So are you a Negro??

As you can tell by the title, I have had an interesting past couple of weeks. Like I said before I am moving to the desert and I found out that the guy that I am replacing has left me a hot pink cape... dont even ask. And by the way the first question he asked me was "do you like camels?" How the hell do you answer that? Ummmm, yes I like them when I see them in the zoo?!? Well, come to find out, as I walk to school I will see camels and elephants (and at night there are supposedly heinnas (although this has yet to be confirmed or denied)). What did I get myself into...haha. One good thing is that elephant poop is an excellent fertillizer! Not that it's easy to grow stuff in the desert.....

Anywho, you are probably wondering about the title of this particular entry... A few days ago, I was outside hand washing my clothes in the death-defying heat and this old man who was cutting our bushes stopped to get some water. He mosied on over and asked me where I am from (because clearly I am can't be Tanzanian from the crappy job I am doing washing my clothes). I tell him America and he rubs his chin and asks me if I am an Negro?!? Hmmmmm.... how to answer that question. I mean technically I am because although it is an "frown-upon" word, it means to be black.... but then not really because I'm biracial. So I said no and tried to explain that I was African American and that didnt go over so well.... because how can I be African if I am American (uuugh.... the complicated prefixes that we use to describe everyone who is not white...why not just American!!!!) Anywho... the blessed one (haha..that's what they call barack obama here because barack means "blessed" in Kiswahilli) aided me in my description, because evidently I am too light to have origins from Africa. Since my Swahili is still elementary, I am sure that I did not get him to fully understand that I was an American... he kind of shook his head and said "ok, back to work" haha... but Hamna shida.

So tomorrow is the big day! I will officially be a Peace Corps volunteer! I am so excited and terrified out of my mind. I am so used to being around other people that speak english and having a family to go chill with when I get stressed out that I am a lil nervous about what I am going to do when I am by myself. I know it will be ok, but now I am a little frighten about being in a area all by myself and knowing a small amount of English. It will be good to be in my own place, being able to do things my own way! Although I am sure the moving process is goign to suck terribly! If you were about to send a care package, please hold off until I get my new address, because if not I may not be back to the Peace Corps office for a few months. Seeing that I am moving into a house... if you would like to send Awesome things to decorate my home (nothing too fancy) I would appreciate it! Oh yeah, when you send things PLEASE DO NOT DECLARE EACH INDIVIDUAL ITEM... JUST WRITE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS!! Thanks, it was ok when my things were sent to the Peace Corps office, but now there is no security and resistance from things getting raided... ( Email me in a few weeks and I will send you my address, I cant put it up here)

If you were wondering what kind of things I would like, here is a small list ( but let your mind go wild):
*Peanut butter M&M's
*Ramen noodle packets
*Calender
*Fly swatter
*Pictures
*Magazines
*Juice Packets
*Beef Jerky & other meats( if you ever send something this should be included...thanks :-))
*Spices (Ms. Dash, taco seasoning, dried ranch packets)
*Other Awesome things ( like a nice letter)

But honestly don't feel obligated to send anything... it's great if you do though! So I have found out that we are in Dar on Thanksgiving, so I may give my cousin a call that lives there... hopefully he wont mind. Last time he was out of the country I guess....

It feels so good to move away, because being involved in a big group means you find people that you are too fond of.... but soon they wont be a problem! Oh yeah, my sister is having a baby!!! ( And so are other people but I wont put there business in the street...lol) It's a girl! It's so weird that life is going on without me...people are pregnant, getting married, joining Greek orgs....aghh it's too much! I love you all and keep me posted!

Site Announcements!!

This past week I shadowed a volunteer in a cooler area around Moshi... I loved it, I was cold at night. Her site was amazing (although it was in the mountain... and a quite dangerous hike or daladala ride to her site, which was at the top!) Some of the other volunteers came and they went on a hike down to the waterfall (there was nothing that would convince me to go on an 11 hr hike) and we were able to see Kenya from her house. They even had an British radio station that played American music!! It was absolutley gorgeous!! We went into town and I was able to get American food, I was so excited! And the hostel we stayed in had hot water... It was my first hot shower since I've been in Tanzania. We even went out to a pretty awesome night club that played good music.... although this guy kept dancing with me the whole night and by the end his girlfriend was not too happy.... good thing I dont know Kiswahili...haha.

So I was convinced that I would be going there for my service, but NO! I freaking got stuck in the desert in the central part of Tanzania... I mean it's a fairly awesome site because I have running water, electricity and even a western style toilet ( that's livng the big life in Peace Corps terms). I also only live about a 30min walk to a major town! compared to some other people, I got it made.... so I am not going to complain! I have a fully furnished home and even a refridgerator, so upon arrival I dont need to buy anything.My closest "peace corps" neighbor lives about 100km away...not close at all...haha. But it's crazy because the only specification that I made was that I hate the heat and want to be in a cooler climate... I guess it just wasnt meant to be... Hamna freaking shida!

So that's about all that is new with me... I get sworned in next week, and I will officially be a Peace Corps volunteer... cant believe it!! Write more later...gotta go

Quick Update:

* I am so excited that OBAMA won!!! I can't believe its true... maybe because as of now I feel the US is a distant world that I use to know....

*Last night I cooked spaghetti from scratch... it turned out amazing, my family devored it... it didnt taste like speghetti but it was pretty darn good... (*OH yeah thanks grandma for the pepperoni!)

* We are basically finished with the Kiswahili portion of training...We take our final Language and Oral exam on Monday and Tuesday... wish me luck I am terrified out of my mind!

* Next Wednesday, I get to go "shadow" a volunteer for a couple of days, I'm excited to see some more of Tanzania and take a break from homestay family.... I love them, but I am in the need of change!

*I swear in on Thanksgiving Eve... and move to site Thanksgiving day... I'm a little sad because we wont be able to travel for the first three months and that means Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, Im going to be solo.... not too excited about that.

* I just found out that I have family staying in Tanzania ( to much of your suprise...it's on my white side...lol) I have scheduled to meet him the next time I go to Dar... it's exciting...

That's about it, life's great! I'm out of time... Peace

And the countdown to the end of training begins....

Well, I cant believe that training is almost over... I mean I have 3 weeks left but only more days in the actual classroom. I am so excited!!! I am more excited that I won't have to miss out on the covering of the election... PC has arranged for us to get up as the a$$ crack of dawn and go to a really nice hotel to watchy the results! Im really excited because even though the stupid state of Ohio won't let me vote (its a conspiracy and I know it!) that I will be able to watch as the blue wave of hope sweeps across America! Yes, I said it! Barack is going to win!!! The morning will consist of celebratory drinking at the butt crack of dawn or.... drowning my sorrows ... either way, I'm sure it'll be a day I'll never forget!

So thank you all who have been writing me letters, I feel so loved!!! This past week was really stressful and I was very pissed off at a certain person this past Thursday, so when I received my 5 letters and my box that looked as if they just threw the box off the plane from 15,000 ft in the air, it made my freaking day!! Thank you grandma!!! That box was amazing... I loved the sodoku ,the magazine and coloring books and crayons... Amazing! (oh yeah, i heard that if you use the white flat rate boxes at the post office, it will come in a week...future reference)

Ok, so I guess you want to know whats it been like here, thats the reason you are reading... well, things are going well, just wrapping up my kiswahili lessons. My final test is next tuesday, wish me luck! After my final test, we go to shadow another volunteer and I am very excited!! I love my host momma, but the beans and rice every day is killing me. It will be good to get on my own and live in my own house.... Thank you to all the people that called me this past week and told me how fun Halloween weekend was at OU (while I was either walking to school or in school) that was amazing (SARCASM!)

Well, I love you all and I hope to send out my letters either monday or tuesday!