Day 62

This has probably been one of my best weeks here. Just after I was feeling a little discouraged, just when I wondered why I was here, I found my place. I am a part of this community, in a way, almost. Several times in the last few days I started conversations with some locals in Kiswahili and they carried on thinking that I actually knew the language. I even gave directions to a new cab driver in Kiswahili on the way home from Sinza on Monday. They know me at the local duka, they know me in the Boona Baana neighborhood, and they definitely know me here at the guest house. This is what I came for, to be integrated into the community as much as possible. It's just too bad that it didn't happen earlier, because in just three weeks I have to say goodbye.

Recap of the week: Sunday we went to Kunduchi, it was packed with people! So crazy. Then some of my friends came over for dinner and cards! Lots of fun. Monday I went to Slipway with D & A (the American boys staying at Boona Baana) and we all got souvenirs for our families. Team work makes the dream work (for cheap prices, that is). Yesterday was Cherie's first full day back, and Nicole's last day here, so we went all over the place. I saw the beautiful Tanzanite (hint, hint, nudge, nudge;) and had way too much coffee, but all in all it was a great day! Today, Cherie and I have some time to kill before the new girl arrives. Looking forward to it! Speaking of which, I have to go make her a sign ! :)

Day 60

Before!

As most of you know, I became a coffee drinker about a year ago and never looked back. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to make coffee with beans from Kilimanjaro! It was one of the best learning experiences I could have ever hoped for on this trip. While I was sifting through the raw beans with John and roasting them over an open fire with Juma, I had to stop myself for a moment and take it all in. You can't learn this kind of stuff from a text book, you can't understand the culture unless you jump right in - no water wings, no hesitations, no barriers. 

During!

After!

I am so thankful to be here and have the chance to learn from these awesome people. Even at the breakfast table yesterday morning, with two teachers from South Africa and a man from Italy, we discussed education, poverty, cultural differences, and more over a piece of bread and some chai. How often do you get to learn from others like that? I am so awed and inspired by nearly everyone I meet here, and often surprised at how much I can learn from just a few minutes of conversation with them.

Even with the obvious language barrier between some of the people who work at the guest house, we have grown so close and learned so much from each other. Alimiani, the masai guard for our gate, was a little hard to take at first. But one of my favorite things to do now is just talk with him for a few minutes, in my broken Kiswahili, and try to pick up a few new words as he rattles off conversation that I have no clue what it is about. The other night I explained the phrase "Same, same, but different" (Kiswahili: Sawa sawa lakini tafaoti) - how black & white, Canadian & Tanzanian, are the same but different. When he finally understood, and started pointing to how our clothes were different, our hair was different, etc., I was ecstatic!

When Maria left last week, we were so sad to see her go because she was like our Mama here. Fabiola, Catherine, Juma, and Priscus have been so welcoming and I've loved getting to know them. When Priscus introduced me to his friend, John, yesterday he said "This is Kara, She is very active and always smiles. Every day, you will see Kara and Sienna come to breakfast, always happy". It made my day! Building relationships with Tanzanian people like the ones at Father's has been one of my greatest joys here.

Day 57

A's baby sister! I want one just like her <3

I just had a 10 minute panic attack when I opened my laptop and all I saw was snow falling. If that had happened at home, I wouldn't be as alarmed because there are mechanics and technology experts on every other corner. But oh my lanta, there must be a God in heaven because I took out the battery, said a little prayer, and rebooted this baby. Thank the Lord!

Big A and baby J

Since the rest of the group is off on their safari's this week, I was able to go to Boona Baana by myself yesterday :) Not that I don't like going with the other girls, they are my BFF's! But it was nice to change it up from the regular group book club and instead take a little time to teach the boys how to cook. I & M had to make French toast and brownies for their school projects, but they had never cooked before. The power was out though (what else is new...) so we had to cook the French toast on the charcoal stove outside. I & M had never lit a stove, let alone a charcoal stove, ever before so it was a learning experience for all of us! The food turned out wonderfully, even though we improvised a lot without cocoa, lack of eggs, and no measuring cups;) It was so much fun!

Maria & I

The entire time we were cooking I had this beautiful little girl on my hips. Her sister is also gorgeous! I felt like a real African, cooking on a charcoal stove outside with a baby on my back and all the kids helping. But I don't know if I could do it forever. The mamas here work so hard, and they rely on their children a lot. Little A often has to skip book club to care for her baby sister while her Mama is working. Maria, Boona Baana's Mama's helper, is only 20 years old and she helps take care of the 7 kids, plus watches Julian when Mr. M or B are working. The level of responsibility here is way more intense at much younger ages, but it works for them. It's really interesting to see how the relationships work, dysfunctional to us at times but totally normal for them. Maybe I should take a lesson from them about responsibility and hospitality!

Day 56

Yesterday morning we took a trip down to City Centre, where the streets are packed and the drivers are ruthless. Before starting our journey through Kariakoo, the largest market in Tanzania, we stopped at the Kilimanjaro Kempinski hotel down by the ferry terminal. I thought that White Sands and Kunduchi were glamorous, because of their empty beaches and ample seating areas, but Kili far surpasses any of their traits. For one, Kili has THE most comfortable couches I have ever sat on. Now, maybe it's just because I actually haven't sat on a couch for a long time, but I think it is safe to say that angels were stuffed into those heavenly cushions. Furthermore, they have hot and delicious cappuccino's, incredibly beautiful bathrooms, a gorgeous ballroom, full length mirrors (which I also haven't seen for about 2 months), a third floor outdoor swimming pool, and an eighth level bar and patio overlooking the entire city. If only I had a few hundred dollars to spare for one night at that place. I haven't even been to a hotel that nice in Canada!

The luxury didn't last long before we were back out on the streets, making our way to Kariakoo with a poorly photocopied small-scale map of City Centre. Normally I'd like to think that being a geographer, I have a pretty good sense of place and direction. But yesterday, we just went where the wind took us. Literally. We followed the breeze to stay cool under the scorching sun. It took us past informal houses and modern office buildings, through European-style roundabouts and small dirt roads, and under African trees and over carelessly covered sewage holes. If you want to see colonialism's footprint at its best, look in the big city, where British architecture meets Arabic door designs and Asian rooftops. The unique mix of distinct international influence of the past, combined with the attempt to be a modern urban landscape, is evident in the buildings of Dar es Salaam.

National Museum

After who knows how long of walking, singing Taylor Swift, and sweating our brains out we finally arrived in the busy area known as Kariakoo. There is no structure, no divides, no paved streets, no clear sidewalks. Even though there may have been all of this at one time, the streets and sidewalks are now converted into shops, strewn with sheets of cardboard selling stolen phone batteries, household items, and Chinese imports. We slowly made our way through the crowded and deteriorating streets. It was as if someone threw pavement up in the air and let it dry where it landed before calling it a road. My stomach was more confused then ever with the aromas of barbecued chicken (yum!), burning garbage (yuck!), sewage (barf!), and who knows what else were wafting through the air.

The main part of the market is in an old stadium, with little lighting but a bit more organization. It is crazy to think that in Canada we drive to a single store to buy every thing we need for the month ahead, all with set prices (and high prices at that). Here, almost everything is bargain-able. An item costs $30 at one shop and $10 at the next if you play your cards right, not that anything here costs that much anyways. I can feed 12 people for $6, take an hour long cab ride for $5, and get a 500ml bottle of beer for $1! Life is good here in DSM.

The herbivore & the carnivore <3

It's a Masai thing ;)

Coming here, I didn't have any culture shock at all. Maybe because I had been to Africa before and knew a little bit of what to expect, or maybe cos I just like the simple life better. But I know that coming home will be a big adjustment in itself, because our culture is just so different. My stomach is going to have a hard time re-adjusting to the preservatives in our food back in Canada. And my wallet is going to take a hit when I go out at night or to the store haha. And when I am at the store, it will be weird not to get the usual "Habari" or friendly "Mambo" from everyone I pass by. Hopefully I won't leave all of Tanzania's customs behind!

Day 50

Sometimes I wonder, "Why am I here? What am I really doing to benefit Africa? Is this just a selfish adventure?" It may sound silly, or maybe it sounds completely logical to you. When I look around and see the poverty, I feel guilty knowing that I am living in a fully furnished, air conditioned, gated guesthouse. I wonder if the kids at Boona Baana will even remember me in a few months time. I wonder what kind of impact I will have on their lives, if any at all. It's easy to get discouraged at times, but I know that I am here for a reason. I know that God has called me here for a purpose, it says so in His word: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20). He has called me to go to all nations, and share His good news, and has promised that He will never leave me. What more reason do I need to know that my being here is a good thing? I have confidence that God is working in me and those that I come in contact with while I am here!

Day 48

Sorry for the lack of blog posts lately. This last week has been pretty crazy. Two nights ago I pulled my fourth all-nighter of the week in order to watch/listen to the boys play. That didn't turn out so well, because I felt sick and tired all day yesterday. So tonight, before I watch the life changing moment in which we take the cup, I will have a little nap first.

I went to Boona Baana yesterday to hang out with just the girls, while the boys (aside from S) were doing exams. A, E, S, K, and I watched a hilarious Spanish soap opera and painted our nails (well, not S). It was really nice to have a day to relax and do girlie things with A & E because the house is full of boys!

Climbing a Baobab tree (like the one that Rafiki lives in in the Lion King!)
that was over 500 years old!

When I am not at Boona Baana, we have study parties at home. And we've been baking lots! Mango pie w/ lattice crust, cinnamon coffee crumble cake, mango crisp, cranberry scones, rice pudding - all with the unreliable power, lack of ingredients, and bug-infested kitchen at the house. But hey, at least we have a kitchen! Sure does beat the little cook stove we had in Ghana.

On Sunday 7 of us girls took a day trip to Bagamoyo, which is about an hour north of where we live. It didn't have a whole lot to see, but it was nice to have our own little getaway, even if it was just for a few hours. The countryside beyond Dar is beautiful! And we had never been farther than Kerege, where KidzCare is. In Bagamoyo we went to ruins from the 15th century, BRIEFLY visited the fish market (it smelled horrible!), randomly ate at a fire department (there was no public space that allowed us to bring our packed lunches in), and a beautiful art market. Probably not worth a second trip, but it was a great day!

The 7 of us in an old grave site at Bagamoyo

I am dedicating the rest of today to catch up on school work, emails, and pictures. I have yet to figure out my plans for the next week but it feels weird knowing that I am now on the downhill portion of my experience :( Especially now that the Boona Baana kids are almost done with school. I will be leaving shortly after they begin their summer break, so I will have a few days where I can stay longer. Looking forward to it!

Day 39

This weekend still seems like a blur, mostly because I think I am getting the dreaded cold that has gone around the house in the last week or two. Also because for a second time this week so far, I did not sleep until the game started at 3am. Truth be told, I fell asleep in the third period, but nonetheless I was up for a good part of the night. After two beach days in a row, three delicious meals, a new karaoke place, and tons of geography quizzes, I can say that it's been a good weekend.

I am not yet halfway through my time here and I am already thinking about what I can do when I get back to Canada to maintain the relationship with the Boona Baana kids as well as help them get the most out of life. My colleagues and I (doesn't that sound proper) have come up with a few ideas already, so let me know what you think.

1. Pub/karaoke/bowling nights: Charge an entrance fee, sell drinks & food, raffles & games, simple and fun fundraisers with friends. Maybe even some dinner parties or backyard bbq's too.

2. Pictures: Every week, we have been asking the Boona Baana kids to draw something about their life (e.g. their happy place, their future, how they see the world, etc.). Some of the pictures are very revealing, others adorable, and all unique to who that child is. They are all so talented! Either selling them individually or making a book out of them is a possible fundraising idea.

3. Calendars: This is our big idea that we are so gung-ho about. I won't go into too much detail, but you'll want to pre-order one ; )

4. Individual sponsorship: If World Vision does it for thousands of kids every month, why can't we do it for the 5 at Boona Baana (I say 5 because 2 have already been fully sponsored). A good education is the key to overcoming poverty, especially in a place like Tanzania where a good education is hard to come by.

If we could get all five remaining kids sponsored for the remainder of their schooling (even post-secondary), that would be incredible! That is our overall, long-term goal. A couple of years ago, it was about $600/year for them to go to school. Now that most of them are moving on to secondary school, however, prices have gone up. But I think we can do it!

Day 35

Some of the girls and I at Kunduchi Beach - when the tide is
out, we can walk almost halfway to the island!

Today marks five weeks since I have been gone. I know I've said this a million times before but it seems like time has gone by so fast! In only 7 weeks I will be leaving this place...gaah! and only NOW do I feel like I am  getting the hang of things. We are finally in a routine - on our days off, we go to Kunduchi Beach. On the days we go to Boona Baana, we either tan on the roof or do school work in a coffee shop nearby. It may sound like a vacation, but I am actually taking a full course load while I'm here! So it's not all lollipops and butterflies...although the rest of the group teases me about my daily routine and my constant sentences referencing orphans or rainbows....haha

This is how I do work - sea side with a
glass of bitter lemon ;)

Yesterday, most of us spent the day at a beautiful beach - our new favorite hang out spot - that is free! With Cherie gone, we are on our own for transportation, meals, and everything else, but we are pretty much doing what we did when she was here too. It's nice to be independent, yet still keep up with our morning coffees, "peaches and pits" at dinner, and school work. Last night we took a break and went to a pub in Dar for the first time (besides Heineken House, which doesn't really count cos we just watched the game). It was an Irish Pub turned karaoke bar on Wednesday nights, and it was so much fun! It was also right on the water, so I'm sure there was a gorgeous view during the day time. I sang "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen and "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams. I tried staying up to watch the hockey game at 3am but I didn't even make it to the end of the first period!

Me, Sienna, Jesse, and Jennifer on our balcony

This morning we went to the office of a Canadian-based organization called "Under the Same Sun". I have talked about it on here before, but now I better understand the actual atrocities that people with albinism go through here in Tanzania. All but two of the employees that we met with at the local office were people with albinism, so it was really neat to see that they are advocating for themselves and their "brothers and sisters". I could hardly believe their incredible passion for what they were doing and I was so pleased to hear about their progress so far. I even decided to write my research paper about people with albinism for one of my classes here. I can't wait to learn more about it all, and to meet with those people again. They were the sweetest!