Culture Shock

December 12 was the day I left Tanzania.  I remember looking out the window of the airplane and feeling a strange combination of pride, sorrow, and inspiration as I watched the world beneath me become a part of my past.  Pride that I had embarked on the greatest adventure yet-- all on my own-- and come out alive.  Sorrow that I was leaving a place that I had grown to love and appreciate in its own special way.  Inspiration for the way I wanted to live the life that I had in front of me.

It has been quite a year filled with lots of joy, but some sadness too.  I have embarked on a similar adventure, but this one has no end date when I know I'm going home.  I'm trying to make this my home.  Although I am not speaking Swahili, Kentucky can be just as much of a foreign land as I navigate my way through being a single twenty-something girl and learning how to be a grown up woman.

I could not have predicted the way the past year has gone.  I hope I get to say the same thing come next year. I've done a lot of soul searching recently and the task before me is clear.  So I'm harnessing the person that left for Tanzania not knowing where she was going to sleep that night, but who had faith that everything would turn out alright.  I have no idea what's coming, but I know it's going to turn out alright.

Adventures with P. Diddy

You want to know a secret Patty?

Sure.

Sometimes when I'm on car trips, I pretend like I'm still in Tanzania.

Really?  

Yea.  Is that weird.

I dunno.  Kinda

[clash bang scrape blow out scrreeech]

Oh [snap]

What was that?

Blow out.

Uh what are we supposed to do now.

You're not going to do anything.  I'm going to change it and you're going to sit here because we're on the side of the road and I don't want you to get hit by a semi.  Unless you want to go pee in the woods down there.

No, there might be bears.

I hate wild animals.

You're really fast.
I know.
That was a compliment.
Well that was my fourth.  Look, I need to stop and get another spare.  I'm not trying to have another blow out on this godforsaken highway and get stranded here.  This is the boonies.  And I've got precious cargo.  We'll stop up here, I know a place.
Aw, you think I'm precious cargo?
No, I've got my climbing gear in the back.
It smells like burning rubber.  Or maybe your air freshener.
Both.
...
Uh is this it?

Yea I think these guys have a tire that will fit.
This is Tanzania.  Except they have double wides instead of huts.
They're just good ol' boys.
They think you're a city slicker.
What do you think they think of you?
That I'm a priss.
You are.
NO I AM NOT!  Just because I can't change a tire or kill a bear with my bare hands does not make me a priss.
Ok.
Hey, you guys rock climbers?
Yea.
Well how do you get that rope up there?
This would be a one star trip if it weren't for the Rollings Stones playing out the side of that Dodge Neon.
I think that guy just pulled a knife on his friend.
We should go.
Yup.

Did you find your shoes?
Nope.
Oh, sorry.
Yea and some briar patch cut the [snot] out of my arm on the way down.  How was your nap?
Great.
...
I think we make a left to cut through the Gorge to Muir Valley.
Uh, that's a dead end.
This would totally be a one star trip if it weren't for such gorgeous weather.

 This was my first lead route.
What was the name again?
Mr. Bungle
I give it three stars.
Overall 3 star day.
Word.
Let's hit the road.  Margaritas or a giant Pacifico?

Packing List

My flight for Tanzania leaves in about 10 hours. I'm still running around doing last minute tasks-- among those is updating all of my wonderful family and friends.

I'll share a secret with you... I have no expectations. I do not know what is ahead of me in the coming weeks and that has definitely been a source of stress for me. I am someone that likes to know what lies on the horizon. Even if the plan is to sleep in a puddle of mud, I would like to know so that I can mentally prepare myself for soggy underpants, dirt in my ears, and grit in my teeth. That has certainly been a barrier in getting myself in the mindset to go.

I plan on taking the VERY LONG plane ride tomorrow (upwards of 24 hours travel time) to prepare my heart, learn Swahili, and educate myself on the WHO (World Health Organization) standards on international medicine... Honestly, I think preparing my heart is the hardest task of those.

It's hard to pack light when you're spending several months in Africa. I'm making it out with one suitcase, my backpack, and a purse. I plan on leaving a lot of things in Moshi so hopefully my load will be much lighter coming home. Here are some of the contents of my bag:
-2 pairs of scrubs and a lab coat
-bare essentials of medical supplies
-the OTC pharmacy
-2 giant bags of Skittles and beef jerky (in separate bags of course)
-4 pairs of shoes (I'm such an American woman)
-7 pairs of underwear (Sorry Katherine, I'm not being as hard core)
-bananagrams, pack of cards, ipod
-2 guide books, 1 pocket Swahili guide, 3 novels, Harriet Lane, 2 WHO journals
-stethoscope, otoscope, ophthalmascope
-1000 stickers, 8 packs of bubbles, 1 glitter ball
-Carolina t-shirts (gotta represent!), a Duke Children's t-shirt

A week in preview meets my To Do List

Days until I leave for Tanzania: 7
Days left at peds clinic in Raleigh: 2.5
Pages to write in my final grad school paper: 3
Number of fingers I will put up when I drive away from school on Friday while shouting "PEACE OUT": 2

Number of suitcases I plan to take: 2
Amount of packing I've done: 0
Hour of the day I depart RDU: 0600
Legs to my flight: 5
Hours in the air: 18

Books on Tanzania that I have: 3
Books on Tanzania that I have read: 0
Number of Swahili words I know: 3?