Friday 4-18-14

4-18-14 Friday

Today is our third day in Africa. Our first day, Wednesday, we arrived very early in the morning to Dar es Salam and we went directly with our driver Abdala on our way to Morogoro. This was about a 4-6 hour drive, it was a very long and rough drive but we made it. We stayed at Mama Perina’s which is a local hotel. We had a shower, which even though it was cold and barely a trickle, it felt amazing after three days with no shower and constant traveling. There was good food and fun people at Mama Perina’s. The following day we made our 2.5 hour trip on to Berega. Asa slept some in the car, as did Jove. Ayla sat and listened to music. Lots of singing followed. Once it became light outside the trip became much better and I fully woke up because I finally had something to look at. Everything was green and beautiful. There were floods on the sides of the road due to all the rains with Masai leading their cows on occasion. Amazing to view! When the time came where we were approaching the river I became nervous of crossing by foot. The Berega bridge was washed out a few months ago by a flash flood so any crossing must be done by foot. Abdala assured us however that he could make it across by driving. I had my doubts seeing that there was a truck stuck almost on its side on the far side of the river. Abdala floored it and we luckily made it across. The locals that were surrounding the buried truck were not too happy about this, so we paid them some money for fixing the road so we could get across.

                We had eight military sea bags filled with food, shoes (thanks to the wonderful parents and teachers of Cambridge Academy Queen Creek), and of course our small amount of clothes. Lots of unpacking followed. We only had a few bags of quinoa and such explode. The almond butter was the only one that caused any trouble. After a while, once all was done, we went for a walk so Mamaliz could show us the village. I tried my best to say hello to everyone. Sallama, Jambo, Mambo, etc. After a very short time we had a trail of many children. We walked with them, spoke with them, and explored a little. On the way back came the highlight of my first exposure to Africa. There were two Masai men walking and Jove wanted to say hello, so I went with him. I said hello and they gestured to my tattooed arm asking if they could feel it. Sure why not. I pull up my tee shirt sleeve to show them. They both gingerly touch my arm as if it might just burn them or something. They seemed completely amazed that it felt like normal skin. They busted up laughing. I am at a loss of words to have been allowed this experience. The night ended by tucking the kids into their bug net tent which they shared. I have never seen them fall asleep so fast. Dr. Shawn came by to share dinner with us. We had rice with eggplant, cashews, and tomatoes. I am changed forever.

                Jove had his first fight today. Playing at school in the afternoon, I left to go to the house with Asa to patch up his busted up toes, when we get back Mamaliz says she found Jove hitting this kid and throwing a ball at him. She asked if it was solved, to which he replied yes and tried explaining. Once we got to the house we finally let him explain. Well he claims the other kid threw the ball at his face twice and it hurt really bad. Then the other kid hit him first so he hit back. He told us he had to fight him back. Ah, they grow up fast here.

                 So, I got to do my first load of hand done laundry today. Granted it was only chupi (underwear), but still. We have a village lady that does laundry so we will use her in order to give her family money. She will come twice a week, maybe once depending on how much laundry we make. The people here are a very modest people and the sight of underwear is unacceptable.

To Dontate to the Berega School