Piki Route

Here's a short video of me driving through my neighborhood on my piki piki. I will warn you: you need to mute your computer because the microphone bangs against the handlebars quite a bit and it's a bit bumpy! If you still want to see where I drive every day, karibu sana! It really is quite an adventure every time I go anywhere! Dodging kids, chickens, trash, and rocks are all part of my daily routine!

My Hood from Ginger on Vimeo.

Compliment

This past Wednesday I received the best compliment ever. I was cutting patterns with the sewing mamas and Josephine said something in Swahili that I didn’t understand (typical-haha), and they all started laughing. I knew it was about me because they all looked at me.  Josephine smiled and said, “I told them that you have already become a true Zanzabari!” It made me so happy! I asked her why and she said because I made plans to cut patterns with them at 8 on Wednesday morning and arrived at 11. Haha Yes, my compliment came with the embarrassing reality that my punctuality has taken a turn for the worse. Everyone is on “island time” here and if you show up 3 hours late- hamna shida (there is no problem)! This would have driven me nuts in the states, but I am finding that I am slowly becoming more like them- I really like it- and they do too.

 I have been texting in Swahili! Yep. I will admit that sometimes I have to go bust out the English-Swahili dictionary or get on Google translate to figure out what people are telling me, but it is helping me learn! I always end my texts with, “Sorry if that doesn’t make sense”

I have been eating wali na mchuzi A LOT. Lots of rice for this girl. 1) It is cheap 2) It is very easy to cook 3) I actually like it (and haven’t gotten sick of it….yet.)

I have not been as concerned about cleanliness. I was never much of a clean freak- like I never carried hand sanitizer around on a key chain- but you really can’t be too concerned here or you will drive yourself crazy. I went to make some bread the other day and when I pulled out the pan, I found a dead baby lizard. It didn't even bother me.  I just brushed it off and proceeded to use the pan anyway.

 Ya, that’s pretty gross, I know. 

 I pay pennies for delicious fresh fruits and vegetables at the "grocery store"! Can’t beat it.

 I even wore through my sandals already and had to go buy local leather ones.

 Yes, it is true- I am becoming a little less mzungu and a little more local. When in Africa…

Pika and Piki

Kupika means “to cook”, and that is what I am learning to do!  I have received many emails since my newsletter went out last week of people concerned that I’m not eating! Haha While I appreciate your concerns, let me reassure you I have been eating plenty (mostly carbs)!  I am slowly learning how to make things from scratch here, and I’m sure I will get better with time.  Yesterday, I asked the lady who works at my house, Mama Levina, if she would teach me to cook chapati. This was exciting for two reasons:  1) I was able to communicate with her a lot better than I have in the past, and she understood exactly what I meant and 2) chapati is probably my favorite food here and she said she would be happy to teach me!

During class yesterday afternoon, I even told Mwalimu Omar that I was going to make chapati today.  He told me that when we meet again on Monday, he is going to make me explain to him in Swahili how to make it from start to finish.  Ya, I don’t know about all that.  I can barely explain it in English.  But come Monday, I will use every Swahili word I know to try!  Looks like I've got some homework for the weekend.

When I came out of my room this morning, Mama Levina was ready for me!  She had the stuff laid out and we got to work.  I mostly watched, wrote down the recipe in Swahili to the best of my ability, and took pictures.  She was a great teacher and an even better cook.

Many of you know (especially my roommates) I attempted to make chapati in the States multiple times and failed miserably!  I was told it’s something about the flour and oil here that makes it so good.  Honestly, I enjoyed learning how to make it, and definitely enjoyed getting to eat it, but I won’t be making it often because it has to be TERRIBLE for you.  Lots of butter and oil- BUT truly delicious!

Mama Levina, me, and our finished product

Chapati makes me happy!

Also today I got to pick up my piki piki!  I bought it last week, but had to get the insurance, registration, etc. for it before I was allowed to drive it on the street!  I got the phone call after my tutor left this afternoon that it was ready and I could come get it!  It is AWESOME!  I only drove it a short distance today, but I’m excited to explore the area near my house tomorrow.  The men at the workshop keep talking about how awesome it is and how fast they got it to go…. Can’t wait!  But of course, I will be careful and drive slower than them.

What do you think?  My mom was always worried that I would turn into a biker chick because I was such a wild child.  Is this what you had in mind, Mom?

I had on my blue and white shirt, with my red bike, to celebrate America today.  I am so grateful for the freedoms we have as Americans, and praying for those who don't have the same freedoms.  Enjoy a hot dog and hamburger for me today :)  BUT don't worry, I ate very well today!