finally...

some snapshots of my life in africa. the house i live in, my room, some kids from the church, the big hill in town that i climbed, a woman named Rose who has cancer, me washing my clothes in a bucket, and the street i live on. pictures take forever to upload here so this will have to do for now!

last night

I washed my clothes…by HAND! How sad that it felt so novel! lol, but I’m sure the novelty will wear off after the next couple of times. I am very thankful to Grace and Peace (my host family sisters) who showed me the ropes and helped me to wash all my clothes. It would’ve been a big job to do all by myself…I can see the advantages to owning only a few items of clothing. Even though my clothes are now stretched out and stiff from the hand washing, I can wear them with pride knowing that I cleaned these puppies by hand!

victor

Is my host family’s son who is 13. He is very bright and loves to talk in English. I usually have a good time chatting with him about lots of different things. I had an interesting conversation with him about Tanzania’s development, or lack thereof, in contrast with other African countries and America. I am surprised at all the opinions a 13 year old can have. And I am also surprised that he knows enough, let alone cares enough, to be able to hold a conversation about the topic. Like I said, he’s very smart. His sentiments were mainly that Tanzania’s leaders have been stupid (his words, not mine) and have kept Tanzania from developing because of their stupidity. He talked about how all of the resources their country has to offer the rest of the world are owned by private white-owned companies. He was frustrated because Tanzanians are not in control of their own land, taking lead in the global market, and making huge steps towards development.

I’m not sure how much of what he said is true, but Tz is definitely still a developing nation with a long road ahead (if being like America or Europe is the goal). It was sad to hear him blame his nation’s leaders for their lack of progress. Of course, I can understand the desire to be developed…but I tried to relay to him the disadvantages to being a developed nation, to capitalism. This all brings up a lot of questions…and I’m realizing how uneducated I am in the arenas of economics, political science, and government. I would love some book suggestions anyone can give me so I can educate myself a bit!

address and phone number

I now officially have an address for those of you who want to write or send packages! It’s a p.o. box that is actually for the church, but is also used as a mailbox for the whole congregation! Thankfully though, I think there are only a few people who can check it and I’m confident they will get my stuff to me safely. Here’s where you can send things:

Leah Davis
Box 3230
Dodoma, Tanzania
East Africa

Also, I bought a cell phone since that is the popular thing here in Tanzania. International calls made from the phone are pretty expensive…five bucks only gets about ten minutes. Yikes! But, word on the street (from an American missionary) is that if people in the states use calling cards or skype to my cell phone, it’s pretty cheap. And texting is also relatively cheap, sending or receiving. I would love to get calls from any of you who are willing to pay a bit! My number is:

255-75-978-6010

I might be getting a different phone number that is for international calls and hopefully would make them cheaper. If so, I’ll be sure to post it on the blog!

the queston of the day

"do africans use toilet paper"??

i'm still not sure. you'd think it would be clear by now, but it's not! they don't usually keep toilet paper in the bathrooms, thankfully my host family accomodates me, but even then...with 4 or 5 people sharing the same bathroom, it seemed like i was the only one using the tp. hmmm. There are usually faucets next to the toilet witha bucket so my best guess is that they just use water instead of tp, but i don't know. sometimes the water doesn't work! what do you do then?

haha, this is all very foreign and amusing to me. it's so different! i'll do some investigations and let you know what i find out...

mzungu

that's what they call me. the chidren, that is. it means "white person". this is my second day hanging around the church and when there's nothing for me to do i usually wander around and look for the kids. Even when i'm just standing off in the distance watching them play or am walking past their classroom, the kids start shouting "mzungu! mzungu!" haha, it's funny to me. Some of them run up to me and just stare. I usually get lots of stares on the street too, and some people smile and wave. All because i'm a mzungu. It's a unique experience for me, coming from an ethnic majority to a place where i'm a definite minority. I haven't actually even seen another white person since i've been in Africa. Not even in Dar es Salaam, the big city in Tz. That being said, i dont' ever feel uncomfortable or not accepted by the people here. just different, which is nice. I do know, though, that there is a guy from America working at the church. he's gone for the week so i haven't met him yet, but i'm sure i'll be seeing him alot. and another gal from portland will be joining me for two months this summer, and i'm pretty excited to have her around. well, that's all for now. my brain is slowing down because of lack of sleep!

i made it!

finally. after three very long days of travel, i have arrived in dodoma, tanzania! whoo! it's hot hot hot and beautiful! the people have been wonderful so far and have made me feel very welcome. i haven't gotten sick yet, thank god, and the food is pretty good. the house i'm staying at is nicer than i had expected. i have my own little room which is actually a nice size and very comfy. dodoma is nice. it's very smalll, but i like that. people are always walking and riding bikes everywhere. the roads are ridiculous! everyone drives like a maniac and it's like off-roading over some of these bumpy, unpaved roads. but it's fantastic! i love a little chaos here and there...

My host family is awesome! Mama Esther has been so good to me and is really fun. she told me that i am her daughter now, which means alot to me :). Amos is also very kind, more serious, but still very nice. and i love their children! grace, 11 and peace, 7 are so fun! and victor, 13-ish is also great. they are all so smart and playful and speak english very well. I'm thankful to be here and am feeling at peace, so i'm glad for that.

Tea (breakfast) is ready so imust go! i will leave you with what sounds i wake up to each morning at FIVE o'clock...1. the cow in the yard next door and it's awful, horrible loeing :/ 2. the rooster who cocka-doodle-doo's so freaking loud in the other yard next door and 3. the muslim call to prayer from the nearby mosque...it's all very annoying so early in the morning, but i'm actually enjoying it all because like i said, i like a little bit of chaos :)

thanks everyone for your prayers! i'll write more when i have another chance!

kwaheri

SIDE note

my roomate elizabeth and I took a trip to the coast a couple weekends ago. it was fabulous! cannon beach is awesome and gorgeous. i thought i'd post a few photos just to share!

the adventure begins

in about ten hours. it's midnight, the night before i hop onto planes that will take me to a new continent, a new country, a new culture, a new time in my life. it's hard to sound excited because i'm very sleepy and need to go to bed...but i am. very! this past week has been nice to just relax and calm down my anxieties about the trip, to just be with friends and family and enjoy my time at home. I am, of course, still mindful and expectant of all the struggle, hardship, fatigue, loneliness, and heartbreak that is to come over the next three months - but i have decided i just need to let it come when it does. I can't be thinking about all that now, even though i know it will come...let each day worry about itself, right? So, as of now, i feel pretty calm and at peace. THe only exception is that i have concerns about money swimming around the back of my head. ( and i fear that trying not to worry about them is a little bit like denial of the fact that they are real, actual concerns that i need to face sooner or later). AKA i'm broke!! lol, and i'm still hoping that more people feel moved to donate to my trip so that i can stay as long as i hope to and will still be able to function/survive when i return.

anyways, this is my farewell from the US for a while. hello, Tanzania!! it's gonna be great. crazy and nuts, but great. thank you again to everyone for all the support and love and prayers. i am very very blessed by you all.

i've never

been a blogger...til NOW. In all honesty, i slightly cringe at the idea of a whole website dedicated solely to my ideas, thoughts, opinions, etc. (Not that i cringe when i read other people's blogs, on the contrary - i enjoy them alot.) It's weird because i have no problem expressing all those same things to someone in person...but i guess it just feels different over this media. You can't judge people's reactions and interest, you know? maybe i shouldn't be so concerned with that though...

WHY then, you ask, do i have a blog? in light of my upcoming trip to Africa, lots of people have suggested that i start a blog as a convenient way to keep everyone updated on my experiences. I've decided it's a good idea because, while I will have internet access in close proximity, i can't say i'll have time to email frequently to everyone i would want to. Plus, it's just an easy way to get information, stories, pictures, and prayer requests out to everyone at one time.

and WHO KNOWS? i might just get really into this whole blogging thing... it's not so hard :)