Hey Yall'
This will be just a quick update. Tomorrow I leave for Arusha to organise a safari. Arusha is about a 10 hours on a bus so I'll be sure and listen to a bunch of music on the way. Thank God for the disc man. I was supposed to go on safari with a few friends and the driver here but Kari, the same dolt who runs the organization, screwed everything up. He's sort of a master at that. He wouldn't let Thomas, the driver, take us up because of timing constraints. coughcoughBULLSHITcoughcough. It actually has worked out though because I'm going to be in India alone soon and I feel I've had very little practice at that. Not that I'm ever really alone. I travel with God. Happy Ramadan by the way.
I have pretty much finished the classroom at Mama Roses. It looks pretty good. I still want to hang some decorations but it's all cleaned up with desks and everything. The answer to your question is yes, I did finish the chalkboard and it was the hardest thing I've ever put together. It's what they call a "labor of love". I used to think that was some cheesy comment until I actually did a labor of love and now I understand. It feels so good to know that this will be here after I'm gone. Quinn came in a painted the words "Unity Is Power". Everyday Mama Rose starts off with singing songs with the kids and one of them is a song about going to market. At the end of the song she and all the kids are singing "Unity digadumdigadum Is Powah digadumdigadum Unity...". It's wonderful time of the day and I think she is right. On the 14th, The kids, their parents, Mama Rose and her boys, Quinn and I are all having a get to know you and thank you session. At that time we will all, underneath the "Unity Is Power" put our hands in paint and leave our hand prints on the wall. YEAH!!!
So, last night I went to see the 8th wonder of the world. Jigga man himself. H to the iz O, V to the iz A, H.O.V.A. Jay Z (for those of you, like, I don't know, my Grandparents, {who, I recently found out are reading this via printed pages by my wonderful Aunt Betty, Nana and Gramps I love you so much}, who don't know who Jay Z is, he is one of the most popular hip hop stars alive.) The show was at Diamond Jubilie, which is basically like an expo center back home. Oh my God, it was amazing. He just went ahead and rocked the mic in Africa. Of all people in all places, I saw Jay-Z in Africa. Seeing a show like that here was different than in America. We just danced and had a good time and everyone, EVERYONE was feelin' it. Little bit a Brooklyn in Dar.
After the show was over Myself and 5 others from the University of Dar including fellow Traelpodder Jessica (what up girl) took a taxi home. We piled in and the trip there was sketchy at best. When we reached the campus, 4 of the kids got out and it was the lone Tanzanian in from with his Tanzanian driving brethren and me in the back. The guy not driving lived a few km of campus and I started to notice that he was talking to the driver a lot. I didn't think much of it until the guy tuned around and asked me if I could drive. I sort of giggled like "are you kidding"? I could see by the look on his face he wasn't. It turns out the driver didn't know how to drive. I suck it up and say, "Yeah, I know how to drive". The more accurate answer would have been, "Yeah, I know how to drive a Chevy in America on the right side of the road".
The guy gets out of the car and gives me directions for where I live, a mere 15 miles away. The driver hops in shotgun and I quickly realize what Tanzanian cars are like. Even the nicest cars have the shifter on the left. Wierd. I get on the road and immediately head to the right side of the road, bad move. There's no 2nd or 4th gear. The brakes are all but shot. The stearing would be better described as aiming, like I was in a boat. And of course, there was a headlight out. We're off. I hit speedbumps and caught air I think, and I won't even go into what the potholes are like here. For some reason, in Tanzania, people don't dim their high beams so whenever a car came I lost sight of the road (serious lack of street lamps as well). 45 minutes and a few early gray hairs later I pulled into my driveway. Wow. I left the driver and as I walked away I said a little prayer for him.
Other than that, it's been business as usual. My time is winding down here and soon it will be off to India. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I guess everyone says that when they are in such a strange and wonderful place. I won't do the goodbye Africa email just yet though. I'm leaving for safari in a few hours. I've been saying the whole time that all I wanted to see was a giraffe. Looks like it's on. As the rastas say here...
Peace and Love,
Nathan
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Classroom and H.O.V.A.
Posted by Nathan Hamlin Bean at 6:10 PM
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