~There are a lot of them here. I know that sounds ridiculous and ignorant but holy population! I'm aware that I'm in Africa but there are people everywhere. When we were on the safari we didn't see as large of populations but otherwise there are always people around. We see many walking along rural (or what seem rural) roads that are miles away from towns and towns that are supposed to be "small" still are much more densly populated than our cities.
~The kids are extremely curious and cute. Most of them wave to you and stare at you as you go by or yell "Jambo!" There have been a few that have asked for chocolate or money and that is a bit annoying, but most of them just want to wave to you or give you a high five. I like the little guys. :)
~They are always busy doing something. Whether they are washing their clothes in a bucket, carrying goods on their heads to and from the market, or sweeping the sand (not sweeping off sand, but actually sweeping sand) these people just look busy...even if they are doing nothing.
*hauling some food for his cows*
The one thing they are not busy doing is picking up after themselves or cleaning. There is trash everywhere. In many places it looks as though there are small landfills. But, it's just part of the street or beach. You walk around a corner of a street and an empty doorway has become a miniature landfill with cats, chickens, and goats eating what they can find in there. It is probably one of the most telling signs that we are in a 3rd world country and I am very thankful for the fact that I pay federal and local taxes. You don't give a lot of thought to it until you visit a place where there is no road maintenance, drinkable water, appropriate disposal of trash or recycling, or building maintenance. They burn a lot of their trash or it sits on the ground and floats in the gutters. There are kids playing soccer in piles of trash and as they slide to the ground to catch the ball, I try not to cringe. Keith and I have had many conversations where we try not to get discouraged by how many people here are negatively effecting our planet. I do my part by recycling, conserving electricity, and trying to make a more minimal carbon footprint. But then I come to the most populated continent and there is so much irreversible damage and you wonder how much of an impact you are really making. But every person counts, right? You want to educate and help but there are bigger issues at hand...such as survival.
*a typical corner in Stonetown*
~Education is a luxury and only available to those who can afford it. Another reason I'm thankful for the taxes that pay. In the 80s, 90% of children in Tanzania went to primary school. Now less than 50% do. Parents must pay for primary and secondary school and if they can't afford it then their children stay at home. Swahili is the primary language spoken but English is also widely known. However, students don't learn English until they go to secondary school so if they can't afford it they have less of an education and therefore less job opportunities. I have an entire different outlook on my profession.
*you can easily tell which kids go to school when they are all in uniforms*
~A lot of people must be missing shoes around here. Since arriving I have decided that I to open a shop here where I sell just one shoe and if one loses a shoe or breaks one, they come to my shop to replace it. There are random shoes everywhere, but not the pair...just one. I have found one lonely shoe on beaches, in the bushes, on trails to town, in town, in streets, in front of restaurants, and in the ocean. I really could make a fortune with this new business idea of mine. This all goes hand in hand, I'm sure, with the trash issue.
~They love Obama. When asked where we are from and we say United States the next thing out of their mouths has something to do with our president. They always say something positive or ask if we voted for him. Our safari guide, Deko, explained that so many people are happy that Obama is our president because now it means that there is more equality. According to him, white people used to not like black people in and now it shows that we have moved past that and we are equal. He also told us that people in Africa say there is an acronym for Obama: Original Born African Managing America. Interesting because I'm pretty sure he was born in Hawaii but I think I understand what they are trying to communicate. There is Obama paraphinalia everywhere....from shirts, to blankets, to stickers on the back of dalla dallas (the minibus/minivans that cram up to 20ish locals in them), to underwear sold on the streets. They LOVE Obama.
*he didn't get the memo that the election was in '08 and not '09*
~I have met two types of Africans: obnoxious/rude and friendly/laid back. I suppose that could describe many people no matter what culture you are exposed to. Mainly the people in Nungwi, Stonetown, and Moshi have been the more obnoxious ones. Now that we are in Matemwe, which is a much more low-key and chill place, the people we have met have been great (and there's very little to no trash!). We are staying at a little joint that has 6 rooms/bungalows and a heavily vegitated courtyard. It is right on the beach and has a little Rasta bar and restaurant. This is our favorite beach so far....and I would say mainly because of the people. They are actually interested in talking to you instead of trying to sell you something. I was getting extremely tired of people in general when the majority of conversations would be similar to this: Jambo! Jambo. How are you? Great. How are you? Good, how did you sleep? Good. Are you okay? I'm good. Where are you from? United States. What is your plan tomorrow? I'm going to lay on the beach. Do you want to go snorkeling? Nope..........silence. At this time they have left and moved on to their next victim. Now, you're probably thinking at home that this doesn't sound too bad. Well, it wasn't for us the first 75 times or so....in the first 3 days. By about week 4, it was getting pretty old. That conversation literally happened for us at least 6-8 times each day. Keith spiced it up a bit for us and has reacted differently purely for our entertainment. These reactions include: 1) turning it around on the seller and tried to sell him something 2) repeating everything they said (the real mature route) 3) acting like he was person that is cognitively delayed (I know, I know....so not appropriate, but we were running out tactics). I just really get tired of the fakeness. Everyone greets you and is very friendly but as soon as you let them know you are not interested in their service they want nothing to do with you. Now that I've gotten that off my chest, I will say that all of the people that I've met that are not in the business of selling something to travelers (and even a handful of those who have helped us/sold us something) have been more than welcoming, friendly, and approachable. They make jokes with us, ask Keith and I if we are brother and sister (apparently I look like a tan, bald dude), ask us if we are Obama's kids (I must really be getting a tan), and truly want to know about us. In conclusion, I am really excited and relieved to be in Matemwe where the peeps are nice, the beach is nicer, and I have no decisions to make except whether to lie in the chair or in the hammock . More from Matemwe soon....
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