Smelly Fish Market

Today I was asked by my language teacher what I wanted to do today...
I had a blank stare, "nothing" is what came out of my mouth... opps.

I told her all the places I had been with my other teachers. and so she decided we should go to the fish market!
Ummm.... OK!

We rode by DalaDala, which is fine, I love all the weird stares from people who see me riding it, but honestly its a great way to see the city! Here are some pics of the things we saw! I bought some cool shells!

Exit Ramp

I. am. consumed. with. Kiswahili.

This week I will have both oral and written exams. Written will be telling a story based upon some pictures and oral will be some questions. I cant wait until this is over. Framing my certificate for sure!!

A Rubber Band

This week there is a mission team here from all over. My friend and her father are on the team. Oh how God knew I would be here and so would she long before our paths would cross to this being my life now. They have been working along side Kenyans and National churches here and doing hard core door to door. My friend, a guy ( brand new overseas-er, a girl (brand new overseas-er) and myself have been going across on the ferry to the southern part of the city. This is like a little village over there and is known for its beaches. They are all working at 3 different churches separately. Sunday took 3 hours to return to their hotel and 4 hours on Monday. I used more Kiswahili than I had my whole time here in the last 4 days.

Since we have all had such long car rides together we would like to consider ourselves "best friends" now. These newbies have interesting insights to the city I forget. They want to "fix" everything. You can't. Nothing about this place makes sense and it's not going to change, especially in one week. The guy has not been so crazy about our amount of the time in the car- Rubberband- I have been uber tired due to the heat and lack of sleep -Rubberband- The girl has not been so comfortable all the time with some unexpected curve balls - Rubberband- My friend learns " fat" is a complement - Rubberband- When given gifts you don't want to take due to knowing they have no money to buy their next meal - Rubberband- When given a Kanaga in 90 degree weather because the wind is blowing, wear it anyways - Rubberband-

Heres some pics from the week

With all the kids

Maurice and I

Hannah with Mark

Hannah teaching Sunday School

A Whole New World

I have not been fond of public transportation in Africa since my trip in 2009. Tanzania doesn't change that view much especially as a driver of a car. Today was my current language teachers last day. She thought it might be a good change of pace/experience to ride the DalaDala to the market called Karikoo. Our trip down there we stood the whole time in a cramped bus where I thought the guy sitting down was probably staring at my butt in his face. Thankfully, it wasn't a long trip. Once we got there, I watched a traditional healer yell about his abilities and he had 3 different kinds of snakes he was demonstrating with. It was very creepy. Also because its Friday there were many beggars out and about due to M's need to pay alms. The first part of the market was basic goods and farming supplies




Next we went out the fruit and veggies area. I chatted a little bit as we walked along. Then we went into the area for dried things...



We also walked over to another market called Kitsutu. Many South Asians frequent there. We found a new fruit from Zanzibar.



We also found a second hand book stand. I found many old commentaries worth looking at.


This next month please be praying for conversations. This month is a Holiday for M's and will be fasting and studying much. Good time for questions and truth to come thru.

Language Wall

It comes like a thief in the night. When you least expect it, it hits you! Even when everything is going fine, people are even telling you “ you are speaking well…” I have hit what I like to call the “Language Wall.” I didn’t know that this would happen, but I really don’t think there is truly a way one can be prepared for it. It happens to all of us, about the 2nd month. Yesterday in language, I got so frustrated I wanted to cry. I did even want to think or say anything. I tried to pull myself together to at least get thru the class. For those of you who know me, I don’t hide things very well. My teacher could tell something was wrong. I was tired, cranky, and uncooperative. After the lesson, I just ran to my room and cried. I wanted it to all go away. Thoughts like….” Why am I not getting this?, I should know this by now!, I need to study more!....” It’s crippling. Today I wasn’t much better. Even in my quiet time before class I begged God to give me a better attitude. Today I was talking to a fellow missionary telling her of my recent troubles, and she said it was completely normal. This is a vicious cycle we all go through in learning language. This is a depression phase that we have to muddle thru. She said next month, I’ll start to get better, the language will come more easily and even dreaming in Kiswahili. I am not one to even like normal school, so kila siku Kiswahili is killing me. Pray for my endurance and my poor teacher who has to put up with my attitude.

Kupika Pilau

Today I went to my language teachers house to learn to cook Pilau and Green Bananas Stew. She met me at my house and rode with me to her house. I could tell she had not ridden in many cars, and I was scaring her to death. She kept asking me to slow down.... haha. Once we arrived, she showed me around. She has a VERY nice house and has many investments. She is in the process of even building dukas out in the front of her plot for people to rent from her. Smart woman.
She lives with her daughter, grand daughter, 2 girls she adopted, and 3 of her house workers.

Ingredients


Cleaning the rice



Charcoal Cooking Stove with Daughter Dora


By this time there is oil, onions, potatoes, and mashed garlic/salt



Putting in the meat


Add carrots, green pepper, and masala spices



Now the rice


Let it bake


Green bananas- tomato, green bananas, potatoes, green pepper, carrot, onion, coconut milk


Let it steam



I loved the Pilau but the green bananas..... ehhhh.... they were ok.... I only ate a small bit. I did have to say the "M" prayer due to raw veggies I ate as a salad praying they didnt make me sick, but I feel fine so far.

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.