Little trip to Mgori

So I was freaking out last week, I dont really know why I was so lonely and was about to go insane and not being able to buy a pineapple last week( because of some Muslim Holiday) was about to send me over the edge. I started tearying up and got all depressed... I thought about going home then and there! I kid you not it was sad.... so I ventured to another volunteers site for a bit to try to regain my sanity. She lives in this little itty bitty village called Mgori and it is so different from my site. The are only a few people there and everyone seems so nice, I even got an Muslim name because my name is too hard to say for Tanzanians.... So my new name in Swahilli is Asha... kinda cut huh? We did so many things while we were there.... like we went on this little hike to see these "so-called" ancient drawings and when we got to the top, I feel like I was in the Lion King movie, the part where the dad holds up Simba and the "Circle of Life" song comes on... needless to say it was an amazing veiw! We also tried sugar cane, it was a very interesting thing to try, cuz if you never had it it's basically this branch-like thing that you chew on to get all the tasty sugary substance. It was difficult to eat though because I thought my teeth were going to crack in half... needless to say this was a once in a lifetime experience. Never Again, but it was cool to try once, I love my pearly whites too much! Also we made a pineapple upside down cake using a charcoal jiko. It was so exciting I had no idea that you can bake on it. It's so crazy that I am starting to have the most crazy food cravings...I've never realized how much dairy products we as Americans consume, until I came here and there are no dairy products in site... I NEED CHEESE!!! haha, what I would give for a nice cold glass of milk and some chedder cheese. It's ridiculous some of the food cravings I have.... screw all this healthy good for you crap, I want my processed, artifically flavored, tastey food that I so enjoy...haha, They say all Peace Corps Volunteers conversations revolve around food, sex and poop! I dont know about the the latter, but everytime I see another volunteer we end up talking about all the delicious fooods in the US...it's sad really. But I guess it'll be there when I go back...haha.

Sorry back to my adventures in Mgori. Most of the people in the village are Muslim so we ended up going to Mosque with one of the Volunteers Mommas ( In Tanzania there are different kinds of mommas to get...it's a good thing to have many. Now I have a carrot momma, a tailor momma and a green pepper and tomato momma). It was such an exciting experience, I got all dressed up, rocking the head wrap and the kitenge around the waist. Side note: the kitenge - like a big piece of fabric that has many different purposes (i.e head wrap, waist wrap, used to carry babies (or made into a purse), used to make clothes and to filter water). Any ways, it's was an Awesome experience to go to the Mosque, and I think the Muslim religion is very interesting, although I dont know if I could convert? Also we ended up challenging these two guys to a game of pool ( and if you know me my talents for pool are practically non-existent) and it seemed as if all the males in the village came to watch. It was sad... there were like atleast 30 men watching the other volunteer and I playing pool. It was so embarrassing because needless to say we lost (2-1) but I was later told that we were the first women to ever play pool on that table. It's so weird because the guys play all hours of the day, while the women work. I admire the women here so much, they are really what Alicia Keys talks about in her song ( Superwoman).

So now I am back in town and things are good again. I am going to get a dress made today and go on another ventur to find a water filter ( Mine broke en route to Singida). I hate that i can't find one and the shop that said she would get one for me, I cant find....ARGH... Sometimes things here are so frustrating! Like yesterday I went to the Police station to get the name of the commanding officer and it took like an hour because they had to know where I was from, why I was here (apparently I am not American... I can't be!) and why didnt I have a man escort me to the Police station because I am encapable of being understood. I mean I know my swahilli is barely there but UGH!!! And today I had to go to the immigration office and they were telling me that I am not an American and that I need something to prove that I was ( the copy of my passport wasn't cutting it for them!) I even tried to use the example of Barack Obama and they still didnt believe there were black people in the US! This country pisses me off sometimes.... but I guess everyone goes through it, I just need to suck it up! Well, I guess this is enough randomness venting for now... I'm sure this isnt the most exciting thing to read...haha

Sidenote... I am so sad to learn that one of the people in our class left already. I talked to her before we got here and it was shocking that she decided to go back home... I guess for each it's own. Wish her much luck back in the US! (And eat many good foods for me!!!)

Happy holidays to all! And send me some MAIL!!! I'm Lonely here!!