One month!

One month! Wow, one whole month living in Tanzania. I can now say 5 Swahili words (I’m rather behind my fast learning fellow teachers)

Pole- sorry

Asante- thank you

Karibu- welcome

Jambo- hello

Mambo – I think it is some kind of greeting but just find myself saying it to fit in ha.

Poa – good

So as you can imagine communication between the non-speaking Tanzanians and me is slightly limiting. I feel a big cheesy smile speaks for itself.

Ooo so what have I been up to. Well we travelled to a small village in which two of the scholorshipped children live and went to their church service. It was all in Swahili but it just didn’t seem to matter. It was such an amazing experience and seeing them worship couldn’t help but bring you joy. As lovely as this was, knowing me, I needed the toilet. I was taken by a lovely lady (no English) to what couldn’t have been more than 4 panels of wood each side jammed in the mud to stay up. Yes, unfortunately this was the toilet. The rickety little door was opened for me and there was a dark black hole in the middle. I wont go into to details of the smears of substance around the hole, or the long tailed squeaky friends that were in the hole. But as I stood there in my Sunday best holding my breath (and no I did not go to the toilet) I was wondering how long it was before I could come out, not allowing them to think that I didn’t actually go. I think the worst thing was when I asked my friend why there is no toilet paper. Cough. So just to be on the safe hand be careful when shaking hands to shake peoples right hands in Tanzania, I will say no more.

Ryan leading worship at the village church

Mercy my student with the african version of nail varnish. A plant you put on your nails that stains them a colour.

Moving on, we were all invited to an art exhibition. Got to be honest this wouldn’t really be my first choice of ‘fun things to do’ but hey there’s a first time for everything. It was also a chance for a lot of the westerners in Moshi to get to know each other. Okay so if you haven’t been to an art exhibition, you must. Okay so yes the art was good etc. but the real treat is the array of glorious food. That in itself was art. The beautiful cut up fruit, bacon wrapped dates, dips of all varieties (I better stop as my mouth is now watering) So I signed up for the next art exhibition in October, whoop. The same day we also went over to Ruths house and cooled down and relaxed in her pool, not before we had a little game with the kids.

Most excitingly we had a new addition to our little Tanzanian family yesterday and that is our lovely dog. We decided to call him Hodari which means brave in Swahili he is a beautiful golden colour but unsure of his breed? It is new to me having a dog that is not spoilt and sleeps in bed with me. But I am being mature and what helps is thinking of him as a pet fox that has to sleep and stay outside, it makes it easier on my emotions (such a drama queen) 

Bekah and Melissa giving him a wash

Welcome to the family

 Every Sunday we all go out to a lovely restaurant after church. The food is great depending on whether you receive it or not. Ha. The fellow teachers and me devised a plan of all ordering together and sharing the food amongst us. This means that whatever comes out at least we all have something to eat which is lovely. Sunday lunches are a lovely time of just being with family.