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