A Bionic Woman and a Lizard Wedding

Now to help the guys learn to do this consistently without my encouragement, is my next challenge. By the way, to my knowledge, this is the first shower any of my guys had in the first two months since I arrived!

A "Lizard Wedding"

Much of the time, a good sense of humor is my salvation. The other day, our director came over to me, quietly chuckling, and informed me that I'd caused a problem for him. He said he was TRYING to give a serious lecture to a group of new volunteers (yes outside; EVERYTHING is outside). He said he glanced over at me and saw me quietly sneaking up on a "lizard wedding" to photograph and he couldn't concentrate because of my activities. I obviously get totally absorbed in my photography!

Daily Life in the Village

Traffic in our village as well as other areas is truly an "experience" to put it mildly. There is no such thing as speed limits or traffic control signs and driving is incredibly creative. Bikes are everywhere; quite often stacked high with unbelievable loads. Pedestrians actually walk ON the roads most of the time and seem to cross anywhere they wish (I guess they are assuming they won't get hit!). Many people on bikes are carrying several large yellow plastic "jugs" -- their only source of "fresh water" from a local muddy river.

There are tiny roadside stands everywhere with the latest local produce -- usually a few tomatoes, some potatoes, avocadoes, bananas, papayas, or oranges. Small herds of goats or cattle wander freely along the roadside, usually herded by a small young boy with a stick.

Everywhere there are ladies (and sometimes men) carrying impossibly heavy loads on their heads of everything from huge branches of bananas, or baskets of oranges, to piles of bricks and loads of lumber. Men push unbelievably heavy carts of metal or wood with unbelievably huge loads of handmade wooden furniture and a variety of other monstrous loads. Laundry is spread out to dry on any available bush after being thoroughly "scrubbed" in a local muddy pond or river.

By the way, the few small stores around here seem to be only open "whenever," no set times, so if you think you REALLY need something, it's wise to tell friends, and hope someone can buy it! Although this is a very slow-paced life (and I admit this can be frustrating at times) people DO take the time for others. I've finally discovered that when I ask a question (and need a certain response), I won't get the one I want at first. It's not necessarily a "language" thing, so you just learn to be patient and wait until the "good" response comes up!

Learning and Loving

So I AM learning a lot!!! In general, I LOVE the culture and LOVE the people even more. I LOVE feeling free to smile and wave at people as I pass by (even those I don't know), knowing I will usually get a wave and smile in response. I've learned to avoid my "ever helpful" backseat driving as my competent driver slithers our van through unbelievably tight spots (without my help)! I've learned to "dry clean" my long skirts by rubbing the dried mud out, so I can be ready for another day at work. I'm getting very good at sharpening the pencils for my Math students with a pocket knife. I've learned a variety of African dances (in spite of joint replacements), and even danced in an African version of a rap video with my students at prison. I've learned that you REALLY don't have to wear two socks at the same time and it's rather hard to eat the Tanzanian way without using ANY silverware (particularly since I'm normally left-handed and ONLY the right hand is to be used for eating!!!).