A quarter of a Century

My birthday weekend in Tanzania will go down in history as an adventuresome/memorable one. Friday morning I was wide-awake at 630am. I normally struggle to get out of bed at 730, but it was finally the day I turn a ‘quarter of a century. ‘ By 735am the staff of the compound was outside my window singing “happy birthday” as I scrambled to get dressed for my Kiswahili class. My language teacher, Mama Zava (I really like saying this name) was taking me to the local market. I was to ask questions and attempt to bargain my way for local veggies. In actuality I just ended up talking to a bunch of different stall keepers and tried local things I hadn’t before. I even sat down with one girl who was making chapatis, and as they laughed at me I struggled through asking her what she does on the weekends, and how long she stays at the market every day. I asked my teach on the walk back what my grade was for the day, she said, “ You are so charming with the Tanzanians, they seem to really like you.” I took the complement.
Next was lunch on the roof with my local M family. I chowed down and received gifts. It was a very thoughtful lunch.
Then came dinner with the girls from the University. We met at a pizza place downtown and then ventured over to a different restaurant for dessert. The dessert place has a “special” birthday song. The whole place gets quiet and the song comes on, as you glance around the room for the poor soul the song is for, and then the staff arrives to chant a “song” they barely get out in English. The girls really wanted this to happen to me, and it did. They got me a gift, which was very unexpected and all went around the table telling me their favorite memory of me, I was flattered.
The next day I drove out with my friends, local ngo workers, for a new adventure. We drove out to Kunduchi resort and caught a boat to Mbudya island, easier said , than done. We arrived at what we referred to as the “sultans palace”, this fancy beach resort and waited about 45 mins for our supposed boat. As we waited, My friend Leigh made brownies (breakfast of champions) for me and I blew out a candle as Usher and Micheal Jackson serenaded us. Finally the boat arrives, after we, plus a German couple aka Mom and Dad, plus a mysterious South African man climbed in, the motor died. We then climb back out as he takes off running and tells us “15” mins. As we waited, again, we watched a group of fishermen bring in their catch of the day and tried to sell us crab and squid, bleck. Finally the boat is ready to go and were off. After we got the jest of the island we grabbed our snorkel gear and hit the water. It was rocky and hard to get out the reef, but once we did it was really nice. Mom and Dad watched our stuff, we became friends with them. I had heard about a path that would take you to the other side of the island, once we found the right path it turned into a 25 min trek across coral terrain which didn’t make for graceful walking. We arrived at what seemed like an untouched beach. Very rocky, rough waves, but beautiful. Trying to get off the island was another story. We all climbed back into the boat only this time the water was much rougher. As soon as we sat down a huge wave came crashing over the boat and left us all soaked. We scrambled to remove as much water as we could before taking off. It seemed as if we never get going, we finally got back to the palace.
I made dinner plans with my supers for a really nice restaurant we had all been wanting to try. First we got there and they asked if we had a reservation, we replied “no.” The man said “ well, Im sorry, we are all full…” (There was no one there). Finally he seated us. Now this really was a posh place, live jazz music- right on the water. I bet you don’t even think of a place like that being in Dar who haven’t been here. Well it is, and uppity people are there- we loved to just watch what my friend called the “fashion show.” Haha, it was delicious and a great end to this wonderful celebration. All in all- Im blessed. Im blessed to have such wonderful friends in my life, and serve in this somewhat “amazing” place.