Every Day is a New Day

Hello Everyone! Tonight your update comes to you from Jen N. Since we have little time to use the computer, and it's very easy to get behind, I am helping Rachel get caught up. I hope you enjoy and at least tolerate tonight's substitution.

Recap since the last update:
2 Masaai village church visit
3 more orphanage visits
LOTS of Swahili class time
Mikumi game park

If you have ever been amazed by a choir sing, think again. African choirs, especially church choirs and school choirs are AMAZING! There are actions, chanting, noise-making and singing (of course). We arrived at the village around 9:30 am, but church did not start until 12ish, since here it is custom to wait for everyone to arrive first, and greet everyone as they arrive. The service itself was about 3 hours, with singing, talking, communion, offering, choir performances, and even a few songs from us Wartburg kids. With all the entertainment, it didn't seem like that long, but there were so many people standing the entire time... Crazy... After church, everyone goes outside and shakes everyone's hand, while forming a giant circle. Then it was time for the auction and taking pictures with all the children, which is what I did instead. This may also be why my camera doesn't work right now...but it happens. We also ended up eating at the village. The meal consisted of goat, rice, tomatoes and.... all of the goat innards cooked. So some unknowing(and some knowing) Wartburgers ended up with intestine, liver and stomach to eat. The liver apparently was decent, but the other stuff was interesting, so they got creative with the ways they ate it. We also had soda for the first time, which was pretty sweet, not to mention that some of us used the "outhouse," which is an experience all in itself... The toilet is in the floor, so you squat. Enough said.

The orphanage stories are the same pretty much. We run, swing, talk and just carry the kids around for however long we are there. They are so talkative and love to look out the window, even though we are outside anyway. Slowly, we are learning more words to try and use with the kids, but mostly we just listen to them babble. It's cute that way anyway. The last visit was interesting, however, because not all of us went, so those that did were working over time. And there were lots of kids needing changing.

Swahili lessons are now over, but we have learned a ton in the few days we have been learning it. We can form lots of full sentences now with verbs, adjectives and adverbs and we know tons of vocab. Napenda Swahili-I like Swahili. Nilikuja kijiji cha Masaai leo; Niliona watu wengi. I went to a Masaai village today; I saw a lot of/many people.

A few days ago we got back from an overnight trip to Mikumi game park. It's pretty much a huge animal reserve, and i do mean HUGE! We saw so many twiga (giraffes), simba (lions), tembo (elephants), impala, birds, etc. Our lodging for the night was in little hut/cabin-like things. There was a "honeymoon suite" and another room with three single beds in it, plus a bathroom and shower room. Quite the place! Dinner was amazing too. We all got to choose from a menu and order drinks. I had a beef kabob with peanut sauce and chips(fries). Fanta was also available, so I was very excited about that! The next morning we went out on another safari at 6:30am, however, that is when we really found the lions out and even eventually found a hippo in the water. It was definitely worth it! We got omelets for breakfast as well. Talk about luxury! After the excitement of having a male simba(lion) walk toward our bus, however, most people were tired and napped on the way home.

May 14- a 4-hr drive to another village. Through the rainforest and mountains, the view was gorgeous! Throw in a couple tumbili (monkeys) and lots of waving children, and it couldn't be much more enjoyable. The ride itself was full of potholes, rocks, bumps and jerking, but the village again was a great experience. This time the church service was outside, so we all sat on benches in the shade. Each village visit involves an auction, and this one was no different, except that we bought the majority of the items, including 3 goats, 2 chickens, several kitenges and some jewelry. Dinner was a communal rice plate, with some goat meat on top and soda. Then we had to attempt to get back out of the village and through the rainforest in the dark, with 2 chickens in the back of the bus (Have you ever heard one cry?). We finally made it back around midnight...and then crashed...

Saturday was our last day of Swahili/Tanzania culture and another trip to the orphanage. Well... it actually turned into a free day, since our village visit lasted so long. We got to sleep in for once, and had no obligations until Reflection Time. People caught up on journalling, went to the orphanage, read, napped and just recuperated after several long days. A few people weren't feeling well, so that day was much needed. We learned several interesting things about Tanzania culture. Tipping restaurants is not common here and very unexpected. You don't call out to someone walking away to get their attention, you clap at them to get them to turn around (Bwana Ed wouldn't let us practice). Dating/married couples do not hug/kiss/associate together in public, and you physically escort people in and out of your home when you have people over.

Today was another village visit. This time we rode in land-rover vehicles and the ride only took a little over 2 hours, though we did drive through a corn field...The service was similar to the others, but today the men did their traditional jumping/dancing circle that used to be used to scare opponents before battle. Lots of our crew even joined them inside the circle and were being taught to dance by some of the elder women. At reflection time tonight, much of the group agreed that today was their favorite village so far. Lots of the girls and Bwana Ed felt very well received and taken care of today. Some girls were even learning some of the traditional Masaai language and were teaching some of the mamas how to count in English.

I apologize that this is so long, but it's easier to just make one big post when you don't update often. Tomorrow we are headed to Faraja to talk more about HIV/AIDS and the work Faraja does in the community for people with HIV/AIDS. We recently have started coming up with questions we have about AIDS, from how Faraja works, to how it's perceived in Masaai culture. Hopefully Rachel will get to update again soon. Thanks for checking the updates! Asante sana (Thank you very much!)

Kwa heri na usiku mwema (Goodbye and good night!) Jen