Back-Tracking

I’m going to have to back track a little…and start on Friday.  We didn’t have power all day, and I really wasn’t home all day so I didn’t have time to write.  Friday morning we went to Assumption school again, because my school was having testing.  I wish I could have said goodbye to my students more formally than simply waving, because we didn’t know it was our last day until we were leaving.  Assumption is a great school though, and they had a mass midday that we went to with the students.  It was a beautiful church, and despite the fact that the service was in Kiswahili and I understood next to nothing, it was a lovely mass.  I was glad I had the opportunity to go to church here.  After mass we returned back to the school where the students had a program prepared for their teachers (the students from Grand Valley). The songs were so cute and they almost made me cry reflecting on my time with my students. 

After the short program, we headed home and then two of my friends and I returned back to Shanga while the rest of our group either went to the orphanage or the Wildlife Conservation center.  Shanga means necklace in Swahili, because that is what the whole business started with…a necklace.  The story behind the place is beautiful and I enjoyed returning to hear the whole story, sign with some of the workers, and enjoy an incredible lunch.  Shanga employs primarily intellectually disabled and people who are deaf.  I wish I could have signed with them more, but I only knew a couple sentences that my friend taught me, and I still remember the alphabet.  Now I want to take sign language courses!—there is just too much that I still want to do and learn!!

After Shanga, we went back to the Outpost and got ready for our last dinner with Grand Valley at the Blue Heron.  It was a fun dinner and after that we continued out to a bar that was having live music that night.  It was a lot of fun to let loose and go out with some friends…everyone was up and dancing by the end of the night!  We had a lot of laughs and when we got back to the Outpost we were hoping to continue the fun; however, the power was out.  We all crammed into our room with flashlights for a little bit, but quickly sauntered off to bed.

Saturday morning we got up somewhat early, had breakfast, and then headed to the Maasai Market.  On our way we met a cute man in a red Toys ‘R’ Us shirt that was talking to me and told me what ATM I could and could not go to, as well as to be sure to go to the market.  At first, when he tried directing me to a different ATM I was a bit apprehensive about his presence with our group, but he was so kind and harmless, and at the end of the day I felt bad about even having those feelings.  We did walk with him to the market (because after all, that is where we were going) and he showed us his stand and then we continued shopping.  Before we left I was over by his shop again and he told me to go inside and look around, I told him I only had 500 shillings (not enough money to buy anything but a ride on the Dala Dala) and he said no worries just take a look and I have a gift for you.  He then proceeded to give me a bracelet with the Tanzania flag colors on it and told me that maybe I would be back sometime to shop.  I’m such a sucker, and my heart melted…so I quickly borrowed 10,000 shillings from a friend and made a purchase.  I bought a lot of great things that day, but my funds are dwindling haha. After the market my two friends/group members and I began writing our 30-page research paper…we’re up to 22 pages and that was only in one day! :)  We had dinner with our Grand Valley friends and then had to say our goodbyes.

Sunday we painted the outside of the orphanage, which was a lot of fun and made me feel good!  I was happy to actually be doing something for them as opposed to just giving them things.  It looked great when we were finished and despite some dizziness from paint fumes it was a very successful few hours.  We then relaxed at home and packed for our trip to Dar es Salaam.

We left the Outpost at 5:15 AM and headed to the bus station.  We all boarded the bus and were contently sitting with friends all in a row until about an hour in when one lady through a hissy fit about her seat.  Naturally, I was shoved to the back and was stuck sitting with a stranger.  I feel as if I am often screwed over when it comes to transportation.  So 7 of the 9 hours spent on the bus were with a stranger that did not understand the concept of personal space…I was practically sitting in the aisle the entire ride.  I was able to sleep for some of it, but not comfortably.  We finally arrived in Dar and were sent to our ‘host families’ that we will be staying with for two nights.  I am staying with a woman named Christel and her 13-year-old son Stefan.  She is very nice and welcoming, which put me at ease.  I’m leaving for dinner shortly and tomorrow I will be spending the day in the elementary international school.  Wednesday I will be checking out the University and then we head to our beach house for two nights! I just still cannot get over the fact that I leave on Saturday…at least I will have a couple days in Amsterdam to break up those long flights!