We've had our first day of orientation - health & safety followed by Swahili. What a great group of people. Most are recent college grads, with one girl in the middle of her undergrad and one guy who just graduated HS. He quickly adapted to the Little Brother r0le in our little family. We'll be in a communal orientation setting for the next 9 nights or so then split into 3 groups and moved into the villages.
The city has a mixture of Christian and Muslim traditions, and the calls to prayer from the mosque can be heard all over town. I wish I understood them, but am enjoying it none the less. There are also chickens (kuku) everywhere who seem to crow at all hours.
The food is absolutely wonderful and if meals in the villages are anything like those in town I think I gain rather than lose weight while here.
I intentionally didn't bring jewelry with me because i was worried about theft. Now wishing i'd brought a few rings - there seem to be marriage offers everywhere the girls go!
The Swahili classes back home were so helpful. My vocabulary isn't what it could be, but everyone seems to really appreciate the effort and it's made things so much easier.
I'm slowly learning about the culture and loving it.
The altitude here is similar to Denver, which makes me a bit nervous for tomorrow's marathon hike, but it should be fine. It's gorgeous here. Being so close to the equator means the sun sets around 6:30pm, which is strange and makes safety in the evenings more of a challenge, but generally there are no problems as long as common sense is used.
Hamna shida - there are no worries - is a common and accurate phrase here.
Much love to you all!
Natalie
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4 comments:
Zawadi Mungu,
Today is a new day and what lies ahead a mystery. As you write the mystery starts to unfold and gives us more light on this journey through life in others eyes. This is beautiful and the tales of Tanzania will unfold before all of us through your eyes. We are here and wondering, so write when you can and often. I feel a book in the making.
Blessing and love,
Judi and Chuck
Natalie, you walk with Gos's grace, embrace his grace in Tanzania, within the geoography, animal life(lots of pictures)but mainly the people, their culture in it's entirity. When we do these things as humans of the world, then we are lifted ever closer to Him. I'm proud and envious at the sametime of you, i love you very much, mom.
natalie you walk with god's grace, may his grace in tanzania, in all it's beauutiiful forms:geography, the animals, most of all the people lift u even closer to him, because that is when we all are much better kinder humans of the world. I am so proud of you and love you so much, mom.
Oh, Nat! So glad you are a gifted writer as we share this adventure with you. I pray that the sense of awe never leaves you during this trip. Know that you are loved and admired!
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