Dead Pigs

Habari zenu?!

Forward: I prepared this post Sunday pm. But our internet has been down for a week, so the events in the blog end Sunday.

Whew! What a day! After two days of bed rest, I am finally able to be up and about. I had a great day until I decided to do my laundry… So, please, kiss your washing machines for me, because that was the most laborious activity I’ve done so far. To those of you that got a kick out of the image of me hoeing earth, imagine once more: me bent over three buckets scrubbing t-shirts for three hours. Furthermore, imagine my disappointment as I made my way back from dinner only to find seven or eight articles of clothing blown off the laundry line, posing in the mud. I don’t know if I really got all the soap out of my shirts and some of my white tees are definitely browner than they were before I started, but c’est la vie of an African woman. Geez, I don’t know how they do it, and have five or six babies. But it did feel good to be active after two days of an upset stomach and a fever, which I believe I contracted through salmonella due to the pig slaughtering that occurred Thursday night. Wha?? Don’t worry... I’ll come full circle.

I apologize for my lack of diligent effort to update this blog more often, but I’ve been wrapped up in adjusting to life out here. Since I last updated, a few exciting events have transpired, mainly the arrivals of our two Swedish interns, Elleonor and Cait, our English teacher, Kelsey (from Wisconsin- great Midwestern accent), and Jessica, our six-week volunteer from Washington/Hawaii. Plus, Ashley returned last weekend from her trip to Zanzibar, so we’re a full house. It kind of feels like we’re counselors in summer camp, especially when we eat in the “mess hall” with the girls.

We’ve spent the past week trying to make enough time with the girls, learn Swahili, and tend to the livestock (yea, right). I’ve been busy planning the academic schedule for the interns: assigning articles, conducting literature discussions, supervisions, etc, but we’ve still have a surprising amount of free time during the day. The girls are in school all day and when they get home, there’s very little time to play before dinner and then bed. But, we spent Tuesday and Wednesday at their school observing classes. It was a total mess. There are barely enough teachers, and the teachers barely know the material. The “English” teachers can’t speak English, and are thus teaching the kids completely useless lessons. We guest taught in one class, Form 7: the highest grade, and they were supposed to be learning prepositions that day. However, they couldn’t even say “my name is…” or “I am … years old.” It was so sad. Luckily, Kelsey jumped right in (I’m like.. “uhh, what is a preposition?”) and taught a great lesson. Thank goodness our girls are starting school with her tomorrow. But, I couldn’t complain about being around so many cute kids! On the second day, as Jackie and I approached the school, fifty little bodies started sprinting down the hill to grab our hands and lead us to their classrooms. So fun.

On Thursday, Jackie and I finally unpacked and decorated our room. Since we can’t nail into the wall, we resorted to using the nails in the molding to hang kongas by thread. Confused? Well, it worked. We have konga tapestries on the wall and we hung up some paintings I bought in town the other day. We moved the creepy baby crib that has been sitting in our room (and that totally freaked us out one night as it randomly started to play creepy music) to the creepy attic and the piles of left-behind donations from visitors past. It looks fabulous- very colorful.
Also, we slaughtered a pig. Well, not “we” as I certainly took no part in that, but I watched, and it was actually not as gross as I had predicted. It didn’t become gross until the pig parts sat in our kitchen for 24 hours and started to stink. The girls made sausages, and one girl played with me afterward. It was after she touched my food and my markers (yes, I was coloring) that I realized that she hadn’t washed her hands—so I assume that’s why I got sick. Regardless, the pig made for a great party with all the staff and their families. I got to play with some cute babies- always a plus.

My Swahili has been coming along really well. I’ve been meeting with Dada Rachel as often as possible and I spend a few hours a day conversing with her and learning new vocabulary. I also spend that time sneakily asking her personal questions- I’m trying to figure out how conservative or open-minded people are in this area. We’ve had some interesting discussions about sex, HIV/AIDS, education, and homosexuality, all of which have proven her to be extremely open and well educated. I absolutely adore her.

Lastly, we went to church today, which I always enjoy since the girls sing for everyone. But, after the pleasantries and the donations, four women volunteered to have evil spirits excised from their bodies. It was the most unpleasant and shocking thing I had ever seen- like black magic or something. I actually started crying. One woman felt the spirits and began seizing on the ground and all four ministers stood over her shouting and strapping down her legs and arms. I couldn’t watch the rest, but I hope I don’t have to see that again for a while.

Some closing thoughts:

- One of the stinking Mastiffs ate one of my new shoes, so they are NOT allowed in our room ever again.
- We went to town, and a gentleman exposed his genitals to us at the gas station. Super gross.
- I love tea now. To those of you that know me well, you know that’s a big change.
- The girls call me Jasmini. Or Jas.
- I have befriended one of the cutest (baby-cute) of the little boys in the village- William. He is so so cute, couldn’t be older than two and a half, and lets me hold him every week in church.
- In town, I bought a bunch of Michael Jackson kongas- or cloths. Peter- this is one of your presents. Jackie got an entire dress made out of the fabric, so, needless to say, we are planning an MJ dance party with the girls. Duh.
- After four and a half years of vegetarianism, the sweet flavors of meat have proven to be so satisfying. It’s been a lovely transition.
- Every Friday, we have staff movie night, or rather, we watch the show 24 (not a fan). But the other night, we introduced some staff to “Stomp the Yard”. Ehh, I’m still trying to figure out if the film offended their culture…
- That’s all for now. My computer is dying.

Love, Jasmini

First Days

Greetings from Kitongo!

I hope everyone is healthy and well! It has been so nice to hear from you—I’ve really appreciated the support and kind words.

I’ve had a wonderful start to a new life in Kitongo… The plane trip was not so fun, especially since we had an 8 hour layover in London (by the way, when I say “we”, I’m referring to me and Jackie, as we traveled and are now rooming together) and a rather uncomfortable flight to London with dozens of loud Italian tweens. But, we arrived in Dar safely and ready to get picked up, but our ride was not waiting for us. Thankfully, we had copied down Chris’ number and were able to call, thanks to five or six eager taxi cab drivers, and find out we had another booked flight to Mwanza. Perfect. We were totally exhausted and Jackie had lost a bag, but luckily, well maybe not luckily but rather skillfully, we got bumped to first class for the ride to Mwanza. Too bad British Airways ticket counter-men aren’t as friendly.

Later that day, Thursday, we arrived at the orphanage only to be welcomed by hugely impressive additions to the property- primarily the enormous school that is close to being completed just a hundred feet from our and the girls’ house. The school serves lower grades and has a classroom for each grade (1-7), plus a teachers’ lounge, student government office, and a library. It’s so gorgeous, built in a U shape around a giant mango tree. We can’t wait until the girls and the village kids can attend! Even better, there were twice as many beautiful faces to greet as we toured the campus. The new group of girls is equally as lovely as the original, and even though I’m still mastering names, they are starting to warm up quite quickly. The girls from last summer have grown so big, even Masai!

Jackie and I settled into our room—I’m still finding holes to safety pin together in my mosquito net (I haven’t come close to the sewing kit) and we (I) recently killed our first wasp after debating the worth of its life and how badly it might feel if it stung us for a few days prior. Otherwise, true to form, I have watched one episode of SVU right before I go to sleep after I watch Jackie sort through the millions of little things she brought from the states.

Thus far, I’ve spent the majority of my time playing with the girls or wandering the property. This year, I’m finding my lack of Swahili more frustrating than I did last year, as it is more important that I be speaking with them so as to get to know them better. Finding alternative ways of communication is always fun, but sometimes tiresome when you reach the point of just wanting to have a conversation. The task of learning Swahili seemed rather daunting until today, when I had my first Swahili language partner day with Dada Rachel, who is amazing and totally made me feel better about learning it. We sat and talked for a few hours in Swanglish and I really felt much more at ease afterward, so I’m more confident tonight than I was last night.

Otherwise, the staff has been really great to me and I can’t wait until I understand what goes on in staff meetings (we had our first one on Saturday with me and Jackie present). I have a few more points, but tons more to say only the generator is about to go off and I want to sleep.

- Today Chris killed a bat that snuck into the house— it made me wonder when I had my last rabies shot…

- The girls make me cry when they sing- they’re so beautiful.

- I’ve been really good about washing my face every night, but tonight Jackie caught a worm coming out of the faucet- so I dunno..

- My malaria medication makes me ill, which sucks. But I haven’t seen one mosquito over here.

- There’s a baby goat, so cute, and I picked it up with Jackie’s encouragement, no doubt, but quickly put it down when it’s mom started charging at me.

- The pig is about to give birth, but it smells so bad. I never thought I’d live among so many smelly animals.

- I “hoed” in the garden the other day… the girls laughed at me. I’m no farmer and certainly not used to all the hard labor.

- It’s totally weird sleeping under a net every night- the first night I woke up and freaked out and almost tore it down because I forgot where I was.

- I’ve already used the phrase “TIA”. Learn it, live it, love it.

- One of the night guards killed a snake yesterday… a big one. No need for me to wander at night.

- The stars- can’t even describe.

- The girls learned the dance to “Single Ladies”. Too much.

- Chris has two huge, slobbering English Mastiffs, Duncan and Maggie, and they are totally about to make babies. We think Duncan has already impregnated other dogs. Love is in the air, or rather, can you feel the love tonight?

- Mmm… Africa. Goodnight. J

Jambo & Tutaonana

Hello all!

This is my very first attempt at blogging... I can't promise I'll be very good at it, but I will try to update as often as possible. As most of you know, and as implied in the title of this blog, I am moving to Magu, Tanzania in three days. I was hired to be Clinical Director at the Janada L. Batchelor Foundation for Children (JBFC), an organization that serves to shelter and rehabilitate young girls who have been orphaned and/or lived on the streets. Again as most of you know, I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing... I just know that I've blown hundreds of dollars on bugspray and flashlights and malaria medication. That is why I've started this-- to keep you all informed as to what we end up doing wayy over there in East Africa.

Even though I've said goodbye to most of you and have impending goodbyes with the rest, I will miss you terribly, and I hope you keep me informed as to what you're all doing. Everybody is starting exciting jobs and lives as social workers, politicos, teachers and grad students, and I really hope to continue hearing about all of it.

Please keep me up-to-date as I will with you.. I love you and will hold you in my thoughts and in my heart.

xo jtru

p.s. The reason I've chosen to call this blog "Hakuna Matata" (Swahili- national language of TZ) is because, as part of a volunteer group last summer, we performed this Disney classic for the girls and staff at the orphanage. Needless to say, our dancing and singing was a huge hit with them and they have since asked for encore performances. Now, had this been performed by the same group of people in the states, we would not have survived a crowd. Thus, I feel that it says something about there vs. somewhere else -- perhaps, even if you suck on stage and can't hold a tune, we still love you. Feel the love. I think that stuck with me.

p.p.s. Also, follow the organization at www.jbfc-online.org