The Story of Oscar Blue Pits

I could not have asked for a better CBT (Community Based Training).  Our group represents the Big 10: Jeff (Jaffari/Jirani) 22 from Purdue, Dani (Farida/Fritto) 26 from Michigan State, Autumn (Oscar Blue Pits) 25 from Wisconsin, Marissa (Moniqua) 23 from Penn State.  Each day after chai and bucket baths, we head up the shamba hill (greeting everyone) to ‘school,’ which consists of a room in Mama Blandina’s house.  She spoils us with her incredible cooking (fresh avocado, tomatoes, fired eggs, chapati, lentils, pilipili, papai and coconut rice), and tells off any kids who call us ‘wazungu.’  Shoma, our LCF is a perfect fit to our group.  She is our cheerleader, explains the language well, reminds us we will understand it all in time, and always gives us breaks to pumzika and laugh.  She has become more like a big sister than anything else here.  Sometimes I contribute our good mental health to the fact that Mama Blandina lets us drink beers outside her house, our classroom rules of EMPS, or our ability to get along SO WELL.  But really, I think Shoma is a big reason why our first weeks have been a breeze.

Now you may be asking, why do you call poor Autumn ‘Oscar Blue Pits.’  One of our first days of class Autumn showed up in a white blouse that was bright blue in both arm pits.  We didn’t know each other very well at that point and really didn’t care so no one said anything….until lunch.  Jeff leaned over in the couch, looked at Autumn with all seriousness and said, “Can I ask you something personal?”  Autumn, being the laid back girl she is welcomed any question, to which Jeff continued, “Do you sweat blue?”  We all laughed so hard that from that point on Autumn was deemed ‘blue pits.’  Later that week when word caught on in the village that I had a Tanzanian name, the villagers decided to give Autumn a name too.  For some reason, unknown to us, they gave her a boys name, Oscar.  It fit.  And that is how Autumn from Wisconsin became Oscar Blue Pits.

If CBT life is the ‘boot camp’ of service then I’m in for a wild ride. 

At the big feast for our host families with Mama Blandina (school mama) and Anna/Shoma.

At Pangani: Fritto, Jafari, Asha, Oscar, Marissa 

At swearing in.  Official PCVs!

My Baba is Cuter Than Your Baba

My host family is absolutely wonderful.   Our first meeting consisted of me climbing out of the PC car to my Mama, Baba and 20 very curious watoto.  They marveled at my luggage, laughed that I was taller than Baba, and had two of the best smiles across their faces that I’ve ever seen.  The perfect match.  After I sat down and was welcomed with fresh chungwa, I introduced myself with the 5 minutes worth of Kiswahili I knew.  Soon after I realized I had NOTHING LEFT TO SAY, and they just stared at me expecting more!  I think they thought I should know as much Kiswahili as the previous volunteer knew…when she finished training.  From that point on it was like performing the skit ‘who’s on first’ over and over in two different languages.  It was easily the most motivating moment to learn Kiswahili quickly and well. 

It is incredible how giving people are when they have so little to give.  My kaka is the most handsome 6 year old on the block, and he is completely in love with his best friend Zoudea (my jirani)  who reminds me of little orphan Annie-Tanzanian style.  All of the other children love her and follow her around.  She is the perfect chemistry of sweet and sassy, and her jack-o-lantern teeth make her completely irresistible.  The worst part is she knows she’s my favorite.

My Dada is the most helpful/demanding teenage girl I know-always showing me how I’m carrying water incorrectly, washing clothes the wrong way, or sweeping dirt without making the right pattern.  She is also very competitive when it comes to playing Uno so I let her win even though she has no idea how to strategize.  My mama laughs with me every day and is so patient with my language.  She works in the shamba during the day and sells shark (on the down low).  The first 3 weeks she responded to every ‘sijui’ I had with ‘pole pole’ and a smile.  She is also thoroughly entertained by my inability to peel a chungwa right handed, in one piece.  

My Baba is adorable, fascinated by my guitar, and calls me Mama Asha.  I rarely see him because he works in Muheza during the night, but he does take the crown for cutest Baba on the planet, with pink glasses nonetheless.  I have been spoiled by their love and support, and couldn’t have asked for a better host family.  I will forever be Asha Husseini Hoza.

Baba, Mama, Husseini, Mimi, na Maimouna

With Zoudea

Yes, Mama is wearing the Kansas flag.

Reppin'.

Flat Brett got up close and personal.

Peace Corps Jackpot

*Climbed a coconut tree

*Built a permagarden and hand washing station with primary school kids

*Gone to a tribal wedding

*Eaten fresh coconut, jackfruit, goat, and fish that I swear was watching me eat it alive

*Declared ‘I prefer the choo over a western toilet.’  It’s true.

*Told many jokes in Kiswahili….and people laugh at them

*Go by another name-Asha

*Have gotten the wiggly finger, usually when my hair is wrapped up and braided

*Speak and write Kiswahili at intermediate-high level

*Gone to bed at 8 at night....almost every night

*Kayaked in the Indian Ocean.

*Got two Malaria parasites

*Seen multiple shooting stars

*Talked more about my bowel movements with new friends than EVER before

*Made ‘American dinner’ for our host families which consisted of a tub of popcorn, 7 kilos of rice, tons of veggies, and 150 chapati with peanut butter and ndizi

*Rocked my chaco tan line like it’s my job

*Been asked by the man who does the call to prayer to take his wife on my morning jogs

*Seen flies in my water and ants in my food and ate/drank it anyway.  More protein.

*Cooked ugali, wale, chapati, mandazi, fried ndizi, maharage, mchiche

*Made a fox tail out of a kanga and water bottle

*Weighed babies at the zyhanati

*Seen zebras, lions, monkeys, elephants, giraffes, antelope, water buffaloes, and several cockroaches

*Had an impromptu guitar/singing concert for the villagers

*Had a wheel barrow race against village kids

*Fallen completely in love with Tanzania

Me and Zoudea at Jeff's (Jafari/Jirani) homestay 

 Two of my neighbor kids (watoto).

The shamba in full force.  Where we run every morning.

Don't Come to Tanzania a South Paw

Hujambo!  Habaria gani? 
I have made it to Tanzania and absolutely LOVE it!  We arrived at the Msimbazi Center late Wednesday night and got a quick lowdown on safety, security and malaria.  The Msimbazi Center is a compound run by Catholic nuns within Dar-es-Salaam.  It comes complete with an orphanage, church, bars, an internet cafe, and MANY weddings.  We're talking weddings EVERY night, and they know how to party.

We have been getting adjusted to life in TZ which includes: chai every day and sometimes served with a hot dog, learning how to properly use the choo complete with a demonstration, huge beers for $1, chicken gizzards and fried everything, jet lag, laughing at each others mistakes, loud gatherings, and Coca-cola by the bottled glass.  An important part I learned was that being left handed can get in the way.  In Tanzania we don't have the porcelin god, we have a choo.  We also don't have toliet paper, we have a bucket of water and our left hand.  Therefore, no matter how much I clean my hands, it is looked at as dirty to eat, give, or receive with your left hand.  Being a dominate south paw is difficult to say the least.

Sasa ninajifunza kwa Kiswahili.  I can't believe how much Swahili I have learned in just 3 short sessions.  I held a long conversation with a nun this morning and she thought I'd been here since June.  I also practiced talking to a young boy yesterday and we started playing catch with a bottle cap.  All was well and we were laughing until his parents came by to get him (they were planning a festival nearby) and he started to cry.  So yea, I definietly already made a little kid cry.  When his mom said, 'Sawa, Kwaheri'/'Okay, Goodbye' and began to pretend to leave him, he just looked at me and smiled.  So she laughed, came back, picked him up, and the tears came a flowin'!

I also know enough Kiswahili now to make some of my infamous lame jokes.  There are cats all over the center, as they help maintain the rat problem (yes, I'm definitely getting a cat when I'm on site).  Cats cost lest than $1 here and just as much to get all of their shots.  Pretty cheap to keep me rat free for 2 years, now all I need are name suggestions.  As I was walking with other trainees through the courtyard we saw one and instead of saying 'Paka' or 'cat,' I said 'Mtoto Simba,' which means 'young lion.'  I know, I'm hilarious.

Yesterday we learned about our host families and CBT (Community Based Training).  Peace Corps loves their acronyms.  I will be in a CBT with 5 others in a village near Muheza in the Tanga region.  My host family has had a PC before, and my Baba is said to be the 'sweetest man on Earth' and very tall.  I don't know much else other than I'll have a Dada (sister) and Mama.  I will also be jirani (neighbors) with one of my fellow CBTs, so I will have a male to escort me on my runs in the morning. 

We leave for our host families tomorrow, so this will be goodbye for a while.  I absolutely love this country and learning everything about it.  Ninapenda kujifunza Kiswahili!  Our training group is wonderful and I feel really lucky with the people in my CBT.  It is only up from here!

Salama.
Kwaheri!

Health and Environment Class 2011-2013.

We look so clean!

Puzzles Are the Best

It was t-minus 5 hours from leaving the airport and what do I crave to do?  A 500 piece puzzle.  Accompanied by Lamars Doughnut Holes, a Caribou Latte, and some brave souls we took on a candy puzzle.

I have never had a more perfect idea.

The last week leading up to leaving for the Peace Corps is insane (in the membrane)!  You don't sleep, you run your packing list through your head over and over, you create 18 lists, and you find yourself incredibly nostalgic and sentimental.  Not to mention the goodbyes.  Those are just overwhelming.  You know those emotion magnets where you select a emotion face for the day?  Yep, I'm ALL of them for several days, even smug.  It is such a whirlwind that finally sitting in your airplane chair is the most comforting thing possible.  Well, that and puzzles.

Doing a puzzle for my last few hours in Kansas City was, I repeat, the best idea ever.  It completely took my mind off of all the crazy shenanigans.  Not only was my mind occupied by finding the border pieces and putting together the eye on the rock candy canister, but I was surrounded by friends and family, eating comfort food, and laughing.  Especially when we were looking for the final piece and Brett pulled it out of his pocket, thief.

To top it all off, we finished the puzzle and were able to celebrate with pizza and a Chiefs come from behind win.

Let me be clear.  I usually HATE puzzles.  My mind doesn't work that way, and I get too frustrated to finish them.  Now for the gushy metaphor.  Finishing that puzzle was not only therapeutic, but reflective of the next two years.  My last hours in Kansas I had to practice patience, communication, determination, and goal setting.  All skills I hope to gain, mature, and improve in Tanzania.  Furthermore, with the support of those around me, I was able to do that.  Of course I'm every emotion you could feel about leaving for Tanzania.  Yet I am fairly confident that I have all I need to do my best, and the support to back it up.

In the end, puzzles aren't so bad.  They're actually the best.

With Lori, Brett, Cara, Katie and Marc

How to Look Awkward in the Philly Airport

This is for all of the future Peace Corps Volunteers who worry, fret, and simply don't know what to do about packing.  Yes you can pack for two years with less than 80 pounds of stuff.  Yes you can stuff multiple items into that one duffle.  Yes you can look awkward in the Philadelphia airport with your life on your back.

For my two years I have packed:

Clothes
-2 pairs of jeans
-1 khaki pant
-1 mesh pant
-1 set of pjs
-2 sweaters
-1 fleece top
-2 hats
-1 pair of sunglasses
-swim suit
-1 raincoat
-2 long sleeve shirts
-3 polyester ankle skirts
-1 long dress
-1 set of long underwear
-1 knee yoga pant
-1 long yoga pant
-3 blouses
-12 pairs of socks
-12 pairs of underwear
-4 bras
-3 sports bras
-1 slip
-6 short sleeve shirts
-3 tank tops
-1 pair of comfy professional shoes
-1 dressy sandal
-1 pair of walking/hiking boots
-1 Chacos sandal (these are INCREDIBLE!)
-1 pair of sneakers
-watch
-jewelry (stud earrings and 2 necklaces)

Games
-LRC
-Bananagrams
-1 deck of cards
-1 deck of UNO
-Frisbee
-Coloring book

Camp
-Sleeping bag
-Hammock
-LED headlight
-Leatherman
-Nalgene
-SteriPEN (this will save you EVERY DAY)

Kitchen
-measuring cups
-1 good ceramic kitchen knife (this is the item that several volunteers have wanted to steal from me)
-3 different sizes of plastic ziploc bags (use to store toiletries and protect food from critters)
-1 veggie peeler
-1 non-stick pan
-1 set of travel cutlery

Electronic
-kindle with charger
-mac with charger
-two TZ outlet plugs and fridge guard (TZ electrical current is very dirty)
-ipod
-digital camera
-3 suitcase locks, 1 padlock
-travel alarm clock
-USB

Other
-1 quick dry towel
-3 mini anti bacterials
-4 toothbrushes/2 toothpaste tubes
-2 deodorants
-3 razors (venus with the soap attached)
-1 facewash
-3 combs
-hairscissors
-medicines (AZO, OneADay, Imodium, Tylenol, Claritan, Monistat, Iron, B12)
-3 mini body sprays
-2 boxes of tampons (PC no longer provides this, and I would suggest using a divacup instead if you've used them before)
-homestay gift (2 Wizard of Oz reusable bags and UNO cards for the kiddos)
-helmet
-3 packs of titanium AAA batteries
-2 things of duct tape
-egg carrier
-2 photo albums
-1 sewing kit
-1 set of double sheets/pillowcase
-1 pack of Luna/1 pack of Zone bars
-2 journals
-1 pack of pens/1 pack of pencils/1 pack of Sharpies
-1 set of stationary
-2 pairs of glasses
-guitar
-Nigel the bear

YES, YOU CAN DO IT!  And I put all of this in a dayback, backpackers pack (Eagle Creek), and large duffle (Eagle Creek)

BEFORE

Nigel is lookin' good.

AFTER

Duffle Weight: 44 pounds    Backpacker Bag: 30 pounds

You can also look awkward with your life on your back in a room full of Pez dispensers.

Inevitable Answer

I was told by RPCVs in Denver to prepare myself for the same group of questions from friends/family before I leave for Tanzania.  Boy were they right.

Inevitable question #1:
"Are you excited?!"

Answer:
No (note: sarcasm).   Yes,  I'm very excited and think about it approximately 3,214,830 times a day.

Inevitable question #2:
"What are you going to be doing?  When do you leave?"

Answer:
Well if you haven't checked my book o faces or blog yet then you wouldn't know how I couldn't have received a more perfect assignment.  I will be working as a Health Education Extension worker, which pretty much tickles my inner teacher and PHIVE-O training with glee.

October 9th=Philly
October 11th/12th=Dar es Salaam via Amsterdam

Inevitable question #3:
"Are you nervous?"

Answer:
It depends what day you ask me.  Typically I ride this thing I like to call the 'Mamba Tanzania Roller Coaster of Emotion' several times a week.  Sometimes I'm slowly approaching the big drop, where my heart is pounding and I'm ever so excited.  Sometimes I'm just at the top of the drop where you peek over to your decent and I have that 'HOLY BAJESUS I'M MOVING TO TANZANIA FOR TWO YEARS' moment.  Then the rest of the time, when I'm going up and down and being jerked left and right not really sure where the next turn will take me, I have that 'well, this is pretty awesome, no stopping now' moment.

I most likely will wet my pants with a mixture of anxiousness, anxiety, nervousness and excitement upon boarding my international flight.

Inevitable question #4, that usually comes in comment form:
"Wow.  That's awesome (waits for response)."

Answer:
Yes, yes it is.