So I arrived in Arusha Tanzania, safe (just). The place is blowing me away every minute. It is amazingly dangerous and scary, as well as refreshingly wonderful and fantastic. I'm enjoying the food and my body is not reacting too badly (yet - touch wood!). I'm getting used to getting around in daladala's which seat about 12, but squeeze in more than 20. I'm also getting used to preparing my security each day with money to use, emergency money in my waist belt and emergency emergency money and phone in my shoulder holster type purse.
Home life is great with Mama Happy, her kids and her other lodgers. I played Connect for with Happiness (youngest daughter) and lost 5 times in a row - lucky I didn't take the bet she was offering. Everyone is helping me learn the language - last night Happiness (after kicking my arse) taught me colours through Uno.
Work is picking up after 3 days. I am actually finding it hard to buckle down after 3 months off. I'm doing finance and web site content - Nath and Rowan will laugh!
Anyway, I'm off to get the daladala back to Kijenge Mwana - I Hope i'm not hanging out the window this time.
Tu ta onana gedea
Mick the Mzungu.
What's a Mzungu?
Posted by: rowan | October 28, 2004 at 04:00 PM
I think it means White Man
Posted by: bella | October 29, 2004 at 09:46 AM
You're right Bella. I looked up the definition at http://research.yale.edu/cgi-bin/swahili/lookup.cgi?Word=mzungu&EngP=0.
Seems it also means 'surprise', 'trick' and 'baffling thing'. Perfect description for Mick don't you think?!
Posted by: rowan | October 30, 2004 at 05:46 PM
Most definately...I think we have found him a new nickname!
Posted by: Bella | November 02, 2004 at 09:25 AM