Moshi, Tanzania
I have been hanging out with a bunch of peace corps volunteers as they have been in Moshi for Christmas break. Back in the villages where they live, a lot of them have no power or running water, have to shower with a bucket that they fetch from a water storage facility, and their water is rationed. Many of them have to travel hours to the market to get food and must cook it pretty much right away because there is no fridge to keep the food cold. Between going to the market, getting water, and making a fire to cook your food, I don't know how you would have time to do anything. Everything they throw out even, they have to burn it. Talking to them makes me realize just how easy we have it in Moshi. Here I am complaining about a few cockroaches, power outages, a trickling shower, and the occasional African toilet. One of the guys told me that in the house he used to live in, they killed two black mambas. I think Living out in the villages would certainly be an interesting experience though. I think it would really make you aware of what you use and what you waste. They were saying how strange they felt just leaving the water running while they were showering.
For Christmas eve, we rented a dala dala and drove out to Machame, one of the girls' villages, for a big peace corps Christmas party. The Machame house was pretty fancy with a fridge, running water, western toilet, and power. We had ugali chips with some of the best guacamole of my life as well as some amazing pumpkin soup and drank and partied all night. They are the coolest group of people and make me really wish I was allowed to join the peace corps.
There were about 25-30 of us, but they had some dorms that weren't being used so we were all able to sleep there. We brushed our teeth with water from buckets that had full dirt chunks in them. One of the guys just told me not to swallow the water. I definitely tried very hard not to. I forgot a sheet so I slept on a wet khanga that someone had used to shower with on top of a really old and slightly sketchy looking mattress. This was the first night I was actually almost cold since getting to Africa though, so I had no complaints.
On the dala dala back to town was the first time it has actually felt like Christmas since I got here. The bus was decorated and they played Christmas music the whole way back. I went back with two American travellers that came out for the peace corps Christmas party also. After breakfast, they headed off to Uganda and I went home to rest up for Christmas party number 2.
For Christmas in Moshi we had goat, which they had slaughtered that morning. I drank Konyagi packets and had the nerdiest conversation I have had since arriving in Moshi. Talked to a guy for about 2 hours about accounting, economics, politics, and the issues with the Tanzanian education system (a frequent topic of conversation amoung fellow teachers). Then one of the guys played some excellent 90s music on the guitar and we headed out to a dance bar for the night.
It wasn't a traditional Christmas, but it was definitely a lot of fun. I am really falling in love with Moshi. I can't believe how fast the time has gone by and how soon I am leaving!
DEFINITIONS:
KONYAGI PACKETS: I feel like the Konyagi packets need some explaining. Konyagi is a gin, but doesn't really taste like it, that Denise specifically warned me about when coming here. It doesn't have much flavour, but it is pretty strong. The classiest part of this is that they sell it in little shot-sized bags. You see these littering the ground all over Moshi.
KHANGA: a wrap skirt that all of the Tanzanian women wear. They are the best things ever because they are so multi-functional. Can be used as a skirt, dress, sheet, towel, etc.
Would you believe the Christmas nerdy guy and the guitar guy were the same guy? Because they were, and that was an excellent conversation. Loving your travel blog, keep up the intriguing observations of life outside of what we're used to. I'm looking forward to learning more about other countries and cultures through your eyes.
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