Well, being the last hour and half of the month we have some internet time in excess, Soooo, I snuck on to You Tube and listened and watched Mollie play her yukele and sing a song she wrote. And you said hello to me, if hearts could explode with joy and have the exploding be a really good thing, well mine just did.
"All you have to do, is smile and pretend, smile and pretend, go up in a swirl, " and my favorite line seems to have disappeared into my head over powered by a sense of absolute amazement, delight and and overwhelming desire to grab Mollie, hug her and scream,,,HOW THE HECK DID YOU DO THAT. That was beautiful. When I left you did not play an instrument, write music nor sing all that much, I love you so much. You can do anything that you ever want to do, anything and you always do it exceptionally well. Remember at Bromley, when Phil and I were going to teach you to telemark. Both of us seasoned instructors, excellent parents, not pedantic at all, RIGHT Phil? While we were busy conferring on the best teaching technique, you were off and running. I recall the sound of your voice fading away as you made near perfect turns, yes on your first attempt, "Is it sooomeethiiinnggg like thhissssss yyouuuuu ooo guuyyyyyyyys." And you were gone.
I know life does not always feel that way, but I have been observing you for a good many years and the truth is the truth. You are one sharp babe. Can't wait to hear you in person. I promise to try and resist jumping out of my seat and hugging you at the first note. Phil, your input is obvious. I love you too. And fu geda boooud it zeeeee-gerl, weezz knowz you can play da museec.
Ok, so let's get back to me, it is all about me, is it not. I happen to have just been recognized twice in the 3 team school DANCE OFF this evening. Truth be known, I did not and will never again recognize or understand any piece of music that we just danced to, and when it was my turn to move out onto the dance floor alone, well with 2 others, and wait patiently for some surprise music and then improvisationally respond in competition for about a minute, well I was scared out of my pants......... Lucky for me it started slow and i did a little yoga move and somehow before i knew it, I was down in some sort of split position. Who knew I could do a split, or almost. The room gasped in disbelief. I gasped in great fear that I would never again rise.
It was my good fortune that the tempo picked up and I miraculously followed suit. I was up and jumping, leaping, and apparently dancing with some grace or form of something that was rewarded with extra points and tons of screaming from the kids. I would not have thought it, but the word on the street suggested that I did good, with comments like wow, that is some fancy footwork. duhh you must do yoga, and did she touch the floor with her hands. I personally think it was more like Trish and I leaping around after a couple of shots of Tequila, or like Mollie, Zoe and Richie and I last New Year's Eve when we barely let anyone else out on the dance floor,,, hmm I think a bit of red wine was involved in this episode, but who knows, maybe I have matured. I can say for sure that no alcohol was involved, but as for the maturing process,,,, I kinda doubt it , right Trish.......
Then at the very end for the last few special awards I, Ms. Sue was awarded the 'Most Versatile Dancer' and I think that is a good thing. I actually just got to review it on video, could not really see much, but yes, I did do a split and did get up. You might all want to wait on the report from tomorrow morning for a true assessment of how this body survives.
And tomorrow, hmmmmm, I think I have a date at 10;30 at the local, well the almost only restaurant in town, Indian Restaurant. Yes, from India kind of Indian Food, to make stilts. The two daughters are in my stilt club and said, yes come, we have tools. But we neglected to speak of the other important factors such as wood, bolts, you know those other essentials. Whatever, the group of potential stilt dancing performers keeps growing and still not stilts. Hopefully this will be the weekend to pull it together.
I am ready for it. There will be a bit of studying in the morning to prep for heading out into the world. After an intense 4 days of teaching, I know nothing of swahili. But I do notice that each weekend when I can study, it comes back and new words are easier to obtain. All good, the best that I can do. I cannot develop classroom curriculum, and study swahili at the same time. Although I have finally organized and cleaned the classroom, put into place improved programs in all areas, and so I think I might just be able to back off on the teaching prep stuff and hopefully replace it with nitafundisha... that is either 'with me studying' or 'with me teaching' What I mean is studying and none of you know if I am right or wrong, so what the heck am I fessing up for.....
Sit down volleyball happened this week for me. I know it does not sound so great, but I laughed a lot. My partner and I kicked butt. Of course we could not speak to each other, but we sure as heck could laugh. How silly am I trying to remember what comes after 4 and then after 5, for 2 hours. I know, I know, I don't sound so bright, do I.
Re-runs of "Grey's Anatomy" again tonight, oh yeah. They are my real friends. Hey, they would come visit me here, wouldn't they? Hmmmm not like any of you sniveling, excuses for friends. Ohhh, that almost sounded mean. No real intent, I was still going for the humor angle, let me know how it comes through. But really come on, still waiting for which one of you is going to tire of my asking and accept my invitation.
I just got an invitation to Ruaha National Park. One of the most world famous animal safari kind of places and less than an hour away from here....... all sorts of big animals. Oh, speaking of big animals, there is a an influx of frogs in the school. Yesterday 10 in the pre-school room and 4 in mine. Today some more, but since the poop that was there yesterday did not again appear, I paid absolutely no attention to the little buggers hopping all over the place. I also realized that I forgot to help out the little girl that was concerned about retrieving her notebook from her desk because of a little cockroach. Well, I don't know if it was little or big, since I gave that creature no attention either.
Yup, I am in Africa. And tonight the moon is sort of full, the sky is outstanding. And the electricity that was off for most of the night has returned. I guess there was some sort of electric fire or sparking in the wires out on the street. A friend said that he watched as sparks flew between wires and a few buildings and then everything in sight went dark. For hours. Ah well, like I said, I'm in Africa.
All good. I am a bit lonely though, for real. Think I will try some offensive on this, just don't know which direction to make the efforts. The 20 something year olds in my house are kind to me and I to them, but I am a 5th wheel when I do push my way into their social world. And really they don't make my heart spin either. I do like the two 12, 13 year old girls downstairs. They are actually fun. So at least I can go out and play with them, probably for a hike on Sunday.
Nothing much else to report. Although I did return to the market lady from the first market episode. I did tons better even though I needed to keep referring to my notebook for vocabulary. I managed meager conversation. She walked me to 3 other stalls and informed them not to use english with me because I was working on swahili. I was exhausted and thrilled after the fifteen minute shopping spree. And this time there was not question, I was going out for my coke around the corner. Naoma cocacola, may i have... yeahhhhaaaaaaaaaaa
Showing posts with label Iringa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iringa. Show all posts
Friday, April 30, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
What others say about Iringa
It is Monday, I learned that it is another national holiday. Thus I broke down and washed the majority of the dishes left from last Thursday. I know, I know, I showed great patience in waiting. Erin and her pregnant belly left this morning, it was wonderful to have her here. She is returning to her Boston home with her Tanzanian husband. She was great to spend time, introducing me to her Masai artisan friends. I could not understand a word they said, but have learned some wonderful beading tricks.
Breakfast, as shown in accompanying photo, homemade bread and Nutella. Life does not get much better than this.
Some interesting google write ups about Iringa,
The first is not so surprising, but the second made me laugh out loud and the third is pretty good as well. :
Iringa Bakery (next to Lulu’s). Sells amazing bread. Opening hours are bizarre – 4 out of every 5 visits ends in disappointment, but when you are successful it makes it all worthwhile!
Iringa Restaurants There are 1. (not true, but close)
The top 10 things to do in Iringa - voted and ranked by the tripwolf community = no locations found
Gangilonga Rock (talking stone). This large rock gives you great views over Iringa. (now when i talk of the big rock that starts with G, you should all know what I mean)
Masai Market – Go and visit Sengai (the unofficial leader of the Iringa Masai) in the Masai market between the Posta and Sokoni. (except I learned taht a month ago, the government went in and bulldozed the entire market area, no explanation)
You can get to Iringa by bus. There are many bus companies but some are dangerous. The best are Sumry, Scandinavia, and Hood (NONE of which I used for my less than peaceful trip here)
Breakfast, as shown in accompanying photo, homemade bread and Nutella. Life does not get much better than this.
Some interesting google write ups about Iringa,
The first is not so surprising, but the second made me laugh out loud and the third is pretty good as well. :
Iringa Bakery (next to Lulu’s). Sells amazing bread. Opening hours are bizarre – 4 out of every 5 visits ends in disappointment, but when you are successful it makes it all worthwhile!
Iringa Restaurants There are 1. (not true, but close)
The top 10 things to do in Iringa - voted and ranked by the tripwolf community = no locations found
Gangilonga Rock (talking stone). This large rock gives you great views over Iringa. (now when i talk of the big rock that starts with G, you should all know what I mean)
Masai Market – Go and visit Sengai (the unofficial leader of the Iringa Masai) in the Masai market between the Posta and Sokoni. (except I learned taht a month ago, the government went in and bulldozed the entire market area, no explanation)
You can get to Iringa by bus. There are many bus companies but some are dangerous. The best are Sumry, Scandinavia, and Hood (NONE of which I used for my less than peaceful trip here)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
There is a World Out There !
As I hoped, life will and has unfolded. I actually had a social day yesterday. So much so that I hid behind my closed door when Erin returned home for the evening.
What a wonderful day! Great tea with Masala Chai herbs and spices ummmmmm, a coffee at Hasty Tasty's, YES I DARED, DID IT, and ENJOYED MYSELF. I had been told by acquaintances in Dar to visit with the mom and son owners, I did. I introduced myself and it was so absolutely kind and warm a reception. They checked in on me, insisted that I move to a more comfortable spot and that I make myself comfortable. They even sell food that looks like I want to eat it. Wow, I might just make it through without my usual loss of 15 pounds.
Then a study date. AMAZING. Julio really does want to study. He wants nothing more than to teach me Kiswahili and to learn better Spanish. He actually knows a lot, so I had better study. He wanted to know about the intricacies of pronouns, UGH. Why I thought, and then said, 'well look at the time, guess we better quit now." Kidding, but I do have to review this stuff since it manages to fly out of my head as quickly as it flies in. We sat in a park near the clocktower and studied for close to two hours.
And he is going to bring me to play soccer today or tomorrow. Well, I think he is. I am not certain, because through his intense disbelief and ridiculous laughter at the idea that 'this old, white lady really is a soccer player,' I think that he agreed. He is super sweet and when we parted ways, my thought was, 'this guy is going to be my friend.'
Then the easter egg hunt, watching a futbol match between Manchester and .....the other star english team, phenomenal chai, homemade not by the swede but by the indian mom. There was told a great story of the swede making chai for everyone up until the day Pretty, the indian mom, became comfortable enough in the company to say, 'Stop, no more, please never make chai again, I shall do it and it will be drinkable.' A funny story, a super enjoyable tea date.
Four of them, a tanzanian, indian, swede, american, 3 of the 4 have children of mixed race. I think that I thoroughly enjoyed their company. It might be too much to hope for, but I think I just found more company to keep in the future. The swede has the wonderful 4 boys. I love them, they are full of life and love. Here as in many countries there is a politeness that we americans do not display. When you walk into a home, everyone even young children shake your hand and say welcome. Time to depart, same routine, but with a sincere thank you for visiting. It is very impressive. By that I mean it impresses upon you a feeling of warmth and welcome.
We had tea out on the porch underneath that big rock that i keep mentioning. The rock that many know Iringa to be famous for, this family lives in its shadow. We ended with a glass of wine and before we even sipped this, the silliness began. We shared stories and broke any ice that may have been able to exist in the warmth of Iringa.
They spoke in whispers of a 'members only club.' In case you have not made the assumption, they hate the idea. And I told the story, which I had all but forgotten of how at the holidays this year I came up with a brainstorm of how phil or I should sell one of our houses and share the money and give the person whose house is sold a space to sleep in the non-sold house. Yes phil is my ex husband and yes he did find the idea absolutely and utterly ridiculous. I still stand by the reasonability of it, being unemployed and having no desire to return to full time work.
But the story was such fun that I was forced to continue. I expounded on the kindness of Phil in not laughing out loud and how after his knowing and loving me for so many years he has learned to just stare in bewilderment and say nothing. When I shared his stifled final response of, 'Well that is an idea to consider." I thought they would fall of their chairs. I waited an appropriate moment or two and followed this with a comment about how we could tell his girlfriend/partner about the idea later. I am sure one or two of them did fall off chairs at this point. They also made me tell the story a second time.
So I am happy to say we had fun and I think they will invite me again. Oh, yes the swede who lives there with 4 beautiful boys is the one I mentioned in an earlier post, the one that I hoped for no reason would invite me to dinner. YEAHHHAAAAAAA life unfolds.
Also a glass of wine, in the heat, with little food intake and virtually no alcohol intake, yeowza, fun. A light buzzy feeling that dissipates quickly but, is funny in the moment. We laughed about their driving and my walking or stumbling home over the ruts and puddles.
Nintoka and Ninataka. Very different words.....ninTAtaka,,,with the 'ta' take it..... meaning "i want' and nina-TOka with the 'to' go to or come from. means i am from.. so there you have it, kiswalhili. MIMI NI MWALIMU, this is I am a teacher, oh yeah,,kick it.......
hasta pasta
What a wonderful day! Great tea with Masala Chai herbs and spices ummmmmm, a coffee at Hasty Tasty's, YES I DARED, DID IT, and ENJOYED MYSELF. I had been told by acquaintances in Dar to visit with the mom and son owners, I did. I introduced myself and it was so absolutely kind and warm a reception. They checked in on me, insisted that I move to a more comfortable spot and that I make myself comfortable. They even sell food that looks like I want to eat it. Wow, I might just make it through without my usual loss of 15 pounds.
Then a study date. AMAZING. Julio really does want to study. He wants nothing more than to teach me Kiswahili and to learn better Spanish. He actually knows a lot, so I had better study. He wanted to know about the intricacies of pronouns, UGH. Why I thought, and then said, 'well look at the time, guess we better quit now." Kidding, but I do have to review this stuff since it manages to fly out of my head as quickly as it flies in. We sat in a park near the clocktower and studied for close to two hours.
And he is going to bring me to play soccer today or tomorrow. Well, I think he is. I am not certain, because through his intense disbelief and ridiculous laughter at the idea that 'this old, white lady really is a soccer player,' I think that he agreed. He is super sweet and when we parted ways, my thought was, 'this guy is going to be my friend.'
Then the easter egg hunt, watching a futbol match between Manchester and .....the other star english team, phenomenal chai, homemade not by the swede but by the indian mom. There was told a great story of the swede making chai for everyone up until the day Pretty, the indian mom, became comfortable enough in the company to say, 'Stop, no more, please never make chai again, I shall do it and it will be drinkable.' A funny story, a super enjoyable tea date.
Four of them, a tanzanian, indian, swede, american, 3 of the 4 have children of mixed race. I think that I thoroughly enjoyed their company. It might be too much to hope for, but I think I just found more company to keep in the future. The swede has the wonderful 4 boys. I love them, they are full of life and love. Here as in many countries there is a politeness that we americans do not display. When you walk into a home, everyone even young children shake your hand and say welcome. Time to depart, same routine, but with a sincere thank you for visiting. It is very impressive. By that I mean it impresses upon you a feeling of warmth and welcome.
We had tea out on the porch underneath that big rock that i keep mentioning. The rock that many know Iringa to be famous for, this family lives in its shadow. We ended with a glass of wine and before we even sipped this, the silliness began. We shared stories and broke any ice that may have been able to exist in the warmth of Iringa.
They spoke in whispers of a 'members only club.' In case you have not made the assumption, they hate the idea. And I told the story, which I had all but forgotten of how at the holidays this year I came up with a brainstorm of how phil or I should sell one of our houses and share the money and give the person whose house is sold a space to sleep in the non-sold house. Yes phil is my ex husband and yes he did find the idea absolutely and utterly ridiculous. I still stand by the reasonability of it, being unemployed and having no desire to return to full time work.
But the story was such fun that I was forced to continue. I expounded on the kindness of Phil in not laughing out loud and how after his knowing and loving me for so many years he has learned to just stare in bewilderment and say nothing. When I shared his stifled final response of, 'Well that is an idea to consider." I thought they would fall of their chairs. I waited an appropriate moment or two and followed this with a comment about how we could tell his girlfriend/partner about the idea later. I am sure one or two of them did fall off chairs at this point. They also made me tell the story a second time.
So I am happy to say we had fun and I think they will invite me again. Oh, yes the swede who lives there with 4 beautiful boys is the one I mentioned in an earlier post, the one that I hoped for no reason would invite me to dinner. YEAHHHAAAAAAA life unfolds.
Also a glass of wine, in the heat, with little food intake and virtually no alcohol intake, yeowza, fun. A light buzzy feeling that dissipates quickly but, is funny in the moment. We laughed about their driving and my walking or stumbling home over the ruts and puddles.
Nintoka and Ninataka. Very different words.....ninTAtaka,,,with the 'ta' take it..... meaning "i want' and nina-TOka with the 'to' go to or come from. means i am from.. so there you have it, kiswalhili. MIMI NI MWALIMU, this is I am a teacher, oh yeah,,kick it.......
hasta pasta
Friday, April 2, 2010
4/2/10 A morning in the life
It is morning, well here, not there, all is well. I am alone in the flat. It is Easter vacation and absolutely everyone is off on a safari or some exotic island. Don't they realize that right here under our noses that life is outstanding. I am planning on making myself a space in the kitchen that is mine and that the rotting food, crumbs, filthy dishes and pans hopefully will not encroach on......, I found a colorful flat basket that is drying in the sun from the mold and food particles that had worked their way into its beautiful folds. This shall be MINE. I am going to try and buy a piece or two of bright cloth today, I will use this to section off part of the counter.
I am also collecting pieces of tiles which are ground into the roads everywhere. I am imagining making a table top. It won't be bright, but it will be fun to make and usable. I have a desk and a bed, but would like something else to put stuff on next to bed. I know, I know, how bouigswa. HOw the hell does one spell that word. I have in and decided to end it in swahili. Kiswahili is entirely different than any romance language, but it is very phonetic. The few sounds that are not are comprable to some of the unique spanish sounds.
This morning I welcomed my flatmates 'safari driver,' by saying, Jina mi susana. He broke into the widest, most delightful smile and said, 'ahhh, you speak Swahili!" Not a question, just a delighted exclamation. I was so sorry to disappoint him, but it was fine. When I laughed and said, I know that sentence, he too burst into laughter.
This is going to be so fun. Before I head out to finally buy groceries that I want to eat (my rice dish from 4 days ago is thankfully gone. The peanutt butter that I added on day 2 or 3 helped, but never did mask the excessive salt taste, nor really make it very interesting) Speaking of interesting food though, the flat's cook (i dont use her, as it is expensive here and one less cost is better, plus it is often meat filled) made a vegie dish a few days ago. Masala mushroom sauce, OH MY GOD, there he is again, that guy god, it is so good. If only there wasn't frequently a crunch from the wonderful earth that insists on being part of the meal, then I would totally enjoy it. I know I said i am not eating her food, but i did sneak a million fingers full. And since nobody puts any food away, it sat right there in front of me for the past 2 days. How could i resist when my dinner was noodles with, hmmmmm one half hard boiled egg and salt that i pilfered from someone here.
OH YEAH OH YEAH someone just came to the door and i managed a second sentence,,,,freaking AYYYYYY. 'Sisemi kiswahili sana' except of course it sounded more like, 'Simi,,,sisese, siiiiiisemi ni, nonono ,, Sisemi swahili,,nononon, Sisemi Swahili sana." I don't speak Swahili. Oh yes the wonderful phrase above is, 'my name is sue' Jina ni susana. Rock and roll. I am off and running.
I am really quite pathetic, but if I can keep up my energy, it will come. I made a date to study 3 hours per day next week. I am so excited, except, yes, always an except, the teacher who is arranging this so accomodatingly, did not say when, where, or how. And I do not even recall her name. Ahhh. I can only hope she is happy enough about the increase in case flow that she will find me. If not, I have a second book to use.
Today the market and a coffee shop. Well they call it a coffee shop. You can find it on the web too. But I saw it the other day, Monday when i dared a town excursion and well. it did not look like anything I dared enter. Today it is my first or second stop. I shall do it, Hasty Tasty here I come.
Yesterday was field day at school. Hours of relay races. very well done, but extremely long and arduous for those of us sitting and watching. You, some of you will be proud of me though, I am actually doing it, sitting and watching. I am not trying to do it all. I am being an observer often. It is curious for me to sit back and watch. But I am liking it. I still have my notebook with Kiswahili in it and I had parents to meet, but I am not overcompensating for my mere existance.
I did begin to organize my class librarry. It is now half alphabetized and books have a letter in one corner indicating the where it belongs on shelf, based on authors last name, of course. My fellow travelers know this, far too well. Joci,,remember........ This was one of my niece Jocelyn's biggest jobs, alphabetizing and labeling books. No easy task when we are talking over 1000 books. I am also going to take it easy on teaching, really try and stay low key. My predecessor has been very kind. I realize her lack of info that she is passing on to me, is based on her low key teaching style. There is no real record keeping or list of what has been taught. She knows her students, my 12 students and that is sufficient. We spoke here at the flat and it was great. So I shall make some changes, I will not teach individual workbook lessons as has been done for the 3 language groups. I;ll start a project and teach within. Biographies I think. I shall not keep free reading as simply student with a random book, I shall begin a check in daily and record keeping by students of this check in book. I love this form of teaching reading, it works so well. Students must share what they learn from the book, so they must both decode and interpret. I know many students aren't doing this now, And as teacher we get to share the joy of reading and the potential for great adventure in each or most texts.
Otherwise, no biggie. school is school is school. I have an assistant and she knows everything. I have already made it clear to her, that she is now in charge. Her name is Pinkie. She is from here, very well educated and sure of herself. We shall do well together. I met her mom yesterday.
Otherwise, as for people. I wonder. Will I have any social life at all. Doubtful. But I have done this before, the month is Ecuador was essentially alone. I shall find ways to occupy myself. There is so much hiking right here from town. And of course once the language begins to come to me, I shall find places in the village to make visits, practice language And who knows what shall come from this. What if I make friends with some of the women sewing on the streets. ahhhh...so exciting
Just dared to answer the phone and @ 3 today I go and color eggs with Kristeen, school director's home here in the compound There will be a couple working with some NGO and the woman is working on opening libraries here in town. So once again, life holds a plethora of possibilities.
I must study or I won't ever dare the market ....yeah....i have a plan for the day. BIGBIGBIG plan.
Oh yes, google this area and find the big rock that is famous here. the name I dont know, but it has many mystical stories behind it and I can see it from many places that I walk. I just googled 'iringa, big rock' and found the name for you,,, Gangilonga Rock (talking stone). Check it out.
Who is coming so we can go on a safari? I am becoming weary of asking you all.... come on now,,, this constant questioning has to break down someone;s will. It always worked for Moll and Zoe, right girls. I have time tested the theory that if you ask the same 'will you travel with me question' no one can resist forever.
So, when are you coming?
besos,
I am also collecting pieces of tiles which are ground into the roads everywhere. I am imagining making a table top. It won't be bright, but it will be fun to make and usable. I have a desk and a bed, but would like something else to put stuff on next to bed. I know, I know, how bouigswa. HOw the hell does one spell that word. I have in and decided to end it in swahili. Kiswahili is entirely different than any romance language, but it is very phonetic. The few sounds that are not are comprable to some of the unique spanish sounds.
This morning I welcomed my flatmates 'safari driver,' by saying, Jina mi susana. He broke into the widest, most delightful smile and said, 'ahhh, you speak Swahili!" Not a question, just a delighted exclamation. I was so sorry to disappoint him, but it was fine. When I laughed and said, I know that sentence, he too burst into laughter.
This is going to be so fun. Before I head out to finally buy groceries that I want to eat (my rice dish from 4 days ago is thankfully gone. The peanutt butter that I added on day 2 or 3 helped, but never did mask the excessive salt taste, nor really make it very interesting) Speaking of interesting food though, the flat's cook (i dont use her, as it is expensive here and one less cost is better, plus it is often meat filled) made a vegie dish a few days ago. Masala mushroom sauce, OH MY GOD, there he is again, that guy god, it is so good. If only there wasn't frequently a crunch from the wonderful earth that insists on being part of the meal, then I would totally enjoy it. I know I said i am not eating her food, but i did sneak a million fingers full. And since nobody puts any food away, it sat right there in front of me for the past 2 days. How could i resist when my dinner was noodles with, hmmmmm one half hard boiled egg and salt that i pilfered from someone here.
OH YEAH OH YEAH someone just came to the door and i managed a second sentence,,,,freaking AYYYYYY. 'Sisemi kiswahili sana' except of course it sounded more like, 'Simi,,,sisese, siiiiiisemi ni, nonono ,, Sisemi swahili,,nononon, Sisemi Swahili sana." I don't speak Swahili. Oh yes the wonderful phrase above is, 'my name is sue' Jina ni susana. Rock and roll. I am off and running.
I am really quite pathetic, but if I can keep up my energy, it will come. I made a date to study 3 hours per day next week. I am so excited, except, yes, always an except, the teacher who is arranging this so accomodatingly, did not say when, where, or how. And I do not even recall her name. Ahhh. I can only hope she is happy enough about the increase in case flow that she will find me. If not, I have a second book to use.
Today the market and a coffee shop. Well they call it a coffee shop. You can find it on the web too. But I saw it the other day, Monday when i dared a town excursion and well. it did not look like anything I dared enter. Today it is my first or second stop. I shall do it, Hasty Tasty here I come.
Yesterday was field day at school. Hours of relay races. very well done, but extremely long and arduous for those of us sitting and watching. You, some of you will be proud of me though, I am actually doing it, sitting and watching. I am not trying to do it all. I am being an observer often. It is curious for me to sit back and watch. But I am liking it. I still have my notebook with Kiswahili in it and I had parents to meet, but I am not overcompensating for my mere existance.
I did begin to organize my class librarry. It is now half alphabetized and books have a letter in one corner indicating the where it belongs on shelf, based on authors last name, of course. My fellow travelers know this, far too well. Joci,,remember........ This was one of my niece Jocelyn's biggest jobs, alphabetizing and labeling books. No easy task when we are talking over 1000 books. I am also going to take it easy on teaching, really try and stay low key. My predecessor has been very kind. I realize her lack of info that she is passing on to me, is based on her low key teaching style. There is no real record keeping or list of what has been taught. She knows her students, my 12 students and that is sufficient. We spoke here at the flat and it was great. So I shall make some changes, I will not teach individual workbook lessons as has been done for the 3 language groups. I;ll start a project and teach within. Biographies I think. I shall not keep free reading as simply student with a random book, I shall begin a check in daily and record keeping by students of this check in book. I love this form of teaching reading, it works so well. Students must share what they learn from the book, so they must both decode and interpret. I know many students aren't doing this now, And as teacher we get to share the joy of reading and the potential for great adventure in each or most texts.
Otherwise, no biggie. school is school is school. I have an assistant and she knows everything. I have already made it clear to her, that she is now in charge. Her name is Pinkie. She is from here, very well educated and sure of herself. We shall do well together. I met her mom yesterday.
Otherwise, as for people. I wonder. Will I have any social life at all. Doubtful. But I have done this before, the month is Ecuador was essentially alone. I shall find ways to occupy myself. There is so much hiking right here from town. And of course once the language begins to come to me, I shall find places in the village to make visits, practice language And who knows what shall come from this. What if I make friends with some of the women sewing on the streets. ahhhh...so exciting
Just dared to answer the phone and @ 3 today I go and color eggs with Kristeen, school director's home here in the compound There will be a couple working with some NGO and the woman is working on opening libraries here in town. So once again, life holds a plethora of possibilities.
I must study or I won't ever dare the market ....yeah....i have a plan for the day. BIGBIGBIG plan.
Oh yes, google this area and find the big rock that is famous here. the name I dont know, but it has many mystical stories behind it and I can see it from many places that I walk. I just googled 'iringa, big rock' and found the name for you,,, Gangilonga Rock (talking stone). Check it out.
Who is coming so we can go on a safari? I am becoming weary of asking you all.... come on now,,, this constant questioning has to break down someone;s will. It always worked for Moll and Zoe, right girls. I have time tested the theory that if you ask the same 'will you travel with me question' no one can resist forever.
So, when are you coming?
besos,
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Where in the world is Sue O.
Great idea Noah! I wish I knew where I was, it is hard to tell sometimes It is all good though. It is Tuesday afternoon and I will try and recount a bit of the adventures.
Hmmmm let me start with today and then jump to Sunday and perhaps somewhere in here think about Monday. So today is the 2nd day of school. I am loving it there, extremely relaxed and the kids are wonderful. There are so many shapes, sizes and accents. There is 1 from India, today she said, 'miss sue, this is interesting, I am from India and I have never been there only my brother has." That was much more effective with the accent, I assure you. Another from Canada, he is the darkest of skin of all, an Afrikaner, Greek (is there a greek accent?), couple of Brits, Swahili speakers, Swedish and probably more.
I am intent on learning the language, at least some moments I am. So intent that i still do not know the students names, I am far too busy repeating swahili words from the little cheat seat I haver made and am hiding in my pocket. Maybe I will start wearing long sleeves and writing up and down my arms, hmmmm I am liking that idea.
So I am up early, 6ish and I begin to study, or have for 2 days. I think I am doing quite well as I have learned about 10 words or expressions in swahili, now to be able to use them when i need them. Actually, well, really i only have hello, 'habari' (think habachi and you imagine cooking on the african safare,,, and you have it in no time) but there are about 8 more ways so i use my simple one and they reply with something i have no clue about... i am close to getting please out in time.....tafadali i have to say 'do it TO and FOR ALI, to remember what it is, sometimes i have to also say,,, ali the boxer, would not have to say please. So of course you can imagine how effective it is if i ever get it out, basically it is like the next day. But I arrived with habari and have learned, thank you since I have been here, asanti.
Rafe wrote and reminded me yesterday that I can always resort to the expression he decided we knew even if we never really did and still don't, 'i can eat ice cream with my baby in swahili' or some such thing. Rafe, I would like to point out that you neglected to write this in swahili for me and you were the expert with that expression.
Let me jump to yesterday when I was comfortable only with the habachi cooking apparatus word and had to go and try to buy food. I had a tea bag at the apartment left to keep me alive. Oh MY GOSH what an adventure! And I say that will all the enthusiasm I can muster. I walked for hours, only almost got lost, but when new in a place it is often hard to discern what building is what and so I walked past the more regular food stores and into the market and bus area before I could see anything that might sell what was needed to keep me alive. All of a sudden I was on a series of streets with old tires, piles of used shoes, most not in pairs, and bins of food stuff, some of it even recognizable. The rice, I see, I saw it ,,,, I want it,,,, but it took a good hour before I dared venture in and buy any. My rice transaction happened only because my escape route was suddenly blocked from behind me. I had already bought a couple of things and was pretty much satisfied with this, or too terrified to dare ask for anything else. But this second round sounded something like, 'puedo....oh no,,,wrong, errrrhhh uuuuhhhhhhh ' point, point, say things like 'ugh' some more, point to my stomach, smile, try not to notice how weird I seem and how out of place I am, the only foreigner on some muddy back street of Iringa. We did manage to communicate, I do think the man started to say 'ugh' as well, this may have been the ticket to our success. He probably thinks he now knows a foreign language.
We both realized that the simplest words were no where to be found. So he held up a weight, probably a kilo, maybe? I held up a coin, definitely a 1,000 = $1. He held up 2 fingers, I said, "ugh' and held up the coin meaning, 'no, i don't have that much money, I only have one.' One coin is 1000, which is about a dollar. He held up the smaller weight, we both said, "ugh." And he put the weight on and began to shovel in rice. He finished this and held his empty hands out to me, since there was no accompanying, 'ugh,' I was clueless.
Somehow I realized,he wanted a bag, probably some hand motion. I could handle this, I rifled through my fanny pack and I found my torn envelope from my plane tickets and began to create a functioning container. He found this utterly unacceptable and used old, dirty newspaper instead. Clearly an improvement. That is not even the wierd part, he then, after holding up that '1' finger repeatedly in reaction to my holding up the 1,000 coin, and our agreeing to purchasing enough rice at the cost of '1', he gave me change. So the rice which will last for at least 3 days, 2 meals cost about .70 cents. Not bad, this should make up for my first transaction of the cashews and 2 tiny boxes of milk that cost me close to $9.
I bought the cashews and milk in my first successful store experience. Fairly uneventful. I got to use my one word a few times in both occasions,, 'Asanti,' smile, take a few steps, 'Asanti,' smile again and try to leave again without saying it again. Even though my cashew and milk story is fairly uneventful, I will admit that it was enough of a stress for me to have a HUGE internal struggle to venture into any other store to buy anything else. I had been fairly insistent with myself that these 2 things would be sufficient. Just keep smiling and walking until I dare buy something else!
I also had limited cash, still do and the 2 bank machines I dared try were out of money. I don't know how many of you have noticed, but I am now fluently using 2 words, habari and asanti. Asanti is thank you.
Well I ended the day, fairly proud of myself because I added to the list a loaf of bread, can of peanut butter, yes can and a lime that is really an orange, but tastes like neither and 3 tomatoes, Yes 3. So I have now eaten 3 meals have been rice, undercooked and crunchy because the stove 'sucks' with tomatos, onion (i 'borrowed' one from housemate), cashews and the lime, orange that tastes like neither and really should be thrown away. Oh yes and tea!
It is so weird to have no words. Your mouth starts to feel funny. I tend to throw out some version of spanish words since that has worked for the past 11 years while traveling and terrified. You have to push yourself to go out in the world. I stayed out yesterday for hours, it was wonderful really. I know that I might not be communicating this, because it is wonderful and terrifying and sometimes icky. But the overriding sense is wonder and excitement.
My living space is cushy. My housemates all 3 are quite young. Mostly good, just too young to serve any useful purpose for me. The man looks like Hans, so I kinda love him. He has the sweet, funny pieces of Hans too, and laughs quickly as Hans does. HI HANS. I have a room and a bed and windows and bugnet and table and light. hmmm lots of closet space. It's outstanding. There is a big kitchen which housemates decimate within hours of the cleaning and cooking lady departure. Something smells of rotting fruit and I am sure it is the molding, rotting fruit that we all pretend doesn't exist.
Oh, yes hot shower as long as you remember to turn the heater on 45 minutes before shower time. Oh my word, I arrive with great sunburn on my shoulders and the shower spray was like some torture technique. There is this light spray that blasts your eyes when you approach the water and of course makes you chilled, so you jump all the way under to possibly be scaulded and most definitely pounded by the intensity of the inner spray. But it is warm and clean enough and it is here. We are in a gated community, right down the mountain from the school. There is also an outstanding restaurant that the school director brought me to the 1st night. This too is right here in safety zone.
If only I had more than $2 to my name I would go there right now. But I don't and anyways I do not want to waste that crunchy rice dish. What the heck, I have my computer, my room, my swahili dictionary and well all of that wonderful food I have previously mentioned. Maybe I will try adding some peanut butter to my dinner later tonight.
There is supposedly a couple of other good places to go and hang out in town, but i saw nothing that I would dare to enter without armed guards, ok, without someone with me. It was not unsafe feeling really, just very foreign and poor.
Oh, my , but the colors I say again and will say repeatedly. So very beautiful. The women wear bright African clothing (that African was intended as a joke, but thought I had better clarify) the top and bottom is often of extreme variation in pattern, but with some of the same tones or colors. Blasts of yellow, lime greens, oranges, oh....... it makes me so happy to see. I did dare to stop and touch a few bunches of clothes outside of shops yesterday. The women smiled quite nicely at me and I think they understood that I needed to do this to comfort myself and because I really do appreciate their world and most especially the colors. The streets are lined with people doing work, sewing machines are outside of wooden slats built shacks, the cloth hangs for people to choose from. It seems as though most food stores sell one or two items. I can't wait to find the bean store as I do want to eat enough to stay healthy,,, and the carrot store. I did find the cabbage store, it was the one selling the fake limes. And it was only a tiny stand with too many young boys sitting outside saying things to me, to dare buy 2 things there. So I could resort to cabbage if in fact a carrot store does not exist. A few were sharpening knives and cutting up truck tires to make sandles. And then there were plenty sitting on tilted back plastic chairs waiting patiently for someone to buy something. I kept waiting for a face to invite me in. But I know from experience that this white, terrified, smiling face is not going to draw invitations, it will not be until i really relax that I will be welcomed. And then, as I also know from experience, my welcome will be absolute and a pure delight. I did have a touch of it in the rice stall, as I was leaving and repeating 'asanti' i heard giggling, my simple attempts to use their language brought that special laughter that I hope one day all of you have a chance to experience.
This laughter is the one that breaks down all barriers. My vulnerability is known, their vulnerability that is an internalized reaction to a white foreigner is known by the way they look in surprise at me trying to speak and being absolutely foolish, all is dispelled in that magic moment. Laughter, eye contact, comfort. It is beautiful and as I write it, I hope for the mental capacity to grab hold of enough of this language to have many more moments like this.
I spoke to a very nice parent today at school. Intense european accent, very beautiful woman. I am imagining that she will invite me to dinner. There is no reason to believe this might really happen, only that I do so want to have someone other than my students to speak to. Next week is vacation and virtually everyone is going off to travel. The director, Kristeen, who is extremely sweet is returning and she is sure to come and save me from extreme isolation at some point, but otherwise, I cannot imagine what I shall do. Study, walk, hmmmmmm. No worries, life will unfold.
My real plan, if i choose to accept it, is to learn enough swahili to be able to really venture out with the ability to say something that gets results. That should happen by the weekend. We shall see. I did buy an electric cord yesterday. The wrong kind and it doesn't actually plug in to the sockets, but I did manage the sale. I learned that while there is a word for electricity, there is not one for the adaptor that I bought. I have no clue what the word for electricity is anymore, but i did get to use my 'thank you' quite a few times in that situation too.
I guess this is probably getting a bit boring.
I can tell you about my bus ride though before I end. The bus station was absolutely terrifying, nothing less. Fortunately I had a taxi driver named Michael that took care of me, he actually held my hand at one point to make sure I was safe as he pushed through the throng of screaming men. I cannot explain the place. Just horrible, like a shanty city in itself, hundreds of old, smoking buses, mud, shacks that I guess sold stuff. I could only get tickets to a bus line that was unheard of and so not recommended. All I knew of the unrecommended bus companies was that they drove too fast, often broke down and just as often crashed on the windy mountain roads. You can imagine my delight.
Though I actually was delighted to get into my seat., my bags we watched as they were put under the bus. But seat, did I use that word. Hardly, when I sat up straight there was less than an inch in front of my knees, this was before the person in front reclined her seat, I dont think mine reclined, but it is a moot point because once the family of a mom and 2 kids sat on top of each other (and often me) in the single seat next to me, I could only move one arm a fraction of an inch. I could manage my twist my wrists to get to the container of nuts and dried fruit in my backpack. Every hour or so, I would reach in and stuff a handful into my mouth, chew slowly and be happy to have food. It was from Seattle and very delicious. Oh, yes, I did not mention that my day pack that was, of course, overstuffed, was on my lap. It made for a nice pillow for the kids next to me, served as a heater for my body and eventually blocked circulation to my feet. The last couple of hours of the 8 hour bus ride, I struggled against that ucky feeling of feet numbing, tingling and swelling. I did get off the b us once, which is really good since I still had remnants of the urinary tract infection and 8 hours without a bathroom, no good. (for the first time in my life my two smallest toes cramped for a good hour as I was trying to sleep and the marks from the straps on my shoes took hours to disappear, I guess the swelling was worse than I thought, really I was just so happy to be safe on a bus, A bus I point out did not crash, break down nor run out of gas).
I know you are thinking when is she going to describe the res stop bathroom, But no such luck, I am not going to. I am tired of sounding like I am absolutely terrified and tortured. I am not, but to describe the bathroom would only disprove this and so your imaginations will have to suffice. I will on the other hand tell you that in my dramamine haze, I took 2 pills to hide the intensity of my need to urinate, usually just a half puts me in a stupor that takes hours to recover from. But in this haze the delightful squeals of the two sweeties next to me woke me enough to see herds of giraffes, real live zebras and other things that I am pretty sure were wildebeasts. Oh and one white face, HUGE, monkey. I am not making this up. There really are these fantastic animals on this earth. Some of the giraffes were as close as 30 feet from the bus and their silly long necks were allowing their owners to eat leaves from the highest of branches. WOW.
Continuing on my positive notes, I was met at the bus station (yes, I had no idea if it was the bus station or not, had I missed the bus station, and why am I calling them bus stations, since they are not really stations, but muddy lots with screaming men, no signs or any indicators of our where abouts) but when I saw a white face holding the hand of the most beautiful light brown 3 year old. This was a very encouraging scene, but when the mom mouthed the words , ' sue,' well, I might as well burst into tears of delight. When I could squeeze my way off the bus, i actually grabbed kristeen, my school director and hugged her and said something, then repeated it , A LOT. Guess this is the best I can do, find some words that seem to work and just keep repeating. I have never been happier than in that moment. The evening was a blur, but a good one, I was fed, and given shelter. Ahhh life is a good thing.
Let me know if any of you actually made it through this, it has been a most terrific, in a good way, a most terrific experience despite the harrowing aspects.
Only 2 more days of work and then vacation, yehaaaaa.
besos, I promise those of you that are coming to visit, I will rent you a car to get here........ love
Hmmmm let me start with today and then jump to Sunday and perhaps somewhere in here think about Monday. So today is the 2nd day of school. I am loving it there, extremely relaxed and the kids are wonderful. There are so many shapes, sizes and accents. There is 1 from India, today she said, 'miss sue, this is interesting, I am from India and I have never been there only my brother has." That was much more effective with the accent, I assure you. Another from Canada, he is the darkest of skin of all, an Afrikaner, Greek (is there a greek accent?), couple of Brits, Swahili speakers, Swedish and probably more.
I am intent on learning the language, at least some moments I am. So intent that i still do not know the students names, I am far too busy repeating swahili words from the little cheat seat I haver made and am hiding in my pocket. Maybe I will start wearing long sleeves and writing up and down my arms, hmmmm I am liking that idea.
So I am up early, 6ish and I begin to study, or have for 2 days. I think I am doing quite well as I have learned about 10 words or expressions in swahili, now to be able to use them when i need them. Actually, well, really i only have hello, 'habari' (think habachi and you imagine cooking on the african safare,,, and you have it in no time) but there are about 8 more ways so i use my simple one and they reply with something i have no clue about... i am close to getting please out in time.....tafadali i have to say 'do it TO and FOR ALI, to remember what it is, sometimes i have to also say,,, ali the boxer, would not have to say please. So of course you can imagine how effective it is if i ever get it out, basically it is like the next day. But I arrived with habari and have learned, thank you since I have been here, asanti.
Rafe wrote and reminded me yesterday that I can always resort to the expression he decided we knew even if we never really did and still don't, 'i can eat ice cream with my baby in swahili' or some such thing. Rafe, I would like to point out that you neglected to write this in swahili for me and you were the expert with that expression.
Let me jump to yesterday when I was comfortable only with the habachi cooking apparatus word and had to go and try to buy food. I had a tea bag at the apartment left to keep me alive. Oh MY GOSH what an adventure! And I say that will all the enthusiasm I can muster. I walked for hours, only almost got lost, but when new in a place it is often hard to discern what building is what and so I walked past the more regular food stores and into the market and bus area before I could see anything that might sell what was needed to keep me alive. All of a sudden I was on a series of streets with old tires, piles of used shoes, most not in pairs, and bins of food stuff, some of it even recognizable. The rice, I see, I saw it ,,,, I want it,,,, but it took a good hour before I dared venture in and buy any. My rice transaction happened only because my escape route was suddenly blocked from behind me. I had already bought a couple of things and was pretty much satisfied with this, or too terrified to dare ask for anything else. But this second round sounded something like, 'puedo....oh no,,,wrong, errrrhhh uuuuhhhhhhh ' point, point, say things like 'ugh' some more, point to my stomach, smile, try not to notice how weird I seem and how out of place I am, the only foreigner on some muddy back street of Iringa. We did manage to communicate, I do think the man started to say 'ugh' as well, this may have been the ticket to our success. He probably thinks he now knows a foreign language.
We both realized that the simplest words were no where to be found. So he held up a weight, probably a kilo, maybe? I held up a coin, definitely a 1,000 = $1. He held up 2 fingers, I said, "ugh' and held up the coin meaning, 'no, i don't have that much money, I only have one.' One coin is 1000, which is about a dollar. He held up the smaller weight, we both said, "ugh." And he put the weight on and began to shovel in rice. He finished this and held his empty hands out to me, since there was no accompanying, 'ugh,' I was clueless.
Somehow I realized,he wanted a bag, probably some hand motion. I could handle this, I rifled through my fanny pack and I found my torn envelope from my plane tickets and began to create a functioning container. He found this utterly unacceptable and used old, dirty newspaper instead. Clearly an improvement. That is not even the wierd part, he then, after holding up that '1' finger repeatedly in reaction to my holding up the 1,000 coin, and our agreeing to purchasing enough rice at the cost of '1', he gave me change. So the rice which will last for at least 3 days, 2 meals cost about .70 cents. Not bad, this should make up for my first transaction of the cashews and 2 tiny boxes of milk that cost me close to $9.
I bought the cashews and milk in my first successful store experience. Fairly uneventful. I got to use my one word a few times in both occasions,, 'Asanti,' smile, take a few steps, 'Asanti,' smile again and try to leave again without saying it again. Even though my cashew and milk story is fairly uneventful, I will admit that it was enough of a stress for me to have a HUGE internal struggle to venture into any other store to buy anything else. I had been fairly insistent with myself that these 2 things would be sufficient. Just keep smiling and walking until I dare buy something else!
I also had limited cash, still do and the 2 bank machines I dared try were out of money. I don't know how many of you have noticed, but I am now fluently using 2 words, habari and asanti. Asanti is thank you.
Well I ended the day, fairly proud of myself because I added to the list a loaf of bread, can of peanut butter, yes can and a lime that is really an orange, but tastes like neither and 3 tomatoes, Yes 3. So I have now eaten 3 meals have been rice, undercooked and crunchy because the stove 'sucks' with tomatos, onion (i 'borrowed' one from housemate), cashews and the lime, orange that tastes like neither and really should be thrown away. Oh yes and tea!
It is so weird to have no words. Your mouth starts to feel funny. I tend to throw out some version of spanish words since that has worked for the past 11 years while traveling and terrified. You have to push yourself to go out in the world. I stayed out yesterday for hours, it was wonderful really. I know that I might not be communicating this, because it is wonderful and terrifying and sometimes icky. But the overriding sense is wonder and excitement.
My living space is cushy. My housemates all 3 are quite young. Mostly good, just too young to serve any useful purpose for me. The man looks like Hans, so I kinda love him. He has the sweet, funny pieces of Hans too, and laughs quickly as Hans does. HI HANS. I have a room and a bed and windows and bugnet and table and light. hmmm lots of closet space. It's outstanding. There is a big kitchen which housemates decimate within hours of the cleaning and cooking lady departure. Something smells of rotting fruit and I am sure it is the molding, rotting fruit that we all pretend doesn't exist.
Oh, yes hot shower as long as you remember to turn the heater on 45 minutes before shower time. Oh my word, I arrive with great sunburn on my shoulders and the shower spray was like some torture technique. There is this light spray that blasts your eyes when you approach the water and of course makes you chilled, so you jump all the way under to possibly be scaulded and most definitely pounded by the intensity of the inner spray. But it is warm and clean enough and it is here. We are in a gated community, right down the mountain from the school. There is also an outstanding restaurant that the school director brought me to the 1st night. This too is right here in safety zone.
If only I had more than $2 to my name I would go there right now. But I don't and anyways I do not want to waste that crunchy rice dish. What the heck, I have my computer, my room, my swahili dictionary and well all of that wonderful food I have previously mentioned. Maybe I will try adding some peanut butter to my dinner later tonight.
There is supposedly a couple of other good places to go and hang out in town, but i saw nothing that I would dare to enter without armed guards, ok, without someone with me. It was not unsafe feeling really, just very foreign and poor.
Oh, my , but the colors I say again and will say repeatedly. So very beautiful. The women wear bright African clothing (that African was intended as a joke, but thought I had better clarify) the top and bottom is often of extreme variation in pattern, but with some of the same tones or colors. Blasts of yellow, lime greens, oranges, oh....... it makes me so happy to see. I did dare to stop and touch a few bunches of clothes outside of shops yesterday. The women smiled quite nicely at me and I think they understood that I needed to do this to comfort myself and because I really do appreciate their world and most especially the colors. The streets are lined with people doing work, sewing machines are outside of wooden slats built shacks, the cloth hangs for people to choose from. It seems as though most food stores sell one or two items. I can't wait to find the bean store as I do want to eat enough to stay healthy,,, and the carrot store. I did find the cabbage store, it was the one selling the fake limes. And it was only a tiny stand with too many young boys sitting outside saying things to me, to dare buy 2 things there. So I could resort to cabbage if in fact a carrot store does not exist. A few were sharpening knives and cutting up truck tires to make sandles. And then there were plenty sitting on tilted back plastic chairs waiting patiently for someone to buy something. I kept waiting for a face to invite me in. But I know from experience that this white, terrified, smiling face is not going to draw invitations, it will not be until i really relax that I will be welcomed. And then, as I also know from experience, my welcome will be absolute and a pure delight. I did have a touch of it in the rice stall, as I was leaving and repeating 'asanti' i heard giggling, my simple attempts to use their language brought that special laughter that I hope one day all of you have a chance to experience.
This laughter is the one that breaks down all barriers. My vulnerability is known, their vulnerability that is an internalized reaction to a white foreigner is known by the way they look in surprise at me trying to speak and being absolutely foolish, all is dispelled in that magic moment. Laughter, eye contact, comfort. It is beautiful and as I write it, I hope for the mental capacity to grab hold of enough of this language to have many more moments like this.
I spoke to a very nice parent today at school. Intense european accent, very beautiful woman. I am imagining that she will invite me to dinner. There is no reason to believe this might really happen, only that I do so want to have someone other than my students to speak to. Next week is vacation and virtually everyone is going off to travel. The director, Kristeen, who is extremely sweet is returning and she is sure to come and save me from extreme isolation at some point, but otherwise, I cannot imagine what I shall do. Study, walk, hmmmmmm. No worries, life will unfold.
My real plan, if i choose to accept it, is to learn enough swahili to be able to really venture out with the ability to say something that gets results. That should happen by the weekend. We shall see. I did buy an electric cord yesterday. The wrong kind and it doesn't actually plug in to the sockets, but I did manage the sale. I learned that while there is a word for electricity, there is not one for the adaptor that I bought. I have no clue what the word for electricity is anymore, but i did get to use my 'thank you' quite a few times in that situation too.
I guess this is probably getting a bit boring.
I can tell you about my bus ride though before I end. The bus station was absolutely terrifying, nothing less. Fortunately I had a taxi driver named Michael that took care of me, he actually held my hand at one point to make sure I was safe as he pushed through the throng of screaming men. I cannot explain the place. Just horrible, like a shanty city in itself, hundreds of old, smoking buses, mud, shacks that I guess sold stuff. I could only get tickets to a bus line that was unheard of and so not recommended. All I knew of the unrecommended bus companies was that they drove too fast, often broke down and just as often crashed on the windy mountain roads. You can imagine my delight.
Though I actually was delighted to get into my seat., my bags we watched as they were put under the bus. But seat, did I use that word. Hardly, when I sat up straight there was less than an inch in front of my knees, this was before the person in front reclined her seat, I dont think mine reclined, but it is a moot point because once the family of a mom and 2 kids sat on top of each other (and often me) in the single seat next to me, I could only move one arm a fraction of an inch. I could manage my twist my wrists to get to the container of nuts and dried fruit in my backpack. Every hour or so, I would reach in and stuff a handful into my mouth, chew slowly and be happy to have food. It was from Seattle and very delicious. Oh, yes, I did not mention that my day pack that was, of course, overstuffed, was on my lap. It made for a nice pillow for the kids next to me, served as a heater for my body and eventually blocked circulation to my feet. The last couple of hours of the 8 hour bus ride, I struggled against that ucky feeling of feet numbing, tingling and swelling. I did get off the b us once, which is really good since I still had remnants of the urinary tract infection and 8 hours without a bathroom, no good. (for the first time in my life my two smallest toes cramped for a good hour as I was trying to sleep and the marks from the straps on my shoes took hours to disappear, I guess the swelling was worse than I thought, really I was just so happy to be safe on a bus, A bus I point out did not crash, break down nor run out of gas).
I know you are thinking when is she going to describe the res stop bathroom, But no such luck, I am not going to. I am tired of sounding like I am absolutely terrified and tortured. I am not, but to describe the bathroom would only disprove this and so your imaginations will have to suffice. I will on the other hand tell you that in my dramamine haze, I took 2 pills to hide the intensity of my need to urinate, usually just a half puts me in a stupor that takes hours to recover from. But in this haze the delightful squeals of the two sweeties next to me woke me enough to see herds of giraffes, real live zebras and other things that I am pretty sure were wildebeasts. Oh and one white face, HUGE, monkey. I am not making this up. There really are these fantastic animals on this earth. Some of the giraffes were as close as 30 feet from the bus and their silly long necks were allowing their owners to eat leaves from the highest of branches. WOW.
Continuing on my positive notes, I was met at the bus station (yes, I had no idea if it was the bus station or not, had I missed the bus station, and why am I calling them bus stations, since they are not really stations, but muddy lots with screaming men, no signs or any indicators of our where abouts) but when I saw a white face holding the hand of the most beautiful light brown 3 year old. This was a very encouraging scene, but when the mom mouthed the words , ' sue,' well, I might as well burst into tears of delight. When I could squeeze my way off the bus, i actually grabbed kristeen, my school director and hugged her and said something, then repeated it , A LOT. Guess this is the best I can do, find some words that seem to work and just keep repeating. I have never been happier than in that moment. The evening was a blur, but a good one, I was fed, and given shelter. Ahhh life is a good thing.
Let me know if any of you actually made it through this, it has been a most terrific, in a good way, a most terrific experience despite the harrowing aspects.
Only 2 more days of work and then vacation, yehaaaaa.
besos, I promise those of you that are coming to visit, I will rent you a car to get here........ love
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