First Adventures
I have a little more time today so thought I would post again before dissapearing for a little while. Today I got up early and had a little adventure. I caught a public bus into town. Now when I say bus, I mean little van crammed with people. I definitely got a lot of looks being the only mzungu (white person) around. I got off the bus and proceeded to walk down a road towards the Impala hotel. I was immediately surrounded by 7 school children who walked with me the whole way, giggling at me and staring. They were all really cute and friendly. I arrived at the hotel and had breakfast with the Polman's and Lafferty's who just finished climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Then we decided to do a little shopping in the tourist district. It was exhausting! Everyone is very friendly but also wants you to buy something from them. I bought another conga but not much else since i am here for so long. I made a new friend who followed me around and showed me all the shops. I think he was what our AD calls a "rostitute", basically rasta type guys who are smooth with the "white ladies" as they call us. Don't worry, I am being very careful and no information was exchanged!
Tomorrow we go to begin our 3 week homestay with a local family in a town called Bangata which is on Mt. Meru, about 10K from Arusha. I'm excited but nervous, everyone seems so nice but I really hope I pick up the language quickly. So far my favorite thing I learned is the greetings between young people, the "cool" thing to say is Mambo, which is like what's up, and you reply Poa, cachizi camandizi (I'm sure that is spelled all wrong but it means cool like a banana!)
So I am really enjoying myself and am actually looking forward to 'classes' starting. What we will be studying is so fascinating, ideas of globalization, wealth, environmental resources, development..its really incredible to be studying those things in a place where it is all happening before your eyes.
Anyways, time to get back to the lodge- we have a swahili class this afternoon followed by a talk about our homestay.
I miss everyone so much and hope you are all doing well!!
Love, Meg
Then we decided to do a little shopping in the tourist district. It was exhausting! Everyone is very friendly but also wants you to buy something from them. I bought another conga but not much else since i am here for so long. I made a new friend who followed me around and showed me all the shops. I think he was what our AD calls a "rostitute", basically rasta type guys who are smooth with the "white ladies" as they call us. Don't worry, I am being very careful and no information was exchanged!
Tomorrow we go to begin our 3 week homestay with a local family in a town called Bangata which is on Mt. Meru, about 10K from Arusha. I'm excited but nervous, everyone seems so nice but I really hope I pick up the language quickly. So far my favorite thing I learned is the greetings between young people, the "cool" thing to say is Mambo, which is like what's up, and you reply Poa, cachizi camandizi (I'm sure that is spelled all wrong but it means cool like a banana!)
So I am really enjoying myself and am actually looking forward to 'classes' starting. What we will be studying is so fascinating, ideas of globalization, wealth, environmental resources, development..its really incredible to be studying those things in a place where it is all happening before your eyes.
Anyways, time to get back to the lodge- we have a swahili class this afternoon followed by a talk about our homestay.
I miss everyone so much and hope you are all doing well!!
Love, Meg
posted by Megan at 2:26 AM
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