Mzungu

Today is absolutely the most boring day I have had since I have been here. I woke up and got ready for school today, but after eating breakfast wasn't feeling too hot, so I stayed behind for the morning. My stomach was a bit dodgy, and others with similar symptoms recommended I stay out of the heat and near a working bathroom and fan. So, I spent the morning doing some laundry and sleeping a bit. I must say, hand washing your unmentionables is quite humbling.

Once everyone returned from placements, they put out lunch for us, but it was the same old- same old gross food that we are all sick of. Potatoes, vegetables, and chicken bones. I opted for ritz crackers and water instead. After lunch, we had an individual meeting about our placements. The organizers wanted our feedback and such. I was able to go first and it took all of 3 minutes. I decided to go lay in the sun for a little bit, but lasted about 30 minutes and it started to rain. I took my clothes off the line, went inside, and have been in my room for the past 3 hours.

Some people were going into town, which I was considering, but they were walking. I know better than to attempt that. Being here and around the other volunteers makes me feel incredibly unable. They are hiking, and climbing, and walking 7 km to town with no problems, some of them following all that with an afternoon jog. I am, by far, the most out of shape person here, and it gets me down. Honestly, I'd rather pay some locals to hoist me around in a poster bed a la Aladdin for a great price rather than sweat and pant any more than absolutely necessary. I know, I know. Princess, again. Anyway, another volunteer is celebrating her birthday today, and a bunch of people are going into town for dinner. I wasn't necessarily invited, and I didn't feel like sticking my nose in, so I am staying here.

There will be 4 people having dinner at the house tonight. I hope they give us something good. I have just about had it with the meals. The meat is so disgusting here that I've been mostly vegetarian since I arrived, partially due to the sight of huge hunks of fatty beef hanging in shop windows, unrefrigerated, with flies landing to have a buffet. The chicken isn't much better. I see them on the side of the road, eating the bits of garbage left over after the locals burn it each night. Not quite the vitamins I need in a chicken. The burning garbage actually doesn't smell terrible, more like smoldering fireplace, but when they light it at 9PM 30 feet from your bedroom window, your eyes get a bit irritated, and you start to smell like beef jerky. Luckily, that has only happened twice, and none of my roommates have gnawed on me yet.

I have been meaning to mention mzungu on here for a while. Mzungu means visitor in Swahili, but it has taken on the meaning of "white person". You would think it is the first word they teach their children. Whether you are walking, or in a van, they see white skin and start shoulting "mzungu! mzungu!" and pointing, sometimes while jumping up and down. The adults use it less, but I have heard it from a few. In town, many salespeople have "mzungu price" because they think we are dumb and they rip us off. Soda is 250tsh (20 cents US) if Mr Massawe orders it, but 400tsh (about 30 cents) when I want to buy a round. If you need the dime, you can keep it buddy. Anyway, some volunteers get extremely offended by mzungu. I, on the other hand, think it is hysterical. Imagine me driving through New York while pointing and screaming "black people!" and tell me I wouldn't look like swiss cheese by the time I got 4 blocks from my starting point. I am almost jealous that they are able to be so blunt in their culture, and we have to be so guarded not to offend anyone in ours. Just goes to show how colorful the world is, I suppose.

Speaking of New York, I am aching to be home. I am counting the days. Not that I am having a bad time, it just feels like I haven't been home in a month and I want to be around my family and friends. It is hard to live in a house with 20 people, eat all your meals with them, etc, and not have a good friend. They are all nice, but I don't feel particularly close to anyone. There is nothing to do alone here other than read. I have finished 4 books already. Once Monday comes, I will be counting the days. And the weekend will pass quickly, because I am going on safari!

5 other volunteers and I depart at 12:30 tomorrow afternoon, and we are on safari until Sunday night! I don't know the order of the places we visit, but our tour will include Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater. All three places are ideal for seeing animals this time of year. The Serengeti is too far for a weekend trip, and I don't care to extend my stay any longer to see it. I want to see some animals, take some pictures, and come back. I'm sure the food will be less than optimal, but I hope the lodging is decent. We are apparantly staying in a 5-star lodge. I don't have any clue what that means here, but I am hoping it has some hygenic standards, a bathroom, and running water. I don't ask for much at this point.

Unfortunately, I will not have access to the internet (or a computer) until Sunday night, if we return before 10, or Monday morning. I'm sure I will be exhausted on Monday, but will try to blog ASAP about my weekend. Next week we have a couple fun trips planned that I can tell you about also. Cross your fingers for no rain, and that I see some animals. I am particularly on the lookout for a cheetah, which will be Lauren Smith and Tony's wedding gift if I can catch it, fit it in a backpack and pass it off as a child through customs. I am also hoping for some flamingos, an giraffes. And not to be Debbie Downer, but I would love to see a good kill. Here's to hoping!