Try to explain depression in America to people living in a third world country and you realize the brokeness of man.

Public Speaking Was Never My Forte

My loving host family threw me and my friends a going away party the day before we left. Probably about half of the village was there, including the village officials. The celebration was a huge event in my village and marked an important event in the PCT/PCV's life...

unfortunately I had a bad case of 'harisha'...for those too lazy to look it up that means 'the runs'. I laid in bed all afternoon and evening in pain listening to the party outside. My family did ask me to come out momentarily and I reluctantly agreed. When I emerged outside I say the entire village and the village officially waiting for me to come and take a seat with my friends at the front of the 'stage'. Good. Then the village officials proceeded to tell everyone that they were sorry that I had harisha, but glad I was able to make it outside. This was followed by several "pole, catherine"s from the crowd. After the officials gave their speeches about us my friends told me that I needed to give a speech myself (they had done there's while I was laying crippled in bed). I stood up and addressed the entire crowd, thanking them for the opportunity for training in their village, thanking my host family for everything and telling them about my hopes for the future. I took my seat again and my friend leaned over and said, "Did you just give a speech with toilet paper in your hand?". I looked down and was able to confirm that. Good. I now know I will be remembered in the village as "Catherine, the girl who had harisha".

Home, Sweet Home

I'm officially in my village now and the past week and a half have flown by here! My house is pretty basic but I love it! I don't have electricity but I've just gotten used to going to bed at 8pm now. I realized that living here has really turned me into my parents (**disclaimer...mom and dad I love you and I mean that in the nicest way possible). I now go to bed early, wake up litterally when the roosters crow AND I've found myself wearing socks with sandals!

My village is pretty big and spread out so every day I take a bike ride around to try to see a different section of town. We have a few shops so I'll never go without ugali flour!

I've been pretty busy going to the primary school, seconday school, helping weigh babies at the clinic, and setting up my house. My favorite thing to do here is to go to church. The music is incredible! The older bibi sitting next to me this past sunday was convinced she was going to teach me the swahili words to each song by yelling them in my ear. I couldn't stop laughing!

Settling in has really gone amazingly well! I don't know how often I'll be able to update but my new address is:

Catherine Duthie, PCV
S.L.P 1081
Makambako, Iringa
Tanzania

I'd love to hear from you!

Love,
Cat