T.I.A.-- This is Africa

Habari rafiki! I thought I'd keep you all updated on my time here. It's hard to believe I have already been here two weeks! Time has flown despite the slower speed of life here. We call it Africa time. And when frustrations of life here drive you crazy, all you say is, "TIA-- This is Africa," and you keep going. I have been met with some frustrations this week but they have not stopped me and my experience at KCMC has been filled with amazing stories, revelations, and triumphs.

I have been getting lots of questions from family and friends in the U.S. who are wondering what life is like here. I thought I would answer some of those questions here:

What are you eating?
The answer is quite simple: anything and everything. The produce is the freshest and most amazing that I have ever seen. Fresh from the farms are delicious, maparachichi (avacados), membe (mangos), pineapple (I forget how to say that one), passion fruit, and anything else you can imagine. Dana and I made an amazing peanut sauce last week and bought fresh chickens from the market. Eating out is quite a spectacle though... you have to factor in Africa time and realize that it will take you about 2 hours (minimum) to eat.

What are you wearing?
It is hot. Not quite as hot as NC in the summertime because it isn't as humid, but wearing tons of clothes can make it pretty sweaty. In the hospital I have to wear a lab coat, which I am not fond of since it tends to make children quite intimidated and I am scary enough as a white person! I was told to compare the Tanzanian social norm of women covering their legs to the American social norm of women covering their breasts. You can show as much calf as you'd like, but keep those thighs covered!
To those who know my love of thrifting-- Dana and I went to Memorial Market yesterday where tons of American clothes get sold second hand. We even found a pair of Carolina basketball shorts! We were the only wazungu (white people) there and we spent 3 hours going through rows and rows of clothing and bartering with the shopkeepers. I came away with a whole new wardrobe-- including a birthday dress for next weekend!

How do you get around?
The dalla dalla (bus) is the primary means of transportation to the main part of town. It is essentially a minibus that is PACKED to overflowing with Tanzanians. The cost of getting to town is 250 Tsh (Tanzanian shillings)... the equivalent of about 10 cents. Whether an armpit in your face or someone's mango basket in your lap, it is guaranteed to be an interesting ride. It is not safe to be a mzungu (white person) out after dark so we take taxis to restaurants or to hang out with friends.

Can you speak Swahili?
I've got the greetings down and I can certainly barter with the Tanzanians at the market (and win!), but I have yet to understand how a sentence is formed. I can get by with a few phrases in clinic that I say to parents and children. I have come a long way since getting laughed at on my first day, but there is still a lot to learn. I will give a Swahili lesson here in another post.


How about Kilimanjaro?
I can see Kili from my back porch, but she stays hidden behind the clouds most of the time. Sometimes I have a good view in the morning with a beautiful Carolina blue sky on my walk to KCMC. To those of you who are asking whether I will climb... please talk to the people that know me best and know how much I HATE being cold... much less sleeping in the cold. I am opting out of the climb and am instead planning a few trips which I will keep you updated on.

Have to go, let me hear from you!
Love rebecca (my Swahili name since Becky is too difficult to say with their accent)