TIA-EI!

One of our mottos: TIA-EI. “This is Africa, Enjoy It!” We heard a man yell this from his Land Rover as he sped past a dejected motorcyclist stuck in the mud.

Here are a few of our sayings and anecdotes from “This is Africa, Enjoy It:”

- “I just saw a calf hop out of the dala dala (bus transport)!”
- Asefiwe’s uncle asked if Kate wanted to stay in Tanzania for a long time. We wondered how many cows Kate would be worth.
- TENESCO, the only electricity company in Tanzania decided to change their method of payment to a pre-paid voucher system. A meter box was installed at our house, the electricity was cut off, and the company has yet to turn ON our meter box to allow umeme to come in to our house. The administration building at Faraja did not have umeme for two weeks. We hope the technician in Moshi gets to our meter number before we get back from our safari.
- Sitting in on the Rwandan Genocide trial at the UN International Criminal Tribunal court in Arusha was chilling. We saw Dominique Ntawukuriryayo on the witness stand, who is being charged for three accounts of genocide, complicity in genocide and direct and public incitement.
- During walks in our neighborhood we are always greeted by a bunch of cheery, overjoyed, watotos –little kids – who want to touch us, but only the boldest actually shake our hands.
- We were the ‘guests of honor’ at a vivacious confirmation party for Rogathe’s sister. She convinced us to change our weekend plans and accept the invitation. Good thing we did, or the “guests from America” would not have been present to take our special seats under the tent, share a dance with young Sara or drive in the ululating parade from church to house.
- “Ann, you have to close the door for her. She doesn’t have a left arm.”
- On one of our walks with the children Kate asked Zakayo where was Praygod. As he pointed to the bushes and arched his hand Zakayo made a machine gun noise, “dat, dat, dat, dat.”