Hello everyone,
Well it has been a few days since I have had internet access. Where do I begin? Well it has been a bit of a lonely experience and I really must learn Kiswahili. The night before last I had dinner with my husband and wife neighbors who are missionaries from Long Island. They are really very nice and have been offering very helpful advice for living here. I had an “interesting” interaction with the wife the day before. I have my own feelings about the interaction I will share, below – those who know me can just imagine my thoughts. Previously the husband and wife had shared with me that they are here to spread the Good News (Bible) to a tribe which is located in central Tanzania that has previously had little to no interaction with foreigners, so they have a very traditional way of life. The couple will be bringing missionary college students from various universities in the U.S. to join them in this mission. The wife shared with me and my female colleague here (who is Muslim and like a mother to me) that she is here to help uplift the spirit of the people here. That even though what I (as in me, Christie) am doing to address child abuse and poverty here is fine and all, it does not compare to that which is the upliftment of the spirit. She has said that she single-handedly has seen people who were crippled become cured and such. She and her husband are providing a Christian framework for empowerment of women – and also serve as a direct role model of a healthy relationship. After I respectfully expressed my misgivings about organized religion (which I also discuss with my Muslim colleague here on occasion). This missionary replied that the Muslims were responsible for American slavery and they had brought the slaves to the U.S. and anyways those of the American North fought to free the slaves of the South. Then she shared an example of a Tanzanian man whom she and her husband were able to bring to the U.S. for schooling. This man told her that he was upset at black Americans calling him brother – for he was NOT their brother and that black Africans had more in common with white Africans. He also rationalized that black Americans were lucky to have been brought to America because there is overwhelming poverty in Africa now. She smiled and concluded – see, good things come out of bad. It is all god’s work – He is in charge.
I thought I had to share this little anecdote with you to give you a taste of some of my daily experiences here. I would like people to share with me their viewpoints on what the missionary said to me.
Also, worrisome to me, yesterday I found out that slavery is alive in Kigoma to this very day. We have had intermittent electricity and heavy rains for the holidays. I had really been quite busy setting up the office and meeting the other service providers for vulnerable children and orphans during the days prior, and had little time to rest. Yet since the holidays have come I have had a bit of a reprieve. I was bitten by mosquitoes this past weekend and took some needed time to relax! Malaria is very common here and I was told that most “walk with malaria.” Note: the mosquito’s bite here is soo painful and feels as if you are stabbed deep in your flesh and then punched (radiating around the wound)! I had never experienced anything like it elsewhere. Also, their needle can pierce through a folded bed sheet (as happened to me)! They are really smart—mosquitoes will enter your bedroom and then hide under the bed or in your belongings patiently all day until you fall asleep! A bed net, which I have learned the hard way, is truly important.I have had a good time hanging out with the orphans who live adjacent to our office. The boys enjoy teaching me Kiswahili and promise to teach me football (soccer). I asked them what they do for fun and they say they play football and tell each other stories. One of the more outspoken boys told me a folk tale about a rabbit and his friend (couldn’t translate the animal) and their adventures. One thing that really caught me by surprise is the fact that there are so many Tanzanians who look like some friends and acquaintances I have in the U.S. I was thinking, well I know that our ancestors come from West Africa, but so many look familiar here, more than I had ever seen elsewhere. Well my hosts told me that they will one day take me to the slave ports at the East coast (also at Zanzibar) where Arab enslavers took many peoples to be slaves in the middle east, and of course, eventually to the West. I must look into this further. Resemblances are uncanny. I like to say that many of my friends in the U.S. have a twin here. What I have observed is that the population is either Christian or Muslim. I have been told that the split is about even. I have some critical observations to make about both faiths as I have seen here, but I will save that for a later time.
On Friday I was able to attend a local women’s empowerment meeting in a nearby village. I was able to introduce myself and the organization we are implementing—urging the community to report to us any abuses to children as we are advocates, and to feel comfortable to otherwise visit us. My audience really warmed to me after I passed around photos of my family and my nieces. They were really happy to learn more about me and my close relationship to my family. There were several elders there—the eldest really held me close for some time and it was a lovely moment for me.
I have made a local friend – actually he is the house dog who watches over our compound. His name is Fujo and he is huge – like a cross between a golden retriever and a blood hound—I’m not sure of his species. We hang out together and he follows me about looking for affection.
The local community is quite diverse as there are several (White) missionaries from the U.S. and local residents from neighboring Burundi and Congo-- so far in my friend/acquaintance network. There are two major neighboring refugee camps which I plan to visit soon. Actually just a short walk away is the governor’s mansion. If I look outside my back window across my yard to the lake I can even see Congo. It looks as if one could simply swim a few meters across—but I heard it appears deceptively close, as it is at least 8 hours by boat. It is the 1st or 2nd deepest body of water in the world. My gosh—just beyond my backyard. I actually can’t wait to go swimming. One of the missionaries told me that at the nearby tourist beach you can tell the Americans apart because they don’t swim far out, perhaps they have all seen Jaws! I was told that although there is a gradual decline as you swim out, suddenly the bottom drops out and is miles deep, and other foreigners would swim even that far out! There is a diving pool at the hotel nearby and hence I have two options. I must start to go swimming daily cause I feel as if I am missing out fully enjoying paradise. I hope to be able to work it into my regular schedule.
I look forward to hearing from anyone via email or especially phone. Sorry if I have not received your text—as soon as I am able I will try and get a better phone or provider. If you have Google Earth, these coordinates will let you see the home which I am living in now. 4˙52” 51.48” South by 29˙37” 24.85” East 786 altitude
Love
Christie
Originally posted: Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 7:22pm
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