Safi sana

* this is a slang reply if someone says "Mambo?" to you...meaning how are things? Safi sana is like, very nice, or clean... I have come to enjoy hearing others say this phrase....especially some of the workers around the school here! They are making the grounds look so beautiful!! I appreciate that they always ask me 1) How I am doing 2) How did I wake up (umeamkaje?) and 3) how is my swahili studying/lessons going?! :)


Thursday January 24, 2008

My days have been pretty uneventful since Wednesday...however I still have not been able to get very much sleep as journaling and studying have been pretty time-consuming!!

I had class all morning with Moreto and after lunch I took a nap before the afternoon class time. Then at 4:15pm Andrea and I went to the road to wait for a Dala Dala (we only had to wait about 15-20 minutes)...however it was completely packed and the 20 minute ride to town was very uncomfortable and my legs were bent at an akward angle... I think this is the most people that I have been on a dala dala with...there were 27 or so...with the money guy hanging out the side door...

As soon as we got to town we went to the tailor's to pick up our skirts and bags!! I had paid about 5000 shillings (or $5) and then for 12,500 schillings for the skirt and the bag made out my material...not too bad at all!!!! :) **Remember, about 1000 shillings to the $1
Then we had to go to the supermarket and I picked up some more crackers, and a 1.5 lit. bottle of water (700 shillings!) and an apple for the same amount!! Apples are very expensive!
We had a list of things from the others at the school so we walked around some more picking up cell phone cards and notebooks and pens! We found a dala dala that would go our direction, by the seminary and waited about 15 minutes before it left about 6pm. In the meantime, I ate my Twix that I bought earlier!!!
As soon as we got back we went to dinner at 6:40pm and showed the sisters, Meeha, Sophia, and Nicole our purchases! I had to finish my long journal entry from the day before, and I chatted online (perhaps a little too long) as I stayed up for two more hours studying for my test this morning! *We have a "test" after every 5 lessons!! I was exhausted and collapsed finally around 12-12:30am...

Friday January 25, 2008

My test was the first thing this morning, after breakfast and morning devotion of course... and I did NOT do so well... I was very upset with myself because it ws stupid little mistakes, with one simple letter prefix, but of course they all add up. I know the material, but not having sleep-so being physically and mentally/emotionally tired definitely does not help when learning an entirely new language... but the rest of the day was pretty good. I took a long nap during my break after lunch and we made it half-way through Lesson 20 so it was a good place to end! At tea time I talked to Godfrey for about 10 minutes or so about the mountain climb we're doing tomorrow, and about some more swahili slang, and also some English words, although he speaks very good English! I am very excited that he is my teacher for next week!!! Although, I will not be in class on Tuesday, and I don't think Wednesday either as I am going with PH to Mikumi National Park for a game drive!! Perhaps he will come with?!? otherwise, I am going to be "behind" in learning swahili again even with only a 2 day break!
It felt wonderful to work-out for about 45 minutes as I have been very lethargic the past week... dinner was short and then I played UNO with the 3 sisters ( I don't know if I mentioned that a new sister came from the Phillipines on Monday....Sister Paulette!) and Andrea and MeeHa for about an hour!! Sister Aileen, Sister Paulette, and MeeHa had never played the game a week ago and now they love it!! MeeHa is such a riot to have around~she is always making everyone laugh at meal times...and, well-all the time!!! :) I'm glad she will be around for awhile....as Andrea is leaving next week to go to Southern Tanzania for her work experience: teaching kindergarten for 10 months!
I am again, exhausted, and need to get some sleep for my big climb tomorrow... Olivia,I mentioned her from last weekend, is coming with us... I don't know why I was a little "mad"...maybe because I am so intimidated by her- yes- that is the word. I said last weekend that she is 24 and in grad school I think. Well, she also went to Harvard for her undergrad... I need to stop being bitter and thinking she's raining on my parade because I know I could learn so much from her, as Nicole (the young german doctor here) is friends with her and tells me that we are very much alike... Well, tomorrow I will be spending 12 hours with Godfrey and Olivia, so there's bound to be some good conversation/discussion!!! :)

** Not much to reflect on in these days either...but even going to town I feel much more comfortable now... and I love surprising the native "townie" Tanzanians as I know how to say a proper greeting, and return one....and also the slang "Mambo" and the replies... It is fun to see their faces smile and laugh reassuringly!!

*** It's amazing how much I took for granted before now... coming from the country where I can practically have everything I want at any time- a surplus of goods and services- to a place where diversity does not ring true in certain instances... like food! Sister Annette and I were salivating yesterday after dinner when she said she was craving Dairy Queen!! And we still joke that the Mama's in the kitchen are bringing out chocolate keki!!!! I'm going to really fatten up when I go back...haha! However, I have come to realize that it isn't always about having so many choices...then I don't waste time and I am grateful for what I do get...it's much easier that way sometimes! And I will settle with my nanasi (pineapple!) for dessert for now!


You are in my thoughts and prayers...have an excellent weekend!!!

peace and love,
Alana :)