I'm alive!

Hello, all!

In case you were wondering, I am indeed alive and well here in Monduli, Tanzania; it has taken a few days to update, as Mondui-Arusha is currently in a state of energy crisis and electricity is being rationed. If you don't hear from me again for a number of days, or perhaps weeks, this is why.

I am writing to you from Dr. Msinjili's office at Moringe Sekoine Secondary School, where I will be conducting a great deal of my research. Emma, Jake and I have met a few of the students already and they seem incredibly eager to speak with us. Research should be absolutely intriguing!

Today, I spent some time at at cafe with Jake where we met a local doctor and his daughter. The doctor works in Monduli and his daughter attends University in Arusha, but she is visiting Monduli until next Saturday. His daughter was kind enough to offer to escort Jake and I to the Masai market today, so that she might help us bargain at local prices (instead of Msungu prices (white person/tourist prices)). Our friend helped Jake bargain for a digital watch (which flashes ::I LOVE YOU:: every second or so) at 500 shillings; she bargained a Tanga (a beautiful Tanzanian cloth wrap worn by most women) for me at 5000 shillings. Had Jake and I been alone, we would have paid 1500 shillings for the watch, and 10,000 shillings for the tanga.

One thousand shillings is equal to one dollar.

Our home with the Msinjilis is atop a hill set at the side of a larger mountain. We wake up to take chai tea boiled in milk, and bread with peanut butter each morning with the family; the three of us then walk out to the front porch, either barefoot or wearing simple sandles, and we stare off at the horizon which is crowded by a vast steppe. We joke (though perhaps we aren't really joking) that we will venture out into the steppe someday, and just walk until midday, and then come home. Or maybe we will just continue walking until Cairo.

I do not know what else to say, really. I suppose that nothing out of the ordinary has happened so far. We walk down the street, we are stared at like a "three headed white monster," as Emma puts it, and we say "Jambo" or "Habari" to greet these staring citizens, and then they smile at us and greet us in return. We seem to get less amounts awkward stares each time we go for a walk, and this in itself is exciting. Lunches and dinners with the Msinjilis are delicious. Lots of spiced rices, beef in delicious broths, Ugali, mixed cooked vegetables, avocadoes - everything is fresh and prepared with such care. We help Mama D (Dr. Msinjili's wife) prepare lunch and dinner whenever possible, and helping to cook seems to make these dinners and lunches even more delicious.

Tomorrow we are supposed to venture out into Arusha, the largest city nearby (about 50 kilometers away). Dr. Msinjili or one of his friends will accompany us for our first trip.

I suppose that I should finish up now, so that I might get back to the house and read a bit while we are in perfect daylight - there is no knowing whether there will be electricity tonight!

I miss you all and I look forward to hearing about your respective lives, at home, at school, at work, et cetera.

Love,

Kristen

(PS - I'll post photos the next time!)

Ok, guys, I'm going to miss you all. See you in January! Bye!!!

MY Angus!!

Apple picking day in early September. Sort of sad that I'll miss out on the fall season here in the US :o/

Photo of my mom, my brother, my dad and me!

Leaving soon.

I am nervous. I have had a lot to drink to numb my nerves. Jonathan is coming home to pick me up and to drive me to Lenscrafters (to fix my sunglasses) and also to take me to Kinko's to make copies of all of my research from Belgium, so that I can draw some comparisons.

Tomorrow, my family is leaving for Boston early in the morning and spending some time there. My flight leaves Thursday at 2:45. This is insane. I can't believe I'm going to Africa.