My Name is Kim, not Mzungu

I've never been more aware of being white than I have here in my first month. Every time I take a walk I hear at least once "Mzungu!" Of course I realize that here I am not the norm and a very small minority, but at the same time I don't walk around yelling "black people" at home. Even if my presence is not forth right announced, I'm still being stared at. Whether I'm shopping, riding the dala-dalas, walking around campus or on the beach I stand out and the attention follows. This attention can be a range of things from both the positive and negative realms. On the negative side there's the yelling of mzungu while I'm walking by, being stared and occasionally being ripped off or overcharged. It does however work out positively as well by allowing me to meet more people. I cannot help but feel disrespected by the negative attention. Firstly, I know that I'm white, you do not need to inform me of this. Secondly, I have a name that you could ask if you so feel the need to yell at me. Thirdly, both you and I can obviously tell that I'm not from here so there is no need to stare just approach me and ask.
I believe I have now developed the minority complex and the thought that only other minorities can understand what it's truly like. I also believe this has opened my eyes to what it's like to be a minority in the states. To have a certain perspective of your "grouping" by the majority, how you are treated differently by the majority and what the majority expects from you is actually quite annoying. Almost all of the international students happen to be white, but not all of us are Americans (in fact there are only about 5), which isn't really taken into account when looking at us. Even if I have these new thoughts that only other white people understand me here, I have refused to travel in large groups in order to avoid even more attention. However, I have met two girls that I have become really close to with whom I can exchange all the new experiences both good and bad about living in Dar es Salaam. So here's my shout out to Brigitte and Conny thanks for becoming my good friends and sharing this experience!
I've found it helpful to be with a few Tanzanians for security rather than alone or with a group of other white people. I am using security in the sense of to make one more comfortable and being with and making friends with Tanzanians seem to deter the stares I get and of course the yelling of mzungu. I am thankful for being the minority in this sense because the Tanzanians that have approached have done so in order to help me out and make me feel comfortable. They realized that I'm not from here, saw that I needed help getting somewhere or the course outline and then managed to help me out as well as take the time to talk and get to know one another.
I do believe that no matter how well I get to know my surrounding or if my Kiswahili gets to a conversational level, I will still always look and be different. So my hope is to make as many good friends as I can and start to not notice some of the other things or learn to laugh it off more easily.

Hakuna Matata,
Kimberly

I know that I know nothing, but at least that is something.

It is important to accept that fact that Westernized ideals, ways of thinking and how things operate do not translate. In fact, everything may not make sense with the ways you were brought up with and as a result you can easily become frustrated. I have found it best to accept that things aren't run in the same fashion as in the states and then to take things as they come. Having patience and an easy going attitude has saved me a lot of headache this week in regards to my courses.

Here is how I've come to realize how things operate during the first weeks of the semester:
1) There are a least four drafts of the time table (schedule of courses). Zero draft comes out the weeks before lectures are scheduled to start. First draft came out this week when lectures are scheduled to begin. Second draft is due to come out Monday, and then I have yet to find out when third and final drafts will be released. Each draft comes with changes to the time table. These changes can range from what courses are being offered, what times they are taking place, how many lectures/seminars are available and the rooms that they will be held in. Have you noticed that courses are starting while these changes are still taking place? Remain calm, there's really nothing you can do about it anyways so why waste time and energy worrying too much.
2) Lectures are said to have started this past Monday, yet I have not had one actually take place. Apparently this is not uncommon and also not something to worry about. I can only assume that the reason for this is due to the changing time tables. I went to check on my courses according to the first draft with no success, neither students nor the professor showed up. It's as if everyone else knows that it is not necessary during the first week to attend lectures, or that everyone else is just as confused on what is going on and then therefore do not attend. Now I'm not explicitly saying not to attend lectures the first week because I have heard of some that do actually take place, all I'm saying is if you go to your course and no one is there don't panic and try again next time with the newer time table.
According to my time table as of today, the courses I would be taking are: African International Relations and Foreign Policy, Issues in International Law, Peace Making and Conflict Resolution, Introductory Microeconomics and African Drumming. However, after talking with the political science department today it seems that Issues in International Relations and Peace Making and Conflict Resolutions will no longer be held this semester but instead the following semester. So I will be trying to replace it with Politics of North-South Relations. Luckily, I will still be here next semester to take those courses and will still be on track with my major credits for the University of Kentucky. Now I just need to know the times and hope that they don't conflict with African Drumming or microeconomics. Maybe by next week I'll have a more solidified schedule and will actually have a class or two.
As you can see, universities don't operate as they would in the states. By now I would have already known exactly what courses are going to be offered, when I'm taking them, where they will be and would have definitely started lectures on Monday. I am not in Kentucky anymore and this is a whole new ballgame and instead of being upset about the slowness or uncertainty, I have chosen just to keep trying, relax and let things work themselves out.

Hakuna Matata,
Kimberly

Karibu Tanzania!

For those who are following me but don't know much about Tanzania I will provide a little background.

I am staying in Dar es Salaam, which is NOT the capital, Dodoma is the capital. However, it was once the capital until 1973 when it was moved to Dodoma. For it's purposes I used a map that emphasized Dar es Salaam so you can all see where I am.
Tanzania is located on the eastern coast of Africa. It's border countries are: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Dem. Rep of Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. Because it lies below the equator, the coolest months are during what we in the North hemisphere see as summer, although the temperature doesn't vary a whole lot. The dry season is from June to October the then various rains from November to May.
23% of the landscape is allotted to game reserves and national parks. Here is where you'll find Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti National Park. The first Europeans were German missionaries and the German colonial period lasted until the end of the first World War when Germany was forced to give up their colonies as punishment. Afterwards Britain took it over as their colony. They gained the independence on December 9th, 1961 with Julius Nyerere as the first elected president.

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Karibu Tanzania! (Welcome to Tanzania) is the first thing I heard upon existing the plane and
that already showed great insight into a part of the culture: the culture of greetings. Tanzanians are very friendly and welcoming people which makes the exchange of greetings a very important part of the conversation. You are always expected to be greeted and welcomed before engaging in conversation with everyone you want to talk to. These greetings can usually be accompanied by a prolonged handshake. When traveling to Tanzania I suggest you learn the many ways to greet in Swahili before arriving, they are fairly easy to get a hang of and will show that you care enough to try which is very appreciated. Fortunately for those traveling without any Swahili everyone around wants to and is willing to help.
I've come to understand how little English is actually used in day-to-day life even though it is an official language. Just like English is my mother tongue, theirs is Swahili meaning how they will communicate to each and use most often. The only time I hear English at all is when they are talking to me or at the university. For the first few days of being here I was overwhelmed by this fact and felt at lost in conversations. These first days I was rather quiet, my family would be speaking to each other in Swahili and then say how they wanted to hear from me but I couldn't understand or respond to their conversations so I was feeling a little defeated. Some Tanzanians, like those driving the buses, don't know English at all. However, like I stated someone around will know English and be happy to help you out. After my family helped me out with some useful phrases I feel better equipped in getting around however, I am looking forward to starting my intense Swahili next week along with my classes to help me get around more.
What really started to make me feel at home were my tours around town with my on-site coordinator of my program and learning how to use the dala-dalas (city buses) and my weekend trip to the town of Bagamoyo. Bagamoyo is a town know for it's artists and creativity and every October there is a festival hosted by the college full of dance, singing and other various performances. In Bagamoyo we stayed in these cute little bandas right on the beach for about $12 a night then spent most of the day/night around the festival art booths. Here I got a real taste of how friendly people can be but also like everywhere there are some shady characters. One guy approached us saying that he would get us "friend price" for the show instead of tourists price, which we already noticed to be a trap but he ran ahead and bought tickets for 15,000 shillings instead of the 2,000 that they were. We immediately saw that it wasn't right when then he claimed it said 1,500 instead. But otherwise the festival was really entertaining and really helped me to feel at home.

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Here I thought I'd end this post by giving some useful details that I would have liked to have known before arriving.

1. You do not need an alarm clock when you have a rooster. Even though I'm from Kentucky never have I had a rooster within earshot in the morning, but at least I don't waste the day away sleeping.
2. Water to shower with is cold and usually found in buckets. I've become a pro a bucket showers even with my thick hair.
3. Bring toilet paper everywhere. You will find somewhere to use it but none around.
4. Prepare for swatting toilets, although they can be avoided too.
5. Plastic is almost impossible to use, especially credit cards with no PINS. Most places don't even take debit or credit.
6. Transportation to use are Dala-dalas or Bajajis. Dala-dalas are the city bus but they are this phenomenon of the private and public sector which seems to be blending in the best way for most efficient use. From what I can tell people own these buses and decided for the good of the community (or to make some money) that providing ways around town would be beneficial to all parties. Maybe we should all learn from this? Bajajis are at best what I can describe to be motorized tricycles with a seat in the back that can fit about three people. Both dala-dalas and bajajis are very cheap as well.
7. Electricity and water are not always available and usually at the most inconvenient times.
8. Also I would have loved to know how to dress before coming. Here, women mostly where skirts but always at knee length or below. I have seen for tops everything for tanks to long sleeves though. Jeans would be fine and you do see them but they are less common because of the heat that is always around and humidity that the rains can bring.
9. Insect Repellent! This I knew before coming but I figured I'd stress this point. Seriously take your malaria pills and use repellent. In Bagamoyo my feet were eaten by sand fleas without my knowledge so always always always use it!

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Hakuna Matata,
Kimberly