Settling In

Sorry that it’s been a while… sensory overload has cooled off so I have less to say. Classes continue to be great – I would say that more than anything I am learning perspective. Not only is it interesting to hear the perspective of my professors on certain issues, but it is also notable which topics they choose to cover. For example, my international law class spent Monday talking about corporal punishment in East Africa, specifically for children. This is not a topic I would normally study, or even think of studying, but it was a very interesting discussion. My law professor is a practicing lawyer and my health professor works in the public health sector, but used to be a practicing physician, so they definitely know their stuff. Also, I’m hoping to get some NGO contacts from my law professor since he is a human rights lawyer.

Today marks three weeks since we’ve been in Tanzania and I think all of us are beginning to feel like we know the area. It was a landmark the other day when I walked back from the restaurant where we ate lunch to the hotel alone and did not get stopped by anyone on the street trying to sell me things. Apparently I walked with a purpose and most of them recognized me as being one of the mwanafunzi mzungu (white student) that never buys anything from them. A couple of nights ago some of us went to Njiro Complex, which is basically a shopping mall complete with movie theater right on the outskirts of Arusha. For the first time since we got here we were the minority, not amongst Tanzanians, but amongst Indians. There is a fairly large population of Indians in Arusha, most of whom are quite wealthy and apparently own this complex. There are about three Indian restaurants and half of the movies playing are straight from Bollywood. Also, half of the cable TV channels that we have are from India, which makes for some interesting commercials that we can't understand. We now have some favorite Indian commercial stars.

The short rains are starting, which apparently has made my allergies flair up. I wonder what I’m allergic to in Tanzania?

Oh yes, and for the entertainment of all, I tried my hardest to post a picture that I took of the TV during Bongo Star Search on Sunday, but failed miserably with this internet. I sat in front of the TV waiting to take a picture of the text message that we sent into Bongo, but it never came. It was quite the disappointment. But we got some good pictures and videos nonetheless. The picture was of Salama, the judge who we all assumed was a lesbian, but in Tanzania she is definitely not a lesbian, just 'edgy'. I'll try again tomorrow to post the picture.