(Here's where you would respond with "poa!" or "safi!" or "fresh!")
So many times a day we hear these words, as Tanzanians greet us on the street, in town, or around the TCDC campus. Everyone is so friendly, and everyone is always greeting each other and showing respect. It's such a welcoming environment to be in. It's nice knowing that the vast majority of people we see here are happy to have us as visitors to their country, and they all do such a wonderful job of making us feel welcome!
Yesterday, we all moved into our homestays! Mid-afternoon, the families all came to TCDC, where we met up before going home with them. Some of the group had already met their parents before that day, because they had interacted with us at TCDC before (most of the homestay families are TCDC employees). There are four pairs of students, myself and Jennifer included, whose families actually live within the TCDC compound. This makes for a very easy commute in the mornings! The rest of the pairs live in or around Arusha town, so they have longer commutes on a daily basis, but they'll also see more exciting things on their way to the compound. Overall, I think everybody is happy with where they are with their homestays! Jennifer and I are with a lovely lady who everyone calls Mama G and her niece, Amy. They're both nice people...and wonderful cooks. Our first meal in the house was probably one of the most delicious I've ever had, and I ate until I was stuffed! This family may certainly attain their goal of making me gain weight while I'm here. Dr. Prichard did inform us today on communicating to our families that we have had enough to eat. She told us, "What we do need to talk about is how to say no to food, so I don't have to roll you all out of here." For the record, "Nimeshiba" means I am full/satisfied, and "Nitananepa" means I am going to get fat (though I suspect the latter may only elicit a further response of "Good!"). What I will never say "Nimeshiba" to, however, is avocado juice. Oh my goodness, it is the most delicious drink; we've had it at every meal so far and we keep asking for more! Avocados are so plentiful around here; there is even an avocado tree in our backyard! Apparently the resident monkeys at TCDC cause quite a ruckus in the house sometimes, dropping avocados down on the roof. This hasn't happened yet, though. I am definitely enjoying being at our homestay, and Mama G has made it very easy to feel at home already!
One thing we talked about during our cultural orientation on Sunday was the concept that time is plenty here, and this is something that I have already found to be very true. The first afternoon and evening of being in our home, we spent a long time just sitting and chatting with Mama G (Amy doesn't really speak English, so our communication is pretty limited at this point. Hopefully this will change as we keep taking our Swahili lessons!). During this time, I never found myself checking my watch or feeling as if I had somewhere else to be, which is something that I very commonly do in the U.S. I have yet to feel rushed at any point since arriving here, yet we still manage to fit so much into each day. I'm hoping to take some of the Tanzanian "time is plenty" philosophy back home with me, because I'm finding it to be a much less stressful way of life!
Today, Monday May 20, we took our first excursion to a local NGO. We visited the United African Alliance Community Center (UAACC), just outside of Usa River. This center was founded by a pair of former members of the Black Panther Party in the US. The BPP was a political organization in the 1960s, during the Civil Rights era, who became very outspoken against police brutality and unjust arrests, which were occurring particularly against African Americans. Aside from protesting the practiced discrimination against African Americans, the BPP also began programs to help provide to the underprivileged where they believed the government was not intervening as it should. For example, the Kansas City branch, where the founders of the UAACC were located, provided breakfast for over 700 children each morning before school.
These founders (who now call themselves Brother Pete and Mama C), find themselves in Tanzania now because after charges were brought against Brother Pete within the US for a crime that would have given him approximately a 15 year prison sentence (I believe it was for carrying weapons across state borders), he decided to leave the country instead. They started living in Algeria because there was an active branch of the BPP there, but after two years, they were drawn to Tanzania because of persuasion from friends and because they were attracted to the country's socialist government structure. They were expecting to be able to move back to the states after maybe five years, but this was not the case, and they have remained in exile ever since. They've been in Tanzania for over 40 years now, and only Mama C has gone back to the states, and this was just once.
After getting to the center, we were able to walk around and see all of the different areas of it. There are 21 children who live there full time. Many of them are orphans, but some are from families who were unable to provide for them, so they brought them to the UAACC. It is good for the children because instead of running away or living on the streets, they are able to have a place to sleep and food to eat. We saw their living quarters, an art studio, a recording studio, a computer facility, and a shop where the students who are learning to see can sell their creations. Also, outside of the facility gates, there was a tap that runs clean water that anybody is welcome to draw from. So, the facility doesn't just benefit those within it--it caters to the larger community, as well. Everything about UAACC was very impressive!
Since Brother Pete and Mama C are from Kansas City, the first thing that he said to us was "Am I to understand you're from Oklahoma? So when I say y'all, y'all understand." It was a funny change from the very formal English that we've heard from the native Swahili speakers we've been interacting with up to this point. After our tour around the center, we listened to Mama G's brief summary of the history of their involvement with the BPP and subsequent exile from the US. She was great to listen to; she has such a wonderful outlook on life (some might call it hippie). Speaking of living at the UAACC, she said that there is "never a dull moment. I love that." With 21 full time children and about 45 total coming to the center for English and computer classes, I don't doubt her one bit!
Speaking of English classes, before we left the center, we all stopped in at an ongoing class. We taught the students how to sing row, row, row your boat, which they mastered right off the bat. Then we taught them head, shoulders, knees and toes. After that, they turned it around on us and turned the song into Swahili! They also taught us a fun singing, clapping, and dancing game that had me laughing so hard my sides hurt by the end of it. I don't remember the Swahili names of all of the body parts we learned today, or the words from the game we played, but singing, laughing, and dancing with those kids is something I will never forget.
Our trip to UAACC had an impact on all of us. I've never been to a place like this before, and it was really neat to see the positive impact that its presence has had on the children and community that it serves. And I don't care what your political beliefs are (I mean, I'm no socialist), there is no denying that these people are full of love and truly care about doing good for the people around them, and this was incredible to see.
I think Mama C said it best when she told us, "We have different skin colors, we come from different places, but we all want the same thing in life: peace and happiness and love...and some good food."
Kwaheri, friends.
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for the update!
ReplyDeleteCarol Anwar