kuchimba dawa!

I’m sitting here on my YMCA bed in Dar es Salaam (DSM), hours after leaving my mom to fly home to the US of A. What a treat it was having my very first visitor…and hopefully not my last. Wow, how the time has flown. I miss you already, Mom.

I’m currently in room #17, my favorite bed in DSM ever since Thais and I stayed in this room for last Thanksgiving. It’s a corner room-cozy and across from the bathroom. The YMCA is the best deal in town and has great fans-reminds of Palm Beach days. Thais-I love you if you’re reading this! I hope you’re indeed rafting the raging rivers of Colorado by the time you read this…

Back to my mom-we had the most exhilarating 2-week tour of TZ, spending most of our time in the Southwestern region. As my itinerary noted (in last month’s blog), we started in DSM, and slowly ventured toward Iringa for some animal watching and sleeping with the hippos, on to some relaxing on a farm, and to last but not least, 5 days in my village, which translated into welcome celebration after celebration in my mom’s honor. She was quite touched. I SAY!

But before I describe our village arrival, I must say the highlight for both of us had to be the long 9+ hour bus rides to/from Dar. The first call "kuchimba dawa" created an inquisitive look on my mom's face. Little did she know that this was her chance to "use the restroom," if you will, or shall we say, squat on the side of a highway with 50 other Tanzanians on the bus to urinate. It provided many laughs for the rest of our trip. I find it culturally revealing that Tanzanians use this term "kuchimba dawa," meaning "to dig for medecine" as a call for going out the bus to pee. It shows just how private this culture can be about health and other intimate body issues. Perhaps I'm more sensitive to this aspect being a health teacher, but anyway...

It all began with our arrival into Manga on Friday evening. We quickly had mom’s heavy bags pedaled to my house on the back of a villagers’ bike. The following day started with a bang after our leisurely chai over my kerosene stove. Midday, the chairman of my women’s group came over to lead us to the village office where about fifty villagers (heavily women hailing from my mama’s group) were awaiting our arrival. Song after song, dance after dance, speech after speech, her arrival was cheered. The respect for wageni or guests, as well as for older people in African culture never ceases to amaze me. I don’t think Mom was prepared for all the Shikamoo’s (A sign of respect, literally translating to “I hold your feet”), Pole kwa safari’s (“Sorry for your travels”) and Nakushakuru’s (“I am grateful for you”). And this was just the beginning. The respect and appreciation for her long travel to visit my village continued day after day, and she received quite a load of gifts: 1 chicken, 1 rabbit (which we denied-can’t eat the Easter bunny, 3 tons of beans, 1 ton of tomatoes, potatoes, and lemons…and more.

It was fun for me to sit back and watch…and film. Yes, my birthday gift was a video camera, with a tape included of friends and family. Thank you thank you to all of you out there who were filmed to greet me. And a big shout-out to Hilary, my friend who announced to me on tape that she was engaged. Yeehaw! Congratulations.

Interested in visiting Tanzania? Want to see what village/Peace Corps volunteering life is like, somewhat? If so, KARIBUNI (welcome to) my mom’s house for a viewing of the film we created during our journey. It offers a nice look into what really goes on in the village, and just how incredible these people truly are.

We filmed all of these special occasions (in addition to some of the safari in the Ruaha National Park):
· mama’s group* celebration and feast (mom’s first ugali—she warmly welcomed a spoon to “cheat”)
· post-church banana bread lesson with the mamas*
· welcome celebration at the Manga primary school with singing and drumming to boot
· welcome celebration at the Mahongole secondary school with my health club’s leadership
· welcome celebration at CHASAWAYA school for orphans
· final moments in DSM before mom’s departure

*These are the mamas who I mentioned in a previous blog have been sewing traditional baskets for my mom to take home in order to sell. All profits will go directly to their desired goals of purchasing seeds, farming equipment, and to sponsor children’s education.

If you’re interested in watching the movie, or in purchasing a basket sown by hand by one of my mamas, feel free to call my mom to make a date: 404.355.1774.

I’ll be in Dar for the weekend and then back to site L without my mgeni rasmi (special guest). While I’m here, I’m crossing my fingers to get some initial research completed for my Master’s thesis. Uggh. There’s nothing like Dar with it’s consistent electricity, super fast email, and city comforts! Although I’m not staying in the fancy Holiday Inn hotel anymore (sigh), I must get back to my reality…and embrace the simple life again.

Grateful,
Tait

*Snapfish picture album to come from travels with mom…

*Below is a picture from a visit to the secondary school by the nice American gentlemen who gave me and my friend jason a ride a few months ago (march); they actually showed up in my village one day and brought soccer balls for the kids! it was fantastic. we're kneeling on the front row in front of the student body: