This is the most “maternal” I’ve ever seen myself look.
My day today in the town of Moshi was quite eventful. I had gone in with Thomas (the volunteer guide) and Daniela (my roommate and fellow volunteer) to pick up more supplies that I’d need for my class. The town of Moshi is not modern by American standards but definitely more modern than the small village where the orphanage is located. We spent an hour at an internet cafe and paid less than $1. They even threw in 3 power cuts for free. How generous is that? *Note to self…bring your netbook with you when you come to town next time*
Since we don’t quite look like we are from around here the price for normal things like shower shoes and a beat up watch were escalated to the normal “tourist rate”. You could find me quite often walking walking away with a shop owner chasing after me. If you have been reading my blog for a while you know good and well that I-B-DAMNED if I’m going to pay a randomly high price for cheap goods.
We didn’t have much time to spend in town because we had to get back to the orphanage in time for a welcome party that was being thrown in our honor. We were instructed by Thomas to purchase candy for the children at the party. Although I had already bought a few bags of Halloween candy from the states I was wondering why we had to give something at a party being thrown for us. I’ll get in to more detail about the instructions to “give” a little later. The ride back to town in the dala dala (Swahili for “small a$$ van that drives along the side of the road and picks up a zillion people until it is stuffed beyond capacity. To include people hanging out of the door”)
We arrived back “home” with little time to spare and only had about one hour left to shower, eat dinner, and get ready for the festivities. At the party Daniela and I handed out some of the gifts we had brought from the states and the children performed several choreographed dance numbers. The poor little ones tried to hang in there as long as they could but were eventually falling asleep standing up and in chairs. The older kids and adults were still dancing up a storm while I was rocking two kids at a time to sleep.
Children from the orphanage putting on a show
Line Dancing…Tanzanian style
“The businessman” (as we call him) out like a light
Oh what a huge contrast to how my life was a week ago.