Wiki ya kwanza: Our first full week
We are now into our second full week here in Dar- time keeps moving right along- but want to tell you all about our first very busy week! Throughout the semester each student will be responsible for contributing the content of at least one blog post. This week we are hearing from Beka as she explains what the past week has been like from her perspective:
Our first weekend with our host families came to an end on Sunday night and we began our second full week in Dar.
It is hot. Our clothes are drenched in sweat by the end of the day, so the air conditioned Wednesday afternoons at Nyumbani Goshen (the weekly time we gather at Karen and Adam’s apartment) are a highlight for all of us. This past Wednesday Emma, Griffin and Simon were on lunch duty. They made delicious pesto noodles with chicken that tasted like home and the fresh mangos were eaten in a hurry. This week Vaughn, Caleb and Beka are on lunch duty.
On Thursday we learned how to make chapati and chai. Both were delicious. Although there have been adjustments related to food, there are many delicious meals too. Kitumbua, chapati, and saladi are some of my favorites. The juices are also quite delicious. My family makes fresh watermelon mango juice every week.
There have been many new things to learn in the past two weeks. Public transportation, the art of bartering, pushing and shoving to get on the bus, warding off unwanted attention and more. One moment of learning for me came on the first evening with our host families.
After an afternoon of napping, I was told that at four we would walk across the street to the beach for a few hours, so at that time I was ready in what I thought was an acceptable outfit for a walk to the beach. The first warning came when my sister mentioned where they keep the iron and that I was welcome to use it. I thought “okay, good to know!” When I got downstairs my mom said, “The iron is in the kitchen.” I didn’t want to be a bother and make my family wait, so I said, “Oh no! It’s okay!” It was not okay. My mom told me I couldn’t go out like that. She took my shirt and ironed out all the wrinkles before returning it to me.
In Goshen I would have worn the wrinkled shirt with the mindset that it was going to get sweaty and gross anyway! Here, appearing clean and put together is emphasized no matter where you go or how hot the weather is. We finished our walk to the beach that evening and now every morning I iron my outfit before I head off to school.
I think it’s safe to say that we all miss home very much AND we are excited to see how the next three months go.
