This past weekend we went on a safari to Mikumi National Park! It was pretty much the best thing we’ve done so far. I saw zebras, warthogs, buffalo, wildebeests, hippos, monkeys, elephants, and about a thousand giraffes. Unfortunately no lions or cheetahs this time, but there’s always the Serengeti! You all just let me know when you’re coming to visit and I’ll start planning the trip (and don’t forget to pack your hiking boots because we are climbing Kilimanjaro). So yes, it was great to say the least!
In other news I’ve determined that I am the beast in Disney classic Beauty and the Beast. I realized this the other day when I was brushing my teeth in our backyard like I do every morning. I heard the typical ‘mzungu’ shouts as soon as I entered the yard and felt the stares of all the neighborhood kids. They literally stop what they’re doing (ie playing, sweeping, walking to school/the market) to watch me. It then dawned on me that this was a similar scene in Beauty and the Beast when he yells, “So you’ve come to stare at the beast”…then I couldn’t stop giggling to myself.
This week my fellow village trainees and I decided we want to cook American food for my family. We decided this, of course, PRIOR to actually checking out the local fare and determining a menu. We’re still working on what food/ingredients we can actually get, and then we have to figure out how to prepare this feast using our charcoal ‘stove’. So basically this is me, an open flame, and a mission to prepare a delicious meal for about 8 family members, myself, and 4 other trainees. I’m sure I’ll have more stories for you all on how this actually pans out.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
If You Give A Mouse A Mars Bar
And so the mouse saga continues! For those who are not aware I am currently sharing my room with a dainty little mouse I would like to call Fivel. While Fivel and I have seen each other in daylight, I often only see ‘remnants’ of his visits to my room. Sometimes I like to play it off like those are not the markings of a mouse, or perhaps they have been there all along and I just hadn’t noticed. The other night made the possibility of his presence a definitive yes.
It was about 1 am and I awoke to hear my Baba return from the shamba (farm). I was glad to hear he finally returned and was drifting back to sleep when I heard the rustling around my room that I often choose to ignore. I was laying there counting more sheep when it suddenly dawned on me that I had a precious commodity left in the open wide…my one and only Mars bar. It has been over 6 weeks since I’ve had good candy and I was finally able to get this bar from a fellow PCV who brought it all the way to the training site from another town kilometers and kilometers away. What hesitation I had before about coming into contact with Fivel went completely out of the mosquito net when I realized that my Bar was exposed!
I knew I was protected in the confines of my mosquito net so I opted to not seek out other means of light to investigate the sound. Instead I chose my IPOD backlight to ‘illuminate’ my room. I hit play and would frantically scan the room until the light would go off, in which case I would have to find the play button again. I repeated this action and came up mouse-less.
As a lay there wondering where this mysterious creature of the night could be hiding, it suddenly dawned on me that the noise was coming from above me. I grabbed my ‘POD’ and hit play once more. To my shock I found Fivel nestled ON TOP of my mosquito net, not far from my head! I didn’t know what to do! If I scared it I risked it falling on me, but if I let it go I knew there was NO way I would sleep just knowing that at any moment it could end up tearing down my net and falling on my face! I decided to make a sound to scare it and see what would happen.
After one clap I watched it gracefully, almost in slow motion, slide down the side my mosquito net. I saw this little mouse silhouette cling to my net with one arm and then the next as he made his way down to the ground. I couldn’t believe I actually saw that happen! Now I KNEW he was on the ground. While I was relieved he was no longer above me and the threat of his sudden attack to my face was gone, I knew this only brought him closer to the Mars bar. Again, I couldn’t leave my security net…so all I could do was lay there and prepare my attack if I heard the rustling of a wrapper. I lay awake the rest of the night until I literally heard the roosters crow to ensure the safety of my bar.
To put an end to the suspense, the break of dawn revealed an unharmed bar…all is well in Tanzania.
It was about 1 am and I awoke to hear my Baba return from the shamba (farm). I was glad to hear he finally returned and was drifting back to sleep when I heard the rustling around my room that I often choose to ignore. I was laying there counting more sheep when it suddenly dawned on me that I had a precious commodity left in the open wide…my one and only Mars bar. It has been over 6 weeks since I’ve had good candy and I was finally able to get this bar from a fellow PCV who brought it all the way to the training site from another town kilometers and kilometers away. What hesitation I had before about coming into contact with Fivel went completely out of the mosquito net when I realized that my Bar was exposed!
I knew I was protected in the confines of my mosquito net so I opted to not seek out other means of light to investigate the sound. Instead I chose my IPOD backlight to ‘illuminate’ my room. I hit play and would frantically scan the room until the light would go off, in which case I would have to find the play button again. I repeated this action and came up mouse-less.
As a lay there wondering where this mysterious creature of the night could be hiding, it suddenly dawned on me that the noise was coming from above me. I grabbed my ‘POD’ and hit play once more. To my shock I found Fivel nestled ON TOP of my mosquito net, not far from my head! I didn’t know what to do! If I scared it I risked it falling on me, but if I let it go I knew there was NO way I would sleep just knowing that at any moment it could end up tearing down my net and falling on my face! I decided to make a sound to scare it and see what would happen.
After one clap I watched it gracefully, almost in slow motion, slide down the side my mosquito net. I saw this little mouse silhouette cling to my net with one arm and then the next as he made his way down to the ground. I couldn’t believe I actually saw that happen! Now I KNEW he was on the ground. While I was relieved he was no longer above me and the threat of his sudden attack to my face was gone, I knew this only brought him closer to the Mars bar. Again, I couldn’t leave my security net…so all I could do was lay there and prepare my attack if I heard the rustling of a wrapper. I lay awake the rest of the night until I literally heard the roosters crow to ensure the safety of my bar.
To put an end to the suspense, the break of dawn revealed an unharmed bar…all is well in Tanzania.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Butt Maggots
Mental image: butt maggots. Just think about it for a minute. Maggots…in your butt. This week we talked about basic first aid and potential cases we may have here in Tanzania. No one was more surprised than I about the idea of maggots that will lay eggs on your clothes, and if not properly ironed those eggs could hatch in your skin. Prior to this information I informed my host family that I didn’t need to iron my clothes because I bought wrinkle-free shirts to avoid the hassle…I’ll be taking that claim back soon. As if that mental image weren’t bad enough we THEN learned that those eggs are often picked up when you sit on the ground, causing the eggs to be implanted in your behind….thus the idea of what I like to call “butt maggots”. While this would normally cause some to worry, I erupted into laughter. Now I refer to friends and loved ones as “butt maggots”. I think it’s a term of endearment.
Aside from the idea of butt maggots, or perhaps going along with that new found knowledge, this week has been great! We brought the Fourth of July festivities to Tanzania with a big celebration with the PCTs that involved relay races, soccer games, frisby, volleyball, and of course tug of war. I then announced that I would be setting off the fireworks I managed to smuggle overseas…if only.
Being here I realized that sometimes, or often, I find myself in somewhat awkward situations. For those who know me I’m sure this comes as a shock, but yes, it does happen to me here occasionally. The other afternoon my friend and fellow trainee realized there was a huge celebration near her house. We walked over to see what was going on and soon found ourselves dancing in the middle of this party with people surrounding us. Just picture any awkward white suburban girl with zero rhythm and no dance moves and you have the two of us. Good times. It turned out the celebration was a wedding, and it was really awesome to experience the culture. I just need to learn how to stay on the OUTSIDE of the circle next time.
My Kiswahili is…coming! I’m able to buy mangos at the market, greet any and everyone in the village, and announce when I’m full. I’d say I’m near fluency right now.
So yes, things are going well and I hope things are fine and dandy back in the States!
-Catherine
Aside from the idea of butt maggots, or perhaps going along with that new found knowledge, this week has been great! We brought the Fourth of July festivities to Tanzania with a big celebration with the PCTs that involved relay races, soccer games, frisby, volleyball, and of course tug of war. I then announced that I would be setting off the fireworks I managed to smuggle overseas…if only.
Being here I realized that sometimes, or often, I find myself in somewhat awkward situations. For those who know me I’m sure this comes as a shock, but yes, it does happen to me here occasionally. The other afternoon my friend and fellow trainee realized there was a huge celebration near her house. We walked over to see what was going on and soon found ourselves dancing in the middle of this party with people surrounding us. Just picture any awkward white suburban girl with zero rhythm and no dance moves and you have the two of us. Good times. It turned out the celebration was a wedding, and it was really awesome to experience the culture. I just need to learn how to stay on the OUTSIDE of the circle next time.
My Kiswahili is…coming! I’m able to buy mangos at the market, greet any and everyone in the village, and announce when I’m full. I’d say I’m near fluency right now.
So yes, things are going well and I hope things are fine and dandy back in the States!
-Catherine
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