping me cross the busy street. Thanks, God, for helping me to recognize the good things happening around me, like the fact that I now have my own room where all my belongings are finally unpacked from my three suitcases.

The first morning in the new house I woke up to the first rainy day since I've been here. Heavy rain, and it was awesome. How refreshing and what a sense of a clean start. That was a Sunday morning, so I immediately wondered what it would be like to walk to church (down the street at school). The rainy season is something I'm extremely curious about, and there it was: a test run. Marie, Erin and I walked to church in the rain (real rain, not SoCal sprinkles LOL) and luckily I borrowed Erin's extra rain jacket. Nevertheless, the bottom half of my skirt was soaked by the time we reached our seats for the service. My shoes were wet but my soaks were amazingly dry, so that was great. It was really cool to sit in the open-air gym and hear the rain pelting the tin roof and watch it come down in sheets out on the soccer field in front of us. What a TZ church experience. What a memory.

It's amazing to me how my wet clothes didn't bother me at all. I think it's because I know God is with me, helping me deal. I go into a lot of situations with the heart and mindset of "that's just how life is here," which helps me not feel surprised or overwhelmed with many things. A common phrase is "T.I.A." or "This is Africa," and I try to have that resonating in me as often as possible. I try to keep it consistently in mind, using it as a proactive idea rather than reactive. That has helped me see joy in things or handle situations here a lot better. God has been blessing me with feelings of comfort and confidence in various ways, so I'm just going to keep on praying for those! (And good health and safety :) )

I still take it one day (or two) at a time. I'm most excited for my family to come visit. I keep thinking of how life outside the compound will look through their eyes: crossing the insanely busy road to school, riding in a bajaj, shopping at the outdoor market, buying items at the dukas (shack shops), watching a little boy herd his goats down a dirt road, seeing a maasai warrior walking along the street right past people wearing jeans and T-shirts. Inside the compound, at my house, I think about how they'll feel about hearing the blaring music from vehicles driving by, experiencing the electricity going out randomly, listening to the Muslim prayers being played from a speaker on the street, using bottled water to rinse their toothbrushes, showering with a silent shower, seeing ants (of varying sizes) around, and hearing the cows moo outside like they're doing right now. They're mooing a lot today. Doesn't that mean aliens are coming or something when the cows start mooing? Where in the world am I getting that from? Hahaha I have no idea.

Anyway... LOL... School keeps me very busy during the week, so that is good. Felt a little overloaded this week, but it's all coming together. Today (Wednesday) we have the day off because it's a holiday (Eid). There is a lot I need to do for school (i.e. prep for the upcoming poetry unit), but it's nice to be able to have the whole day open and work from home at my own pace. It's fantastic to have all my stuff out of my luggage now. I'm even listening to my CDs for the first time since arriving (first one: Third Day's "Offerings II"). Ah, a sense of home. The walls here are tough and need special hooks, so I'm on the lookout for some so I can make my bare white walls lovely. It was fun to go through all the special items I brought with me, like warm fuzzies from friends written at my goodbye party and past birthday cards that have special notes in them. Some of the items, especially pictures, seem like they're from a lifetime ago, but they make me feel so good.

Pictures from the school's International Day and from our housewarming party are coming soon. They're already uploaded on the computer, so it's only a matter of finding internet strong enough to not take five hours to post online!

Love and hugs to all,

LG

Mondays with a Grain of Salt (or, I Am Not a Snack)

A real update is coming soon. For now, I will say life is going OK. The move should be taking place this weekend, with a housewarming party from HOPAC's Staff-Parent Association taking place Saturday evening. More info on life here soon. :)

But, to ensure my new posts aren't few and far between, here is a fresh one just for you. Behold two mantras I have adopted here in Dar:

Take Mondays with a grain of salt
I've noticed on the past two Mondays I've been a little frustrated at school because of little things. My email's not working again. The last class (not mine) left my classroom a mess. I have to walk to the admin building a few too many times for various tasks. My whiteboard markers are ridiculously faint. My laptop's Microsoft Office program hates me. I have to play musical computers to order a print job, which in itself requires I move files onto my USB flashdrive. Oh, et cetera, et cetera. Even a British/Western-influenced school in Tanzania functions differently than an average school in the U.S., and it's on Mondays it seems I have to readjust myself all over again to this fact. By Tuesday, I'm OK; it's just Mondays.

After talking to another new teacher, who agreed she experiences the same "Monday frustrations," I realized that (A) hooray I'm not alone, but (B) more than that I have to take Mondays with a grain of salt. And not just on campus, but even when I come home after being slightly irritated at school. I have to remember once I leave HOPAC on Mondays that I shouldn't get upset about anything that might happen later that day (i.e., homesickness/entrapment freakout LOL). Of all days, Monday is the day I have to plan for indulging myself. Watching four back-to-back episodes of "The Office" on dvd? Sure. If that's what it takes to unwind and bring the day to a sufficient end. A new day will dawn (praise God for Tuesdays), so I just gotta take Mondays with a grain of salt.

I am not a snack
Oh, bug bites. You sure are fun. I was so proud of myself the other day because my bite total was... zero! Yet the next day I got a few and the day after that four more in one afternoon. (A mosquito HAD to be hiding under my desk. I didn't have those four bites on my lower leg when I got to school that morning!) The worst of it, really, is that they seem to LOVE my joints. With my current tally, all but four are on joints. Oh, and the ones on my feet are seriously the worst. I wake myself up in the night itching my feet in my sleep.

But back to the joints. In the last week, I have had bites on each big toe's knuckle, one on the knuckle of my toe next to my big toe, one on my knee, one on my elbow, and one the knuckles of both my pointer fingers. What is the deal with these jointy areas?! Anyway, I've been perplexed by the mosquitoes' desired sweet spots, so I had to share. When scratching the four bites that align down my leg (a four-inch linear display of pink spots between my knee and my ankle), I decided I should have a shirt that has a mosquito in a red circle with diagonal line through it that reads "I am not a snack." Indeed.

LG

One Month

Tomorrow, Nov. 1, will be my one-month mark here in Dar. In some ways it's come fast, in other ways... well, not so much. To be quite honest, it's like, it's only been a month? But in the next moment I can think, I've been here a month! Strange. It really is. I'm excited to reach this milestone, however, because things can only start to get regular from here. Of course I'll still be going through all the normal ups and downs of transitioning and living abroad (although the transition never really ends), but at least I feel like I'm on my way to living life here.

One major aspect of that will be moving into the second house next Saturday. (God willing.) There are still a ton of items that are nonexistent in the house that qualify it as "unfurnished" or "unliveable," but Erin and the girls and I are praying and planning to push through all that this week. We still need things like a water filter, light bulbs, screens fixed, fuses fixed... just to name a few. Oh, I could go on, but it's unfortunate and not interesting, so I will move along.

This week was our first week back to school since our last day on Oct. 13. Midterm break was long, but good. Unfortunately, the break has sort of mashed my transitions into living/teaching here. Two weeks of school and I was starting to get into the groove (as best as can be expected), but then almost two weeks off put that into a slump. Now, after all that time off, I'm starting adjusting all over again. I'm excited to get a real routine going. I told myself I'd give myself a month before I started a true exercise routine, so I'm actually happy that time is coming up. My posture has actually gotten worse (and I was Slumps McGee before I left), so I'm in need of some yoga stat.

I'm teaching all four grade levels now (9-12), so the curriculum is starting to flow. Should be in full swing by the end of next week. My grade 9 students are quite squirrely, but fun. Last week was my first week with them. Kudos to Heather (English, 6-8) for teaching them up until the break. Lifesaver. One of the best parts of Haven of Peace Academy (HOPAC) is that I am free (and encouraged) to take on anything I want. So far I've mulled over doing a student publication (journalism), a creative writing club (but a lot more "cool" sounding haha), a drama club/student play, a speech and debate club, and... wait for it... a volleyball club. Athletics, I know. Who knew?! This is the place where I can really build my school involvements for my resume and try things that I might not otherwise try--or have the opportunity to try--back in the States. For the creative writing club, I've already envisioned like a poetry reading night (but more than just poetry) where a few student musicians can provide music and the art department (along with the photography club) can showcase student artwork. Can you say interdepartmental? :) I'm excited.

So far I've reached out via email to about four nonprofits in Dar. I really hope to volunteer my time and become involved in a women's issues project (maybe health related) while here. I want to take a step out of my "education" box and learn and experience a different cause that I can be passionate about. I think it would be especially good for me depending on what I eventually earn my master's degree in. (Right now leaning toward international comparative education... or something similar/internationally skewed.) I haven't heard back from any of them yet, so I might just have to go do some door-to-door cold calls. One problem, however, is that almost all addresses in Dar are P.O. boxes, so it's quite difficult to actually know where the offices are. One I found just down the street from me; I discovered it on a walk one day and memorized it's name and Googled it when I got home. Magdala does microcredit stuff for women and women with disabilities. Although I haven't reached out to it yet, Camfed Tanzania is also not too far from where I live on this side of Dar. (Location is SO important, as I have to consider time as well as transportation costs.) My dream job is to work for Camfed. (Its U.S.A. office is in San Francisco; yay West Coast representin'!) It's my favorite nonprofit and I hope that maybe it's "a God thing" that the Camfed Tanzania office is fairly nearby (aka location: commutable). Need to pick a day and find a friend who will go with me on these cold calls. Prayers for volunteer opportunities please!

Yesterday morning, Saturday, I went with Marie to William's village. William is the head of janitorial at HOPAC. Marie drove the bajaj with only a little help from her friend and bajaj driving teacher Abedy. I was so proud of her! Those bumpy dirt roads can be monstrous to manuvre, I can imagine. We got there after about 30 to 45 minutes (we took a little bit longer route so she could practice her driving) and it was a great ride. It felt AMAZING to get out and see more rural aka off the main street people and villages. It felt like I was up by Tengeru and Nkoaranga (by Arusha) again. I felt like I was REALLY in Africa. Loved it. We arrived at a little church and were greeted by William and about four little kids. Marie and William (a great English-Swahili translator, btw) read the kids Jesus' story of the shepherds and the lost lamb. Then we rocked our crayons and colored lambs that Marie had printed out. She had even brought little cotton balls to stretch out and glue to parts of the lambs to make them soft. :) She's so awesome. After that we tried to sing a little, but the language barrier made it more amusing (confusing? LOL) than successful.

We went outside and played a catepillar race game with two lines/teams. (Basically they had to stand in a single-file line and have their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. They then had to jump together toward the finish line without letting go of their teammates' shoulders.) They picked their own team names: Njano (yellow) and Simba (lion). They were so still, quiet and attentive during instructions, but once the race started they were all energy, giggles and smiles. It was adorable and completely awesome. As we did race after race between the two lines/teams, more and more kids from the village started coming over. I think by the end of the morning we had about 15 kids there. (Remember, there were only three when we first arrived.) I look forward to ministering to those little kids in William's rural village every Saturday morning. It's a fun and rewarding time to just show Love.

Friday night I found myself at the first wYLdlife meet-up of the school year. wYLdlife is the middle school youth group put on by YoungLife, a Christian missions agency that focuses on youth. Each "club" (what the youth group is called) has a theme, and the theme for this first gathering was Dala-dala. Dala-dalas are like small city buses that people get jam packed into. It's insane and totally Africa. The kids painted a mural of a dala-dala on the side of a wall at the Larmeys (the home where it's held) and we sang silly dala-dala-themed songs, i.e. "Swing Low, Sweet Dala-Dala." Some lyrics included "I went to Mwenge and what did I see? A goat and a chicken sitting next to me." LOL In fact, we had an empty dala-dala come and we packed all the middle schoolers in there, along with a goat (who jumped out quickly) and a chicken. When they exited, we counted 44 kids we had packed in there. (This particular dala-dala was about a little bigger than a 15-passenger van.) Hahaha It was hilarious. One leader said he put his face up to the open side window of the dala-dala and could feel the heat radiating out of it. Haha

The highlight of the entertainment for the night had to be the skit in which two senior boys pretended to be dala-dala drivers. The short version of it goes like this: The dala-dala driver complains and explains how he works so hard. Long hours, no breaks, tons of heat. Because he gets so hot driving with all those people and sweating in the sun, deodorant just doesn't cut it. What to do? He found a solution: peanut butter. [He proceeds to slop TZ peanut butter all over both armpits; he's wearing a sleeveless shirt.] His next problem is, because he sweats so much, he can never style his hair right. What to do? Well, he found a solution to that too: orange jam. [He proceeds to style a bunch of orange jam into his hair.] One of the drawbacks of being a dala-dala driver is not being able to stop for lunch. Well, being on the go all day, he just brings a chapati (like a thicker tortilla). But you never eat a chapati plain. He's got a solution! [He proceeds to wipe the chapati under his armpits really good to get a lot of the peanut butter. Then he wipes it all over his head to get the orange jam. He folds his chapati in half and takes a few good bites out of it.] Delicious. But of course if you eat a chapati you're going to be thirsty. No problem, he figured out how to handle that. You see, you keep a sponge tucked into your shirt at the nape of your neck, so that it collects all your sweat. [He proceeds to take the sponge from behind his neck and squeeze it's liquid into his mouth.] THE END. The skit was SO gross and SO awesome. Best. Thing. Ever! Oh, middle school youth group ministry, how I do love thee.

Looking forward to school tomorrow. Should go work on a "Jane Eyre" activity now. I have a meeting to go to tonight at another house on the compound. The meeting's for PEACH (Partnership for the Encouragement and Advancement of Comfortable Housing). LOL Lots of moving stuff going on (not just me and my house), so it's about that stuff. Today is Election day in TZ, so we have all laid low. Marie made an abundant and delicious lunch for everyone today. What a blessing.

Until next time, please keep me in your prayers. Prayers for a good move to the new house and support for housing issues; prayers for my health (the tummyache lasted about 9 days, but has since ceased); prayers for adjusting to life in Dar and emotions that come with it. Praise for Skype! And THANK YOU to everyone who has emailed me. Your contact means so much.

Lots of love,

L

PS: Happy Halloween! Hope someone carved a pumpkin for me. ;)