Don't Fence Me In

E-mails from friends
It has been so good to hear from some friends from home this past week! I don't know why this was the week to write, but thanks if you did! And if you have not, please do! We love to hear about what is happening at home. Or really anywhere!

What does Monduli look like?

I finally figured it out today. The drive to Monduli looks a surprising amount like the drive north to Casper, Wyoming on whatever highway that is. There are mountains in the background, a lot like Casper mountain. The sage brush would need to be replaced by small trees. Oh, and the occasional donkey or camel. But, besides that, virtually one in the same! Monduli itself is quite a lot different than Casper...we are up on the mountain and there are lots of trees. In fact, now there are all these Jackaranda (spelling?) trees that have purple flowers blooming. They are all over the place and it's really pretty.

Where to go?
One thing I have discovered here is a lack of space! Now, don't get me wrong, we live well! We have a three bedroom house with a living room and kitchen. By all means, there is a plenty of space in the house. However, I've been reading a book that talks about a need for solace...just some space and time to get away and be with God. I think that's a great idea and I'm trying. But where! If I wake up early or stay up late there are people in my living room! If I go to my bedroom Lisa is usually sleeping in the mornings (correction, always sleeping in the mornings!) And, I can't really go wandering around in the hills. I'm being a bit facetious, but it really is an issue. Where do you go to unplug? I can't even imagine our students who often live in a one to two bedroom house about the size of our living room. Cripes! Try doing a "quiet time" there!

Netball

On Saturday, most of the teachers went in to a school for an athletic tournament. The girls played netball and the boys soccer (football down here). Netball is similar to basketball, but with several exceptions. For instance, no backboards. Anyway, after a long day of gaming, the girls won the whole things! Lisa was there and said it was a lot of fun watching them in action. Sadly, our camera was stolen there somewhere along the way. But, that's only a small cloud on an otherwise good day.

Water & Electricity
Monduli is situated next to a small mountain range called the Monduli mountains. These mountains provide the water for part of the town up the hill. This is where we live. In fact, we hiked up to the head of where they collect our drinking water and it's quite a good supply from a spring and then fed by gravity through pipes. The rest of Monduli is fed by water piped in from Arusha. Recently we have been without water. This has happened a few times in the past...mostly when our neighbor and landlord's father waters his plants and just leaves the hose running. But, this time was different. It was several days we were without water. Rumors started to spread. The most compelling was that someone had sabotaged the system! It's tough to say and even more challenging to get to the truth in an election year (which I'll get to in a minute!). Anyway, we were introduced to bucket showers (not to bad!) and extra efforts to conserve water. So, poor us, blah blah blah. Now, picture being a Maasai cattle herder in this mess! Granted, it's the dry season and they're used to this. But, literally, where do you go for water? The taps don't have water. The streams and reservoirs don't have water. I think part of the issue here is that traditional watering holes (at least places that would have been reserves during the dry season) are now National Parks. Water is a big issue here.

Ironically enough, the day our water came back on is the day the electricity went out. But, never fear, we have both once again. So now we can look at each other all sparkling clean under fluorescent beams after 7:00 PM - because that's when it gets dark here!

Elections

Today was election day in Tanzania. Every 5 years there is an election. The president can serve two terms. The current president was up for re-election. I have noticed a few things. 1 - no one talks about politics. Not seriously anyway. I'm not sure why but I have a few suspicions that perhaps it's just best to not be overheard. 2 - Rallies! Oh wow, they have these big rallies all over and loads of people show up wearing the caps and shirts and wraps. It is all over! and 3 - the rumors! It certainly has been interesting! I'm thankful to have been here at this time and see the hope that rests on a government in another place. As is sung in their national anthem - Mungu Ibiriki Tanzania...may God Bless Tanzania.

Goat Cake, Hiking Mountains and Quitting Smoking

Goat Cake -

You know how some things just grab your attention the minute you hear them? Well, "Oh, you'll have to come to our wedding. There will be goat cake!" is one of them. We met Beth at our language training earlier this fall. She is from Montana and was engaged to a man from Tanzania named Deo (just like the song...' daylight come and me wanna go home...'). After a few adventures with them we were friends. Last night, we attended their wedding reception. The event was held at a very scenic lodge - lots of green foliage around and a stream running through the property. There was even a full moon last night. We arrived and were seated with the rest of the guests on Beth's side of things. One trend I have found is for Tanzanian's to really draw out the festivities! So, from 5:30-9:30 PM, we rocked out to dancing, speeches, drinks, food and of course the cutting of the cake. People were dressed very nicely - suits, dresses. I just had a white shirt and a tie (in fact I was accused of being a Jehovah's Witness earlier in the evening by some guy on the street....guess I won't dress quite that same way again...) Now, since there was a western contingency, they did have a "European Cake" - a frosted cake just like at any U.S. wedding. After they cut it and fed each other, etc... it was time for the goat cake. Now, the goat cake is a wedding tradition in Tanzania. They brought it out and it was basically a cooked goat. The only thing was the head was still attached with the horns on! The chef brought it out and cut off a few slices. Just like the other cake, Beth and Deo fed each other pieces of the goat cake symbolically serving each other in the marriage. Then, we all got to dine on the goat when we went through the reception line! It was a very welcoming and memorable night. It was an honor to be part of such an event. But, I'm not sure I'll go out of my way to try goat cake again!

Hiking the Monduli Mountains

There is a small mountain range behind our house called the Monduli Mountains. In fact, we hike a portion of them every day to get to our house. This past weekend we took some time to hike a trail into the mountains. We were joined by a new friend from Australia whose name is Matt. We basically followed a trail all the way up a valley to a waterfall which also happens to serve as our water supply to our house. We saw monkeys and evidence of elephants. On the way back we left the trail and decided to go "bushwacking it". Not a good idea. All we found was stinging nettles and ants. Overall it was beautiful up in the mountains and we hope to go back and do more hiking. Although, next time we will hopefully stay on the trail a bit more!

Quitting Smoking

A friend of ours has been trying to stop smoking. He described the feeling to us as "constantly feeling something is missing... and emptiness." Not to be too sappy, but as I was singing in church this morning, I realized that his description really summarizes what I've been feeling since we left home - an emptiness. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about friends, family and situations back home. I'm certainly not ready to come home- I don't think our work is done here. And, I'm certainly not sitting in my room clutching my pillow sobbing because I'm just so homesick (OK, I might do that one!) What I do feel is just a constant pang of emptiness where people who I love used to be. I knew it would be hard to be away from you all for so long. I just didn't realize that this emptiness would be such a constant companion. And, to be honest, I hope it doesn't subside. A smoker longs for the time when they can fill that void with something else. But, I think this longing will just remind me of things that should not be forgotten, replaced or "filled in." So, before I get too sappy here, I'll just end by saying I miss you, my friends and my family and there is a big hole that I'm waiting for you to fill when time allows. So, until then, I think I'm going to go have a smoke. (Kidding).

Teaching at Orkeeswa and Falling in Aardvark Holes

These past two weeks we taught at Orkeeswa. I taught Form 1 (equivalant of Freshman) Chemistry and Form 2 Agriculture. Lisa has been helping teach the pre-Form English immersion. The student's primary concern, by in large, is this national standardized class they have to take at the end of Form 2. If they don't pass, they don't go on for more school. It's really interesting for lots of reasons! First, they want to take notes! Second, they want to have more time to work with the teachers. They also seem, at least one of the forms, to be very resistant to doing in class activities. The perception seems to be that they need very detailed notes that they can go study in order to pass that test. Lisa has also had some interesting times with the pre-form English students. This past week she and the other teacher taught the students words such as fart, diarrhea, etc... You know the good ones! They also showed E.T. this past week... the first movie for most of the students! They were excited, scared and everything in between! They thought E.T. was real and possibly living in the States!

Anyway, we also tried to run again this past Wednesday. If this is going to be a tradition I wish my body would just hurry up and get in shape. We were only about 10 minutes into the run when the Land Rover with the other teachers passed us. Our friend Junior decided to try and "catch" the vehicle on the way by. No one is sure what he really meant to do! But, as he was running up just behind the bumper, he tripped in a huge aardvark hole and fell face forward in a huge cloud of dust! He just hopped right up and said "oh, I think that I made a bad choice" and kept going. I can't remember when we have laughed that hard.

We also went to two students' houses this past week. That is probably best left for another blog. It did offer some great insight as to why you don't assign homework, etc... as there is very little light in the houses and the students also have a lot of work to do.

Last week we attended a track meet at the International School of Moshi in Arusha. Imagine 90 Maasai students and their parents showing up and running/throwing/jumping! We dominated the distance events (go figure), but didn't fare so well in short distance or field events. However, put a spear (javelin) in their hand and they shined! We won the sportsmanship award and received a big trophy. You would have thought we won the whole event - there was dancing and singing! It was cool to be part of the festivities. In fact, many of the parents of the other students from different schools stopped and took pictures of our students and parents!

We are doing well...finding it hard to make connection with family and friends back home due to poor internet connections.