Sunday, September 26

I really enjoyed our time in Mto Wa Mbu.  On Friday, I went to Lake Manyara National Park with the bird group.  It was interesting to be in a forest after all of the time we spent on the savanah.  There weren't as many birds as I expected, but there were a lot of blue monkeys and baboons that were really fun to watch.  Lake Manyara is teeming with life.  Thousands of storks, herons, ibis, geese, spoonbills, geese, and cranes were flying and feeding.  I was also really excited to see the hippos!  The scenery is so beautiful with the wall of the Great Rift Valley in the distance.
     In the afternoon, a small group of students wen with Mike (one of our Maasai "teachers") to a Maasai boma to visit a tradtional healer.  This healer is the head of the boma and has 25 wives!  They built a school just for all of his children!  When we arrived, some men were lounging around playing mancala.  It was funny to see them playing a familiar game.  We tried to play with them, but they have some different rules.  Eventually we got to see the healer.  He took out a cow's horn that was filled with small stones.  He poured some out and counted out groups of 10.  Since 2 were remaining, he said that we will have good luck on our trip.  He did it again and found that we were all healthy, wealthy, and well-fed.  When people are ill, he prepares herbs to cure them.  It was a really interesting experience, and you could sense just how power this man is in his community.
     They planned some "socialization" for us in the evening.  We all went to a "disco" to experience the local night life.
     We spent the weekend relaxing in Arusha before heading back up to Bangata for the final week of homestay.  It was nice to have some time to get cleaned up, rested, and reconnected with people.  Today I went into town and visited the used clothing market.  It is huge!!!  I also got to watch the Lion King last night!

Wildlife

Here's a list of the wildlife I have seen so far!

• elephant
• baboon
• vervet monkey
• blue monkey
• zebra
• wildebeest
• giraffe
• cheetah
• leopard
• impala
• gazelle
• eland
• dik-dik (small deer)
• spring hare
• bush baby
• mongoose
• jackal
• water buck
• cape buffalo
• rock hyrax
• lizard
• lion
• black mamba
• house snake
• tick
• warthog
• tsetse fly
• hippo
• birds (just to name a few):
• ground hornbill
• ostrich
• lilac-breasted roller
• pygmy falcon
• hamerkop
• so many more!

Thursday, September 23

Yesterday was my first lion sighting!  There were three females lounging about 10-15 feet from the road.  We were all so excited to seen them that no one could come up with the word "lion!!!"  We watched them for awhile, but another group actually got to see them satlking some warthogs later in the day.  We then went on to count our birds.  Between the two days of woodland and riverine habitat, we identified 61 different species!
     We spent the afternoon relaxing by the pool and enjoying the view at Tarangire Safari Lodge.  It was pretty nice, but I think my tent under the baobab tree is pretty comfy and inviting.
     This morning, we packed up and moved to Mto Wa Mbu ("River of Mosquitoes") which is a village just outside of Lake Manyara National Park.  We are satying at a nice campground here.  We went for a cultural walking tour to learn about the village.  All 120 ethnic groups in Tanzania are represented here, and everyone lives together peacefully.  We saw the rice fields and visited some artisans.  The carvers from Mozambique were amazing!  I bought a small wooden spoon.  We also visited a painting group, where I bought a small painting.  They were all so beautiful, it was hard to choose one!  On the way home, we stopped to taste some of the local banana beer.

Tuesday, September 21

Life on safari is pretty awesome.  Since I am in the bird group, we get up early, as the sun is rising.  We go out collecting data for a few hours and make it back to camp in time for breakfast at 9:00.  This morning, we counted and identified 555 birds from 40 different species!  There are some really spectacular and beautiful birds here.  I spotted a pygmy falcon this morning, which is the smallest falcon in the world.  We present what we found with the rest of the group and hear about what they saw.  After lunch, we go out as tourists to see whatever wildlife we can find.  Sunrises and sunsets are gorgeous every single day.  We have seen so much wildlife!  It is rare to be able to look around and not see any animals.  It is easy to be accustomed and say, "oh there is just another herd of wildebeest."  Then, you realize just how amazing it is!  At night, you can hear all sort of animals around our tents- baboon, hyenas, and even lions!  I haven't seen any lions yet, but I saw 5 cheetah yesterday!  Cheetah are very rare, and it was super exciting to find a group of them.

Continued...
This afternoon, we traveled to Silao Swamp.  This is an area that is moist year-round.  It was lush and green and filled with wildlife.  On the way, we saw a leopard up in a tree!  Tonight was another beautiful night around the campfire with a nearly full moon lighting up the sky.  Now, I am all settled into my tent and ready for another night under our baobab tree.

Sunday, September 19

I am in my tent at Tarangire National Park right now, wondering what animals are lurking outside my tent.  There are no fences here, so our campsite is really only a small cleared area where wildlife can come right through.  We learned to scan for eyes before getting out of our tents: red= herbivores, green= carnivore --> don't get out of your tent!  We went for a game drive this afternoon and saw impala, wildbeest, ostriches, zebra, and some elephants came right up to our car!
    Last night, we had a fun party at Klub Afriko.  We all made crazy outfits out of only kangas (multi-use wrap skirts)!

Friday, September 17

Today was my last day in Bangata for awhile.  Mama is very sad to see me leaving.  She said that she lover her baby and will miss me very much!  Noel gave me a really cool aerial photo of Mt. Kilimanjaro.  Now, I need to get packed up so I can leave for Arusha tomorrow.

Friday, September 17

Today was my last day in Bangata for awhile.  Mama is very sad to see me leaving.  She said that she lover her baby and will miss me very much!  Noel gave me a really cool aerial photo of Mt. Kilimanjaro.  Now, I need to get packed up so I can leave for Arusha tomorrow.

Thursday, September 16

Yesterday was a nice day spent in Arusha.  We went to a huge open-air food market where they sell fruit, vegetables, beans, rice, fish, and anything else they can find!  We also went to Shoprite, which is the closest thing here to an American grocery store.  We all went to the Hot Bread Shop to go online, but my laptop refused to connect to the wifi.  We had some delicious lunch at Milk and Honey.  I had chipsi (french fries) with chicken and vegetables.  I even found some ice cream for dessert!  It was my first real dessert here.  There are noovens anywhere, so there are no cakes, cookies, or any other baken goods.  I'll have to survive off fruit for dessert!  I was finally able to go online this afternoon. 
     Today was just another morning of Kiswahili.  We had a really interesting discussion with some Bangatans about development and gender issues this afternoon.  This evening, Noel and I visited Jason so they could exchange some American music.  Bahati made rice with meat and vegetables for dinner.  It was very good, besides the chunks and shards of bone you have to watch out for!

Tuesday, September 14

It was very rainy and cold this morning.  It is supposed to be getting warmer here, but it is still pretty chilly now.  This evening, Noel and Mama were joking about how when he gets a job Noel will build his own house.  In his house, he will have a computer laboratory with four computers- one each for himself, his wife, and his two kids.  They were laughing about this as if it was a completely ridiculous fantasy.  Then, it hit me that this is exactly what my family has in America.  Living here in Tanzania, even with a family that is pretty well-off, really puts things into perspective.
     I am looking forward to going into town tomorrow to practice some Kiswahili at the market and connect to the internet!

Monday, September 13

Today was another pretty uneventful day in Bangata.  We are learning a lot of Kiswahili, but it is difficult to actually use it.  It is so easy to just continue using English with my family.  I am trying to use Kiswahili words and phrases whenever I can.  This evening as we were preparing dinner, Mama called Bahati and me outside where two young women were waiting.  Without any explanation, one of the women started measuring me.  Apparently, Bahati and I are getting new dresses!  I am very curious to see how it turns out- hopefully they will choose pretty fabric!

Sunday, September 12

This morning, I went to church with Noel and Bahati.  There was a special fundraising event today.  They were collecting money for a new bell, to build new bathrooms, and to buy a motorcycle for the preacher!  People would go up one by one and announce how much they were donating.  After around the 6th or 7th chicken had been auctioned off, Bahati and I decided that we had had enough, so we snuck out.  After the 20 minute walk, we arrived home at 2:20.  Noel finally made it home at 5:00!  We had left at 9:40, so that was a full day of church for Noel!  I was under the impression that this was a sufficient amount of church for one day, until the preacher and his assistant showed up at the house to pray with the family.  This was a special occasion, because Bahati has completed her university education.  This was another hour of praying, singing, and kneeling on a very hard floor.
     I had planned to go swimming at the waterfall with friends this afternoon, but the sun never really came out, and I was pretty busy with church activities!

Saturday, September 11

Today was a nice day spent with my family.  Mama and Bahati taught me how to wash my clothes.  It was harder than I expected!  Later, we went to the farm and picked some peas and potatoes.  I also helped Mama shell the peas.  Noel came home today.  It's nice to have more people around the house now.  Bahati and I watched Miss Tanzania on TV tonight!

Friday, September 10

Today is the final day of Ramadan when Muslims break their fast.  Our families were all very confused as to why we would be going to school on a holy day.  Yesterday we had our first focus group discussion with Bangatans.  They had some interesting questions about America.  They asked about short-term marriage contracts where people decide to only be married for a certain period of time.  Another man asked if there was a special university for porn stars!  Today was just another day of Kiswahili and a discussion of foreign aid in Africa this afternoon.  This evening, Bahati and I talked more as we cooked dinner.  I look forward to getting to know her better tomorrow when she teaches me how to wash my clothes!
     I guess I never wrote about my trip to town on Wednesday.  I was able to get some stamps and mail some letters.  We found a wazungu restaurant and ate delicious American food for lunch.  The food here isn't bad, but that cheeseburger sure tasted good!  We also visited the Maasai market I will return there in December to buy some cool souvineers and gifts, but for now I don't want to carry around anything extra!  When it was time to go home, we (all 20 students) hopped on a dala dala (mini bus) to ride to the botton of the road that goes up to Bangata.  This was my first dala dala experience.  When they say "there's always room for one more in a dala dala," they are not kidding!  There are 16 seats, but that doesn't seem to matter at all.  I think we had 30 at one point!  When the driver found out that we were all heading up to Bangata, he offered to take us all the ay up for only 1000 shillings each (66 cents).  It was questionable for awhile when we met a truck coming down the mountain and we almost tipped into the ditch, but we all arrived safely back at our homes before dark!

Tuesday, September 7

My homestay experience has been wonderful so far.  Bangata is a very friendly place and I feel very safe here.  Kiswahili lessons in the morning fly by and then we have the afternoons to ourselves.  Today we hung out at the center and relaxed for a while before heading home.  We found a route to school that goes along a road.  It is a little bit longer, but it is a lot easier than trying to climb the path through the ravine and across the river!  Mama takes very good care of me (her "baby") at home.  Her children are all away at school, so all of her motherliness gets taken out on me!  Today, mama taught me to make chipati. Mmmmm!  With the exception of some questionable meat, the food here is amazing!  She said it was "chicken" but it definitely wasn't the parts of a chicken I am used to eating!
As we walk down the streets of Bangata we hear shouts of "wazungu" from all around.  It is interesting to see how people respond to this.  Some parents have advised students to reply with "mafrica!" Others just wave and continue walking.  The term is not meant in a derogatory sense (usually) but it just shows how rarely these people see foreigners.
Tomorrow we are going into Arusha for a practical Kiswahili lesson at the post office and a restaurant.  I am looking forward to mailing some letters and going online.  We re pretty much cut off from the world up here a mile up Mt. Meru!  We are on our own to get back to Bangata before dark, so hopefully I can catch a dala dala and not have to hike all the way up!

Sunday, September 5

This morning I got up and was given a bucket to take a shower.  It worked better than I expected! Noel and I went to church with our cousins.  On the way there, two little girls stopped to give me flowers!  The service was very long, but I sat with with little cousins and they were really cute.  It was super crowded, so the kids were on our laps, and the littlest one fell asleep.  Afterwards, there was another auction outside complete with vegetable, old clothes, a whole banana tree, and a live chicken.  Noel left to return to school this afternoon.  First, he helped me hang my mosquito net.  Mama taught me how to pull maize kernels off the cob, to wash dishes, to peel very small potatoes with a very large, dull knife, and to make fried green bananas.  With a little salt and ketchup, they are just like french fries!  Noel made sure I knew how to use the tv so I won't get too bored here.  Bahati comes home on Tuesday!  Now, I must get some rest before my Kiswahili class in the morning!

Saturday, September 4

Today was my first day in Bangata.  It was an adventure from the start when we had to walk home from Mama Nunu's center.  I never expected we would have to hike up and down steep ravines and cross a river!  Baba Jack said that hiking boots would not be necessary!  The family is welcoming, but there were a lot of awkward silences.  I'm not really sure what people do aroud here. They speak more English than I expected, which is comforting now, but I'm not really forced to use my Kiswahili.  Noel (my brother) showed me around town.  I am excited for my sisters Bahati and Belinda to arrive.  I have been trying a lot of new things, like tea, avacados, and beans.  I don't really like any of them,  but I'm doing my best.  I think I even figured out the squat toilet!  The family has someone who is paid to take care of the gardens and the cows.  It is interesting how gender roles play out here.  I never saw Baba leave the couch all evening.  As soon as he finished eating, I was asked to clear his plate.  Noel and I eat at the table while Baba is waited on at the couch and Mama waits to eat last.  Tomorrow, we will go to church.  I am hoping to see some other SIT wanafunzi (students) there!

Friday, September 3

Arusha has been a lot of fun.  Klub Afriko is awesome! It is very comfortable and I love the little bungallows.  It was very nice to have a shower, even though it was cold!  My first afternoon in Arusha was a little overwhelming!  There is just no way to walk through town unnoticed as a msungu (foreigner/white person).  Everyone wants to be your "besti friendi" and sell you something.  People will try to lead you around town in hopes of a tip.  It was really frustrating to bot be able to just walk and figure out the city without being constantly harassed.  With cultural differences, it it difficult to tell who is honestly trying to help you and who is just trying to take advantage of tourists.  I did manage to find an internet cafe and to buy some minutes for the phone, though.
We have really dived right into our Kiswahili lessons now.  I am starting to fell a little more confident now that I can construct simple sentences.
Today, I ventured onto Nairobi road where I was able to buy some kangas, locks, and toilet paper for my homestay.  I also found a little internet cafe.  Tomorrow, we meet our families.  I was a little disppointed at first that there are no young children in my family, but now I think it will be interesting to be placed with people my age.  I am a little nervous about communicating with my very limited Kiswahili, but teenagers will probably speak at least basic English, as well.  I am excited to see what these next 2 weeks will bring!  I am sure there will be plenty of stories!
I just realized that I never go the chance to write about visiting the Maasai boma on Tuesday.  It was quite an experience.  It was so difficult to believe that we were gaining a glimpse into the lives of real people living today.  The women all laid out their beaded jewelery for us to purchase.  The head of the family castrated a goat.  Children running around everywhere; flies swarming their faces.  We entered an actual house.  What was most striking was the complete darkness.  I didn't even realize another woman was in the back "bedroom"  There is a section of the home for young cows to sleep and a baby goat was also tied up inside.  Anna came to talk to us, because she had started secondary school and knew some English.  She had stopped school, however, because she was sold for 10 cows and was married.  She said she was only 12 years old.  The Maasai family structure of polygamy brought up lots of interesting questions.   Their culture is clearly not fair or equal, but is it wrong?

Tuesday, August 31

Yesterday and today have been spent exploring the area by foot.  Yesterday I saw my first elephants up close.  We watched from the treehouse as they came in for water.  The are such fascinating animals to watch.  They really have a good time splashing around in the water.  I also learned about identifying some birds and how to ID animals by their scat.  It is absolutely amazing how you can walk for 5 minutes an in one scan you can see such diversity of wildlife.  Today I saw zebras, antelope, wart hogs, water buck, wildebeest, and elands all grazing together!  We also learned about some plants here.  Elephants chw stalks of aloe vera when they cannot find water.  Another plants' roots are ground up and mixed with oils to make Maasai perfume.  We also visited an elephant carcass from 2008.  The huge bones were scattered about and a parge piece of its hide also remained.  It was so tough that you could stand on it.  Our askari (guard) stood on it and said "pole tembo" (sorry, elephant!)
This is such a sureal experience.  I really have to stop and take a step back to realize how absolutely amazing this is.  As I sit here now, I am watching two previously orphaned elephants walk by!  Ndarakwai has been amazing, but I am really looking forward to going into Arusha tomorrow.  I want to see other areas outside of this isolated camp.  It is so dusty and windy here and everything is filthy!  My tent actually blew over this morning, so my sleeping bad, pad, pillow, and clothes all got rolled in the dust.  Note to self: Dad was right.  It is important to fully stake out your tent!  Luckily, it didn't blow away!  A shower and some clean laundry would also be nice.  There is just nowhere to get out of the dust here.  I am really starting to feel cut off from the world and I can't wait to have internet access and to be able to mail some postcards!

Monday, August 20

I am finally getting the chance to type some of my blog!  Sorry for the delay, but here goes...

So much has happened during these first 4 days in Tanzania.  It was a surprize to end up at Ndarakwai immediately after arriving in the middle of the night!  We had some dinner and set up our tents in the dark.  It has been a wonderful way to get to know the group and to get our feet on the groud.  I have seen elephants, giraffes, baboons, monkeys, zebras, water buck, and birds.  Monkeys regularly run through camp and even take our food sometimes!  Beginning to learn Kiswahili has been exciting and I look forward to becoming more comfortable with the language.  Yesterday was a really fun day.  It was so nice to finally get out of camp for a little while.  We attended a church service in a small village nearby.  The congregation was extemely welcoming.  The little girl sitting next to me was absolutely adorable!  We had so much fun making faces at each other and holding hands.  There was some really unexpected music from an electric keyboard to liven things up!  The sermon included a very interesting discussion on marriage and gender roles.  The preacher didn't always like the answers he got when he asked our opinions!  After the two and a half hour service, everyone moved outside to auction off the food items brought by the people who had no money for the offering.  After church, we went straight to a local bar to relax for the afternoon.  The evening was completed by a lovely fire back at camp. 
     I am really getting excited for what the future of this trip will hold.  The program seems like there will just be one amazing surprise after another!

Things not to tell my mother:

• This is black mamba territory
• Black mambas are the most aggressive and poisonous snakes in the world
• We found a black mamba (baby) in camp yesterday
• We bring an armed guard with us whenever we go into the bush
• Our academic director carries a gun
• There are ticks EVERYWHERE
• We all WILL have at least one thorn removed
• Dogs here are not friendly