Adam's intellectual thoughts and observations
As the time is getting near to leave Tanzania I thought that I would share some of my thoughs and observations with you about this place and the affect that it has had on me. (This is Adam writing so if you're expecting something deep and meannigful I'm sorry)
Bus and taxi rides: Forget health and safety! The more that you can get in the better. The record set by us and the rest of the volunteers over the past few months is 9, yes 9, in a normal family car size taxi. Well i say record we started to move and had to stop after a few feet because several of the occupants started to become clostraphobic. (if you were wondering 3 on the front seat and 6 in the back, almost a daily occurance to have 7 in a taxi though!)
Although this seems dangerous i think that in an accident no one would get hurt as there would be no room to be thrown around. Would be a little messy if there were a fire though!!
Safari: Why do people go on Safari wearing there Safari outfits? Safari style khaki hat, khaki shirt with khaki waist coat(must have at least 200 pockets in) khaki trousers with a 2 zip off leg options and khakii walking boots (and probably some Khaki underwear of some sort). YOU ARE GOING TO SIT IN A CAR FOR 12 HOURS A DAY YOU IDIOTS!!! What did they think they would do on Safari? Wrestle loins!! And where the hell do they buy it from? Is there a Safari shop somewhere? FOOLS!!
Local dress and hair: The local dress is as you can imagine typical african style Kangas and brightly coloured material. Why do some Mzungus(white people) decide that becuase they have spent more that 1 day in Africa that they can wear such clothes and then after 2 days get there hair braided or put into dreadlocks. They might aswell put a sign on their heads saying "I WILL BUY ANYTHING, PLEASE HASSLE ME AS I WALK DOWN THE STREET!!!" Why oh why?? AND AGAIN FOOLS!!
Maasai: We had a Maasai watchman at our house and there are loads of Maasai wearing only their Massai blankets (which is actually just their ordinary clothes) with knives and spears etc as you walk around Moshi. I had become totally desenseatised to them until i left Moshi and suddenly i have really started to miss them. I managed to pick up a little Maasai from our watchman and loved seeing the shock on the faces of Maasai in the street when i asked how they were and tell that i would see them later. The Maaai people are one of the things that i will miss most about Moshi and Tanzania. I would like to say that i have not seen any Mzungu dressed as Maasai, I think that is more to with the fact that the Maasai would KILL them if they did and not for the want of trying!!
Mzungu and teacher: It has become natural to walk around with people shouting MZUNGU, HEYMZUNGU (all one word) TEACHER and HOWAREYOU HOWAREYOU at you in the street. This especially common from the small children in the streets where we live. I will really miss this when we move on to another country. It's been great having the time to talk to people in the streets and get to know the people that we meet every day on our walk to school. I don't think that i will miss "GIVE ME MY MONEY" half as much though!
Sports hooligans: Every country has its fair share of hooligans that attach themselves to a sport as an excuse to fight. However here it is the school girls that are hooligans and not the boys. I have never been scared of a girl in my life before (apart from some of the Ukranian gymnasts!) but these girls really were scary. If the football grounds of England were full with these girls the police would have there work cut out. The chanting would be more entertaining too as they sing their insults to each other beautifully!
Weddings: Not mine of course. When someones got married there is a long procession through the streets that includes at least one truck that has a whole brass band stuffed into it. No matter what kind of day you are having the sound as one of these processions going past can cheer you up (and make your ears bleed!)
Cheap beer: Over the last few months i have been treated to a wide aray of beer that costs 40p a bottle. I was horrified yesterday when in Dar Es Salam i had to pay 80p! What will i do when i get back home?
These are some of my thoughts, not all of them of course but i hope that you have enjoyed them!!
Bus and taxi rides: Forget health and safety! The more that you can get in the better. The record set by us and the rest of the volunteers over the past few months is 9, yes 9, in a normal family car size taxi. Well i say record we started to move and had to stop after a few feet because several of the occupants started to become clostraphobic. (if you were wondering 3 on the front seat and 6 in the back, almost a daily occurance to have 7 in a taxi though!)
Although this seems dangerous i think that in an accident no one would get hurt as there would be no room to be thrown around. Would be a little messy if there were a fire though!!
Safari: Why do people go on Safari wearing there Safari outfits? Safari style khaki hat, khaki shirt with khaki waist coat(must have at least 200 pockets in) khaki trousers with a 2 zip off leg options and khakii walking boots (and probably some Khaki underwear of some sort). YOU ARE GOING TO SIT IN A CAR FOR 12 HOURS A DAY YOU IDIOTS!!! What did they think they would do on Safari? Wrestle loins!! And where the hell do they buy it from? Is there a Safari shop somewhere? FOOLS!!
Local dress and hair: The local dress is as you can imagine typical african style Kangas and brightly coloured material. Why do some Mzungus(white people) decide that becuase they have spent more that 1 day in Africa that they can wear such clothes and then after 2 days get there hair braided or put into dreadlocks. They might aswell put a sign on their heads saying "I WILL BUY ANYTHING, PLEASE HASSLE ME AS I WALK DOWN THE STREET!!!" Why oh why?? AND AGAIN FOOLS!!
Maasai: We had a Maasai watchman at our house and there are loads of Maasai wearing only their Massai blankets (which is actually just their ordinary clothes) with knives and spears etc as you walk around Moshi. I had become totally desenseatised to them until i left Moshi and suddenly i have really started to miss them. I managed to pick up a little Maasai from our watchman and loved seeing the shock on the faces of Maasai in the street when i asked how they were and tell that i would see them later. The Maaai people are one of the things that i will miss most about Moshi and Tanzania. I would like to say that i have not seen any Mzungu dressed as Maasai, I think that is more to with the fact that the Maasai would KILL them if they did and not for the want of trying!!
Mzungu and teacher: It has become natural to walk around with people shouting MZUNGU, HEYMZUNGU (all one word) TEACHER and HOWAREYOU HOWAREYOU at you in the street. This especially common from the small children in the streets where we live. I will really miss this when we move on to another country. It's been great having the time to talk to people in the streets and get to know the people that we meet every day on our walk to school. I don't think that i will miss "GIVE ME MY MONEY" half as much though!
Sports hooligans: Every country has its fair share of hooligans that attach themselves to a sport as an excuse to fight. However here it is the school girls that are hooligans and not the boys. I have never been scared of a girl in my life before (apart from some of the Ukranian gymnasts!) but these girls really were scary. If the football grounds of England were full with these girls the police would have there work cut out. The chanting would be more entertaining too as they sing their insults to each other beautifully!
Weddings: Not mine of course. When someones got married there is a long procession through the streets that includes at least one truck that has a whole brass band stuffed into it. No matter what kind of day you are having the sound as one of these processions going past can cheer you up (and make your ears bleed!)
Cheap beer: Over the last few months i have been treated to a wide aray of beer that costs 40p a bottle. I was horrified yesterday when in Dar Es Salam i had to pay 80p! What will i do when i get back home?
These are some of my thoughts, not all of them of course but i hope that you have enjoyed them!!
posted by Ellie and Adam at
12:36 AM
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