Today marks my 6 months stay here in Dar es Salaam, which is sort of a surreal feeling. On one hand it doesn’t feel like it’s been 6 months at all and on the other I feel like I’ve been here much longer. I’ve really gotten to know the ins and outs of this city and yet I’m still discovering new things and places every day. It’s not like I don’t miss what I’ve always called home but yet I am constantly finding myself calling this home as well. I also miss my family and friends back in the states and of course they cannot be replaced, but I have found family and friends of my own here which relationships I know will last the rest of my lifetime.
Since I’ve returned from my vacation classes have consistently taken place, which so far is much improvement from last semester. I’m looking forward to my classes this semester. I’m taking Issues in International Law, Peace Making and Conflict Resolution, Democracy and Elections and finally War and Warfare in History. Also since school has started there has been an outbreak of pink eye. Here they call it “red eyes” and it really spreads like wildfire and apparently happens every year at this time. You can always tell who has it because they are wearing sunglasses. I know this doesn’t sound very odd somewhere so close to the equator and a majority of the time it is hot and sunny but on a normal day almost no one wears sunglasses. So now that I’m starting to see so many people wearing them it’s a little shocking.
Since I’ve returned from my vacation classes have consistently taken place, which so far is much improvement from last semester. I’m looking forward to my classes this semester. I’m taking Issues in International Law, Peace Making and Conflict Resolution, Democracy and Elections and finally War and Warfare in History. Also since school has started there has been an outbreak of pink eye. Here they call it “red eyes” and it really spreads like wildfire and apparently happens every year at this time. You can always tell who has it because they are wearing sunglasses. I know this doesn’t sound very odd somewhere so close to the equator and a majority of the time it is hot and sunny but on a normal day almost no one wears sunglasses. So now that I’m starting to see so many people wearing them it’s a little shocking.
I believe that 6 months is a milestone, an accomplishment and a reason to celebrate, therefore, I thought I’d describe how celebrations and party are hosted here. Firstly, for almost occasion (birthday, graduation, wedding, and farewell) the format is about the same: there are introductions, speeches, food, cake and dancing. These occasions are always big with all of the family and friends in attendance and there is always a Master of Ceremony (MC) to guide the celebration. The MC will ask certain people with relation to whom the party is thrown for to stand up and show themselves to the crowd. Later these people will always say something verily short concerning the host. There is always a LOT of food and drinks for everyone (provided by and paid for by the host). I’m also 99% positive that there is always a goat slaughter which then becomes part of the meal. The cake part is pretty interesting and new to me. It’s not like everyone gets one slice of cake but instead the cake is cut into bite size pieces which are then fed by the host to the important people in their life and then are also fed a piece of cake by them. It’s a way of expressing appreciation towards those who have impacted your life in a profound way. I think dancing is pretty self-explanatory which just happens to last all night. For celebrations like graduations and birthdays, I see it is common for people to bring gifts or at least give cash but not compulsory. Something I’ve found very interesting about hosting events here, especially birthdays is that the host is expected to provide for and pay for everything. This also applies to if you invite a group of friends out for dinner; the one who invited everyone is also expected to pay for everyone. So if I wanted to invite some friends for a birthday dinner I am actually going to be the one paying for their meals. Whatever it is that you are celebrating, it's always a fun time surronded by so many people who you love with lots of food and dancing, and all of that is just fine by me.
Hakuna Matata,
Kimberly
