Hi guys!



Firstly, these are our housemates. From the left, we have Zam Zam (just moved in because he is currently being adopted by one of the volunteers), Jesca, Alex, Calvin, Ema, Mery, Margeth, Jastin, and Corfield. They are a crazy bunch, but always full of cheer!

Anyways...

Today, after trying our darnedest to teach MATH to 20 2-5 year olds for two hours (read, screaming 1-10 for 2 hours), we headed into Arusha for a little urban thrill. Arusha is the second largest city in Tanzania, but it is still relatively small. Picture Williamsburg with a lot more dust, a lot more run down, and crazy traffic. We went to a restaurant called Stiggbuck's which is supposed to have 'western' food. Kase had a mozzarella, mayo, and chicken sandwich, and I supposedly had a bagel with cream cheese and ham. I did not remember until after my plate came that sour milk is preferred here -- as is the cream cheese apparently. (Hopefully my stomach has gained some strength in the 10 days we have been here thus far.)

I wanted to answer a few of the questions/comments that we have seen posted following our entries. First off, THANK YOU sooo much for your responses -- Kase and I always look forward to reading them...

Yes, we sing ALL THE TIME! Believe it or not, in the five years Kasey and I have been together, I had never heard her sing....until now. Let me tell you, the girl can belt the itsy bitsy spider.

Peace Matunda is relatively new. The kids just moved into the house we are in a year ago. However, since that time, three separate volunteers who have worked here either have returned to adopt, or intend on doing it in the next year. So, yes, there are adoptions happening. All of the children we teach in the school are orphans as well. This is interesting to me...because many of these kids have one or both parents still living, but they cannot afford to raise them.

Using the bathroom here I think might be the most humbling experience I have ever had. Imagine a human using the bathroom just like a dog, and you will see how I feel. Haha, sorry for the image, but for me, this has been one of the most equalizing experiences I have had here. It just proves to me we are all human!

Life here is different....I wouldn't necessarily say worse or better...just different. I am learning to appreciate the pace of the world here...it is not really necessary to have a schedule, just a general idea. The people are 10x friendlier. I can not tell you how many strangers have invited us into their homes for tea. It is strange, scary, special, and awkward being the minority, and yet I have rarely felt unsafe. I feel sorry for the women here. They are the work horses of the Tanzanian lifestyle. They are nonstop from sun up to sun down, working inside and outside the house. This is not the case for the men. Men are often seen lounging about outside the local shop. This I find upsetting. The lack of attachment I also find to be both a blessing and a curse. There is very little materialism here, but simultaneously, there is very little appreciation for anything, object or human. There is little to no emotional attachment between mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, and even parents and children. I am both interested and disturbed by this seemingly widespread pattern.

Anyways...that is about all I have to say at this moment, and I want to give Kase a chance to post. I love you all!

- Michael