Life in the desert

Training is finally over!! Thank God! Not that I disliked training but I am glad to get away from being treated like a child and like I am incompetent! So I moved to my site I think three days ago and I am beginning to like it. It took 14 hours on a crammed bus to get here, but I was really grateful because it wasn't hot that day. We arrived in the evening and my headmaster suggested that it would be better that I stay in a hotel that night. So that was my last night of a nice warm shower... I moved into my house that next morning and what a pig sty it was. I was glad that I was replacing another volunteer and didnt have to start from scratch, but this place had so much crap in it and looked like it hadn't been cleaned for months.... So I started sweeping the layers of dust from the house and I came across the biggest lizard I ever seen! I started freaking out, I know lizards dont bite but I dont want them(yes i said them because I have found atleast 10 so far taking up residence) living in the house. A student comes over to see what the fuss was about and I tried to tell him to take it outside, so he beats it with a broom and it's all over. Not what I had in mind but Tanzanians don't let stuff go... it's either dead or alive...only one way out!



So the town I live in is quite nice! I can walk from my house to town in about 20mins. I have everything I need here: internet, post office, western item selling shop, and major sokoni (market for produce and other items). I live at the school and compared to other volunteers the mass quantity of lizards and the largest cockroaches that I ever saw in my life who randomly appear are mere child's play to other volunteers that battle scorpions and other scary creatures at their homes. I dont have any direct neigbors but if I walk to the other side of the school there are some wives of a few of the teachers that live near by. I went to visit them yesterday to get out and about and it was very akward because I dont know swahili and they dont know english... we could have a basic conversation and after that it would be over and we would just look at each other. I have met a few cool people here thus far, like the teacher that shows me around and the owner of the internet cafe that I usually go to. People for the most part are nice and decent except for the people in the sokoni that try to charge you 5 times the normal price since you arent Tanzanian.... freaking BS!!! I dont understand...it irritates me so much! Anyways, I met some of the students and they are suprised that I am American and that I am my age. Everyone thinks I am about 15 or 16 and that I am from a different part of Africa...haha

Things are good. I have gotten my PO Box number let me know if you want it! I hope everyone had a good thanksgiving and will be enjoying the christmas season! Love you all!

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!

Hey all, I have had the wonderful opportunity to get to town again and I felt like I should write a bit about whats going on... Well last week I took my Oral and Written language test and they went well... I scored average on my written and intermediate low on my oral (we need to score intermediate high) to swear in. But Hamna shida (no worries), I am busting out my pseudo Kiswahili every day to beef it up a bit! Last week, I was observed teaching and the guy said I did great, and that he thinks I will make a great teacher!! I was so excited, because my students are actually understanding my super slow "special" mix of kiswahili and english. All of the secondary schools are taught in english and I have the pleasure of teaching the kids that just came from primary school (which is taught in kiswahili)... so its exciting that they are actually grasping the information... granted its units but still.... haha. Life has been pretty good, just chit chatting with the fam and making embarassing mistakes with my pronounciation.... I cant barely pronounce english words let alone kiswahili words that are 30 letters long with 4 consanants next to each other... The other day I tried to tell my momma that I wanted a certain type of drink, but I ended up saying that I wanted vigina....haha!!! She looked at me all crazy and busted out laughing, fell out of her chair and proceeded to roll around on the floor.... After 15 mins she said that I need to pronounce my y's.... so yeah... This is tit!

P.S thanks cammie for reminding me more about american food... what i would give for some chicken and broccoli alfredo..... or actually anything that is not ughali, rice, potatoes and fish.... As I will say again... the food is suspect! haha

Oh the pic is from our trip to Mkume... peep the "daladala" on the gansta lean... we def. rode there with no brakes (no, seriously) for 3 hours( with 29 ppl on a 19 passenger bus).... I guess this is Peace Corps... What doesnt kill you makes you stronger...or so I've heard!

Life thus far

Hey all just wanted to give a quick update. Sorry I havent been able to update as often as I would like I live about a 35 min daladala ride from the town's internet cafe plus a mile walk to get to the actuyal daladala stand. Not the transportation that I want to do weekly (google it!). Well life has been going well it is week five and we just came back from Mikume park where I took some amazing pics.. I will update as soon as possible. My kiswahilli learning is going well... I was struggling at first but being in a ost family that does not speak english has forced me to really learn the language. I took my mid-exam on friday and the trainers said I was pretty awesome!!!My host mama is awesome..but sadly she as malaria now and is very very anal about everyting so i wont get it.... I get tucked in at night!! haha. I have been teachign for the past week and its going pretty well... although I feel horrible when the students ask me a question because it takes me about 5mins to even understand what tey are asking(and they are speaking english!!) Thus far I have lost about 15 lbs so I am pretty pumped although my mama is freaking out!! I am having the worst time adjusting to the food...very greasy and without spices of any kind... I was fooled at all of those OU African Celebrations that had spicy food!! haha.. well life is great. My swearing in date is on thanksgiving so while you all are eating thanksgiving goodness i will be making the most irrational and crazy decision of my life! Haha... its really great and I would love to hear from you all! Feel free and even slightly obligated to call me... Grandma and Monica Chillious have my number... so I am ordering everyone to make it happpen! The best time is 11pm - 1am and 11am -1pm (US TIME) I got to bed about 8pm. Also a letter would be nice... I am like the only one that doesnt get any mail I look like an orphan (guilt trip I hope it works)... so step it up!!! If you are really fancy and want to send a package here is my wish list:

Beef Jerky (seriously)
powder soup (chicken noodle)
mm's (any and every kind)
camp fan (runs by winding up... the mosquito nets are like heat trappers)
bbq sauce (dont judge me)
skittles/starburst

... and anything else you think i would enjoy!

Love you all and I miss you!! I still cant believe I am actually here.

Random fact I've learned: I am very very allergic to citrus.... funny story