Ninapenda Tanzania!

Before I talk about the wonderful day I had, I want to mention how sad I am to hear about the shootings in both Alabama and Germany. My thoughts are with their families. It’s hard to understand how our society could let go of someone to the point that we miss the signs that they are so troubled is so troubled (or can’t do anything about it). I have been thinking a lot about the kind of violence that we have in the States and the kind of violence that happens here. There is definitely a difference. There was a shooting here last week actually. The story I heard (I heard a few versions) was that three guys stopped at a gas station and asked for 3000 shillings worth of gas. For some reason the woman gave them 10,000 shillings worth. They had a fight with her about whether or not they had to pay. They gave her the money and I don't know if the cops showed up there or if they caught up with them later, but I heard they shot to point blank and shot the other as he ran away. All of them died and the cops (supposedly) jumped on their bodies afterwards.

Anyway, my day today started off a little rough. Nothing in particular was wrong, I’m just pretty stressed out about my living situation next semester. If you go to my school and I don’t know where you are living next semester please let me know. I’m trying to find an on-campus apartment to apply for (by Friday!) even though it looks like I may be going off campus.

So I was kind of feeling stressed and annoyed and homesick, and our Swahili teacher decided to bring us to the market to practice bargaining. On the way my flip-flip broke. I don’t know if any of you have experienced that, but it is one of the most annoying unimportant things that can happen because there is no way you can walk in a broken flip-flop. So Almasi (My professor) asked someone something in Swahili and the guy pointed across the road. There was a shoe-fixer right there! So – this is amazing – he FIXED MY FLIP-FLOP! Within three minutes I had my flip-flops back (sewn all nicely), and it cost about 15 cents. In the States you virtually never fix flip-flops. I was thinking I was going to have to walk barefoot and find some new ones and feel sad about throwing almost-perfectly-fine flip-flops away, but no! So that put me in the best mood ever.

After that we went to the market. I love the market SO much. Other than the fact that sometimes creepers are on the prowl, I think it’s my favorite place. There are so many people and different smells (some better than others), and it’s like a giant maze. I actually would like to make a montage filmed from above the market of the white people (my friends) all trying to find each other in the giant maze and the vendors all pointing and being like, “They went that way!”

I bargained (which I love when I don’t feel guilty) in SWAHILI! It was amazing. I bought three big carrots, two coconuts, and a bag to carry them, all for only a dollar! And honestly, that’s not too much of a deal, but for a “whitey person” it’s damn good.

After Peace and Conflict (still the best class evvverrrrr, although there are some things about this program that I haven’t mentioned that really aren’t going well) I took the dala-dala by myself to go practice drums and amadinda at Makumira where I take my music classes. I got on a dala-dala that only went about half way, and when I got off I asked the girl who had sat next to me if she new which one I should take from there. She said she went to Makumira Secondary School and could take me after she went to buy a sweater. So even though I knew I could get there fine, I decided I just wanted to make a friend who is a girl, so I went with her. She took me down this path behind the street stores, and it ends up there is a giant clothing market behind the buildings! I had no idea it was even there. We went and found her a shirt (which was an adventure because I’m the opposite of invisible). Then she bought us sodas to sit down and drink together! It was SO cute! Her English was so-so and my Kiswahili is so-so, but we managed. She took me to the college and we walked in together, and basically I’m just so happy that I made a friend who is a girl. It’s nearly impossible here.

Once I got to the school I found my professor doing some work in the classroom, and two of my classmates practicing. I practiced drumming and then practiced amadinda (which, pardon my language, I’m hoping to be the shit at by the end of the semester). I’m pretty much in love with the music and dancing here.

Tonight in the hotel we met the editor of “Wild Fibers” magazine, which is all about natural fiber clothing. She is so awesome and ate dinner with us and told us all about her crazy awesome life. She has worked there for the magazine for five years and has been to 27 countries since then. She started the magazine because she raises cashmere goats and is really passionate about knowing where the things we use come from and how important natural fibers are for cultures and economies (or that’s how I understood it). Really awesome.

I am hoping that today revamped my excitement about being here. Falling in love all over again :) I hope you are all well at home, being safe and taking advantage of opportunities and such. I miss you all and I’m so thankful that I have all of you to come home to.
Love,
Sarah

I’ve been recycling things from last semester:
Current Song - Passing Afternoon by Iron and Wine
Current Quotes – “Grasping at things can yield one of two results: Either the thing you are grasping at disappears, or you yourself disappear. It’s only a matter of which occurs first.” - Goenka

“The mark of a free man is that ever-gnawing inner uncertainty as to whether or not he is right.” – Saul Alinksy