Giving Thanks: A Tanzanian Perspective

Talk about perspective.

One year ago today, on Thanksgiving, I was in Ngara, Tanzania.  One of the poorest places in the world.  About this time of the day, I was doing the best I could with what I had to prepare my traditional family sweet potato casserole dish for our evening potluck.  I had to improvise on several ingredients, but sweet potatoes were in abundance.  The dish turned out deliciously sweet, but the casserole this time had a puke-green appearance.  Less than appetizing to say the least.  Despite my disappointment in its visual allure, I brought it along to the dinner anyways....

Our Thanksgiving potluck consisted of about 30-40 people...many Americans, but also other people from various countries including Australia, England, France and many local Tanzanians.  Turkeys were very expensive, so I can't honesty remember if we had one or not, but I know that we did have a large spread of amazing food.  Before dinner, we all made a circle, and went around and said what we were thankful for, teaching our non-American guests our homeland tradition.  Some comments were in English, and those that weren't and were in Kiswahili were translated for us.  Simplicities of thanks seem to be international, as those who were local appreciated their health and their families, as all of us from abroad missed ours.

This week, Tanzania keeps popping back into my mind.  I received a newsletter via email from the nun at the Orphanage for Street Boys (Nazareti), where I taught hip hop dance.  She included pictures of each of the boys and updates on their progress.  It had me almost in tears in front of my computer.  And earlier on in the week, my old co-worker, Shannon, tagged me in a post, as she was volunteering at a craft fair in Austin, TX to help generate money for WomenCraft.  This week was also my mom's birthday (and for those of you who may not know, my mother passed away 7 years ago now...geesh...).  She was one of the most generous and thoughtful people I have and will ever know, and her spirit has certainly also been with me this week.

Today, I will be spending Thanksgiving in Portland with some of my nearest and dearest friends and family.  People I have known for 20+ years and love the most.  I will drive to their house, sit in their heated living room drinking top shelf wine while nibbling on gourmet treats.  And through all of it I will reflect on how damn lucky I am.  I will think of the people of Ngara today, many families just trying to assure they have enough semi-clean water for the day to make due.  The boys at the orphanage who are elated to be where they are simply because they can count on 3 meals a day, feel safe and know they are loved.  And I will also reflect on who my mother was, and how I so sincerely hope that I can bring as much joy, passion, and happiness into as many people's lives as she did. She spread soul sunshine.

Week after week and year after year I am gently, or sometimes vividly reminded of how blessed I am to have such an amazing network of friends and family, and am equally excited and humbled to see how it has expanded and grown over my past year of travels. Cheers to all of you.  Happy Holidays, and I hope that today you are finding your own special ways to count your blessings :)

Get Up, Stand Up...."What Would You Do?"

Whoa.  So I just looked at this blog and its been a while since I've sat down in front of my computer and did any serious writing.  To catch you all up/long story short, I am now/still living in Portland, Oregon, happily settled into two fabulous jobs and a beautiful new home with two really sweet roommates.  I waffled back and forth between staying here and returning to Atlanta for a while (a hard decision to make), but finally after much deliberation realized that Portland is where I feel healthiest and where I hope to raise a family someday.   I now have a day to day routine set into motion, and have been having a super fun, active summer with friends and family, soaking up as much sunshine as I possibly can.  And the inspiration for this blog post came from an event that transpired yesterday afternoon, at the Portland Saturday Market...

As you may have read in an earlier post, I now work for my friend Bryan's company "Chopstick Art". (www.chopstickart.com) It's a fabulous business and while I will soon be doing wholesale/office type work for Bryan, at the time being I am solely selling his crafts at the Portland Saturday Market.  Working weekends isn't always ideal, and the set up/tear down of my booth can be a pain in the butt sometimes, but overall I'm in love with my job.  The entire vendor crew down there is so good to me, and I miss them when I go to other festivals and don't see them for weeks at a time.  And on top of that, I get to be outside and interact with new people all day long...two things I love (we'll see if my tune changes when October and the rain/cold rolls around....)

So yesterday was just like most days at the market: a busy, sunny Saturday with people hustling all about.  Dogs were sniffing out new scents, kids were crying over melted snow cones, and the occasional hippie stopped by my booth to tell me about how hopped up on drugs they were.  Then, around 3pm, I heard this yelling going on.  Granted, working downtown means that conflicts and yelling are kind of part of the routine, but this time I noticed that the conflict was between a market goer and my fellow vendor...right across the aisle from me.  The guy across the aisle sells electronics.  If you've been to a Saturday market, you know the type.  It's one of those booths with wires hanging all over it, with every kind of gadget you could image for attaching your ipod to your car, charging multiple cell phones at a time, or any other type of cord/attachment that insists it will make your life easier.  Well in this case, it was making life harder on everyone.  Apparently this customer lady (who was the "yeller") had been sold a cord that didn't work, and she was furious.  She and the vendor fought it out, and in the end he gave her her money back.  All of the rest of us vendors just stayed out of the middle of it, let things run its course, and were happy to see things settle down.  After all, the conflict and the arguing had left the aisle ways clear.  Customers don't like to be around arguments like that on their weekends....

Then, after about 5 minutes or so of this customer lady hanging out down the aisle at a different booth, she came back.  Why?  To torment and harass the electronics guy.  She was being loud and just as obnoxious as the first time she visited his booth, except this time she was waving her cords around in the air, high above her head saying "oh...you want these? You want these? You think I'm going to give these to you now?"

Time-out.  At this point, I'm pissed, shocked and perturbed.  I can't believe this is continuing. Enough is enough.  She's driving away my business, and annoying the living hell out of me (and everyone else) at the same time.  Who does she think she is anyways?  Usually I like to stay out of things like this, but recently in my personal life I've been really trying to focus on speaking up more and being more honest with myself and others, so I decide that its time to do something about it. Just a small, simple sentence, and I don't think twice before saying: "Hey, why don't you just leave him alone?"

Well, that did it.  She yells at me and tells me not to get into her business.  Then she walks just barely past his booth and (children...don't read this...profanity coming up...) says in her loudest voice possible to maybe her boyfriend (or whoever is willing to listen), obviously directing her comments at me, "this fucking bitch thinks she can get in my business.  I'm gonna kick her ass".

Whoa.  Warning, warning, warning!!! Trouble.

For those of you who know me, you know I am not the fighting type.  I'm strong but I'm not about to get into a punching match...ever.  Heck, I'm the polar opposite. A peace loving girl who has a hard time even saying no to people.  So it might shock you to know that this is not the first time that I have been in a situation where a girl decided she wanted to beat me up.  Maybe they can sense that I'm an easy target?  I dunno. But the same feelings and thoughts rushed through me just as before: "oh shit.  I'm done for".

That's when my fellow vendor friend, Charles, who was running the booth right next to me stood up for me.  He verbally went after her, and other vendors stepped in too.  She was told not to disrespect vendors, and that she was going to be permanently banned from the market if she didn't leave immediately.  After about 3 minutes of banter and tongue lashings, Miss conflict was on her merry way.  And though we were all a bit frazzled from the events that had just transpired, we all took a sigh of relief.  Security came over and took note of who she was, listened to our stories, and gave me their phone numbers so that if she ever came around again, I could contact them at a moments notice.

After all the drama subsided, I took a minute to reflect on what had happened.  Some other vendors came up to me and said "girl, you shouldn't mess with crazy.  There are some really messed up people down here and its better to just let them be than get involved in what they've got going on".  So for a moment I thought they were right. Better to let crazy, angry people just be.  But then, eventually I came to the conclusion that no!  That's not right. I was happy with the choice I had made.

All of us vendors are like family down at the market, and I couldn't help but defend one of my "co-workers".  Because at the end of the day, I would hope that someone would do the same for me.  And in fact, someone did (Charles).  I think its important to stand up to people who bully others, because rarely do I think that happens to them.  Reality check!  I'm hoping that maybe I made some impact, and maybe...just maybe...she will think twice before she reams into someone like that again.  And if not, at least my fellow vendors know that I have their back and I am standing there with them in a time of need.

Through all this, I couldn't help but think of that TV show, "What Would You Do?"  If you haven't seen an episode or know what I'm talking about, here's a link: http://watchabc.go.com/what-would-you-do/SH5555951 .  Basically the show is about putting people in awkward/unfair situations and seeing how they react when under pressure.  There usually is one person being the actor or actress, and they intentionally create conflict to see if people will let it go and ignore the problem, or if they will stand up and say something.  I know you bloggers probably won't respond to this thread, but at least ask yourself the question in your mind.  You've read my story.  What would you do? Do you think I made the right choice?

Videos - The Tanzanian Life I Lead....

Hey Everybody!

Hope you're enjoying summer.

I just came across these videos on YouTube and had to share.  They're videos of where I lived in Tanzania for approx. half a year.  Now having been home for several months, looking at these videos blows my mind a bit.  I can't believe I was actually there, and that I am so blessed to live the life I live here.

Here's a video of some Tanzanians interviewed about the Rwandan genocide (the subtitles are obviously in English, but the language they're speaking is Kiswahili...what I learned while I was there, or at least attempted to).  The waterfall in the beginning of the video is Rusumo Falls, at the border crossing between Tanzania and Rwanda, one I crossed many, many times.  When you see the river and the hand pulled ferry, I also crossed that way several times to get to the border crossing at Rusumo Falls.  I met foreigners where I lived in Ngara who had lived there since the genocide, and they attested to measuring how bad the violence was in Rwanda by counting the number of bodies that floated down the river per hour. Anyways, here's the video:

And...a video of my town I lived in!  This one's super crazy, because my ex co-worker Pastor appears in one of the shots (at 2:08)  Also crazy because I never in a million years would have thought I could have found a video of Ngara online.  Its so remote, but this is a video from a past volunteer.  This was my city and my life for almost six months:

Enjoy a greater glimpse into my time in Tanzania....

Teacher Appreciation Week/My First Day Subbing

As many of you already know, last week was "Teacher Appreciation Week" here in the United States.  This is a time when teachers receive presents, cards and extra benefits to remind them of how loved they are by their students, parents and co-workers for all their hard work year round.  I'd say that a good third of my closest friends are full time teachers, as well as several family members and I know how hard they work and how dedicated they are to making this world a little better through educating our youth...so I would like to say a big THANK YOU myself!!!

And it just so happens that after 2+ months of paperwork, test taking, and fingerprinting, I officially became a substitute teacher in the Gwinnett County school system here in Georgia last week.  And although I received three separate phone calls/texts from schools Thursday & Friday saying they needed me, I had already been scheduled to sub Friday at the school where my Aunt teaches, North Gwinnett High School.  So I begrudgingly set my alarm Thursday night for 6:25 a.m.....

For those who know me well, mornings are not my "forte" I guess you could say.  Or...you could say I hate 'em.  With a passion.  And I've been lucky enough and spoiled over the past few months here in Georgia that I've been able to get evening work, which allowed me to get ample beauty sleep.  Needless to say, the first hour Friday morning was a bit of a blur, but I was confident knowing when I walked out the door that I at least had deodorant on and had brushed my teeth.  All other "must dos" were left to chance.

My Aunt and I zipped down the street and arrived at the high school around 6:40 a.m. (that's right folks...it doesn't take me long to get ready.  I value my sleep, remember?)  And after a stop at the Java Dog on campus to get coffee, I went to the sub office to get my teaching assignment for the day:  Advanced High School Math.  You might also wonder what my LEAST favorite subject in high school was.  The one that made me crawl under my kitchen counter and bury my knees in my chest while I cried from confusion....

ADVANCED HIGH SCHOOL MATH.

Yep.  So...a little nervous about manning a subject that I loathed but excited about my first shot at being a teacher, I hustled down the hallway to Mr. Moore's room, Room 718.  As I sat down at my desk and started flipping through the sub plan, I had a moment of disbelief.  Wait...I'm going to be teaching high school?!  Damn, am I really that old that I can do that now?  I decided that I would hope for the best and try to be one of those cool younger teachers we had when I went to Newport High...cool enough to be fun and hip and easy to relate to, but serious enough to be respected and listened to.

Math Teacher Miss Letherer.  A little sleepy...

Periods 1-3 went off without a hitch.  The students were on task, very knowledgeable about their assignments and respectful of me as a substitute. The afternoon was an entirely different story.  Somehow 5th period turned into a question & answer about my life history (the most interesting topic to the students being my recent travels in Africa), I was given the wrong room number to switch to by the full time teacher for 6th period and had to wander around until I found the right spot for advanced trig, and then by 7th period the students had given up all together.  They told me that they didn't understand their worksheets, and that their teacher had never taught them "that stuff" before.  Every other student needed to go to the bathroom, get a coat out of their locker, or go to the nurse because they had diabetes (yes, that was one of the excuses).  I did the best that I could to try to be fair and help the students, but I also tried not to let them walk all over me and take advantage of me not knowing what I'm doing.  In 5th period in fact, one student said "hey, are you new here?  I haven't seen you subbing around the school before".  And I decided that instead of saying "yeah, it's my first day ever subbing. Please feel free to walk all over me and take full advantage of my lack of experience and knowledge," to say "yeah...actually from Oregon but I'm just here for a while on my way back from Africa".  See...that's the way the Africa discussion got started in 5th period.  I diverted their attention.  Booya!

So while not much new was learned math-wise in room 718 on Friday, I was able to help a couple of students with their assignments, to my surprise.  And on top of that, I'm fairly certain that I inspired the entire 5th period class to travel abroad in their lifetime...which in my opinion is a more important subject and lesson than any math lesson would ever be.

So that concludes my first day subbing.  Would I do it again?  Yeah, sure...why not? And I might even consider being a full time teacher someday, but obviously in a subject that I am passionate and knowledgeable about. But subbing in Georgia probably won't happen again anytime soon...because I am leaving on a flight back to Oregon in just a few short days.   After weeks of negotiations, I accepted a job offer and a paid flight home that I simply couldn't refuse.  And while I'm leaving sooner than I had hoped, I'm really excited about the opportunity.  I'll be working for my good friend Bryan in Portland for his business, "Chopstick Art".  In sum, he imports recycled chopstick products from China that he has designed himself.  It's super cool, and he's a rad guy, so I'm pretty stoked to get started.  I'll be working in Portland and Seattle for him this summer, as well as teaching at a dance school in Portland, "Studio One Dance Academy"....and have interviews lined up at other dance schools as well.  Here are the websites for my new jobs, if you'd like to check 'em out:

www.chopstickart.com
www.studio1dance.net

The hardest part about this transition by far for me will be leaving my family down here in Atlanta.  My Aunt has bent over backwards to help me acquire work, make me feel welcome and ensure I have a good time.  And she has put me up in a time of transition when it really would have been extremely difficult otherwise to get back on my feet.  She really has given more than she should of or needed to, and no words or expressions of gratitude could ever repay her.  In addition, I have become best friends with my cousin Megan.  She & I are 7 years apart in age, and the age difference until now has been just enough that we couldn't relate to one another.  Nor did we ever spend enough time together to get to know one another.  Now we're like 2 peas in a pod.  And...the three of us...my Aunt, myself and my cousin, are all teaching dance together here in Atlanta, and I think we've really hit a rhythm, so it will be very hard to let that go.  This Saturday is the grand finale...our end of the year dance show, and then I fly out to Oregon the next morning at 10 a.m. and start working in Portland the same day.  It will be a whirlwind of people, celebrations and emotions, to say the least.

My Aunt, Cousin Megan & I

But what I've learned if anything from this year is to follow my heart and to do what feels best...and to be honest, the offers that I received in Portland were ones I couldn't pass up.  I just feel a pull of opportunity dragging me back to my home state.  That being said, I feel very blessed to have several back up options here in Atlanta if I chose to return.  And who knows?  I've been away from Oregon for 9 months.  Maybe I'll return home, take a deep sigh and say "oh yeah...I missed this. This is where I belong".  Or maybe I'll arrive and be reminded of why I left in the first place.  Who's to say?  But, one thing I do know is that I will never know if I don't go back home.  And....the great thing about life is that you always have the power to change your mind (and location), as long as you understand that wherever you go, there are endless possibilities and options that you can create for yourself.

OK loyal blog followers...this is it for a bit.  The next few weeks are going to be jam packed full of goodbyes and hellos.  So enjoy the close of Spring and the start of Summer, and I will try to write again when I feel so inspired :)  Take good care and see some of you near & dear Oregonians very soon! :)

Twilight, Cracker Barrel, Croakies & Koozies...

Howdy Y'all!  (hehehe...I can't resist)

Another post comin' atcha from HOTlanta (which, ironically is unfortunately not very hot today.  It's cloudy and 62 and kinda reminds me of the Oregon coast, where I grew up. Hopin' that changes soon.....)

But, I digress.  Back to the happenings of this weekend. I had a really fun weekend jam packed full of activities.  Friday night, my Aunt hosted a WomenCraft party, where I was able to talk about my trip and sell WomenCraft products.  Even though speaking in public about myself is one of my top 5 most hated things to do, I think it went over well.  Talking about my experience in Tanzania made me realize how much I've really learned from the whole experience, and I was happy that I could squash some misconceptions people had about Africa.  Lots of questions were asked and products bought, so I felt like it was a very successful event! Thanks Auntie!

Then, later that night my cousin Megan & I went to Athens, Georgia (just over an hour's drive South of Sugarhill, where I'm currently living).  This was my not my first, but rather second trip to Athens.  According to this website, Athens is home to R.E.M. & the B52's, and is the #1 college music scene in America: http://www.visitathensga.com/

However...I haven't ever seen live music during my time there.  What I can attest to is that it is the home of the University of Georgia, and has also been #1 on the list of "top party school's in the country" many years running.  So...you can imagine the scene.  A really hip, funky town with a bunch of college kids. And this past weekend marked the close of the school year and Twilight, which made it extra fun.  Twilight is a festival where there are continuous bike races rallying through the center of downtown all day long, with beer tents and kegs lining the streets at night.  Reminded me so much of home/Oregon! Here's more about Twilight, if you're interested: http://www.athenstwilight.com/

And during my weekend in Athens, I started to soak in and recognize more differences between the South & the North. For starters, I have three things listed here:

#1: Koozies & Croakies:  If you're from Oregon, most likely when you hear those two words you will say "huh?"   I know...I hadn't heard them either before I came to the South.  Koozies & Croakies are fashionable accessories: one for your beer, and one for your sunglasses.  In my experience, they have been things that I've only seen rolling around in my parents kitchen drawers that we used to use when we went camping during my childhood, and only then.  If you used these in the NorthWest today, during a regular get together, it would be obvious that you were trying to be alternative/humerous, and stick out from the norm.  Here, they're cool, and they are in style.  And everybody uses them. I might just start rockin' 'em when I get home...

#2: Restaurant Menus: Yeah, I can't get over the things that I see regularly on a food menu here that we rarely see on menus in the NorthWest.  For example, I went to the popular chain restaurant in Georgia this weekend called Cracker Barrel...and the menu wasn't the only thing new & different to me.  How to describe it? I'd say you could mix the restaurant IHOP with the Ripley's Believe It or Not gift shop, and put them in the same room and you'd be good to go.  It's every grandma's dream.  A store mixed with useless trinkets and loads of canned goods and candy, along with a restaurant menu that I couldn't stop giggling at.  As their tagline states, "Visit Cracker Barrel Restaurant & Old Country Store, where pleasing people with our delicious homestyle cooking & gracious service defines our country spirit".  I wanted to buy one of their many items with the American flag on it, but the saying and image I loved the most I could only find on a dish rag and not on a t-shirt...so I had to pass for the time being.  Here's their website, if you would like to shop yourself: http://www.crackerbarrel.com/  

Cracker Barrel has two menus, one for breakfast & one for lunch/dinner.  Since we arrived at the restaurant at 3pm, I took a gander at both.  The food items I found on them that were not typical finds in the NorthWest included grits (a staple here, which I actually really like), hashbrown casserole, fried apples, fried chicken livers and spicy farm raised catfish. But...my personal favorite was their new "Eggs-In-The-Basket".  It's really too amazing to put into words, so I've found an image to share with you folks:

Yep, that's right!  Eggs IN the toast!  (or in their basket, I suppose).  Why didn't I think of that?  Genius.  And what's even better is those two round center slices cut out of toast that they include on the side.  A real treat. Dip 'em in jam and you're good to go! Someone at our table did order this, and it looks exactly like how its pictured here.  I myself opted for the Old Timer's Breakfast, which was equally appetizing to the eyes and mouth.

#3: Droppin' the "G":  If you haven't noticed, even MY writing has changed.  All the time here, people drop the "G" on the end of words.  For example: "I was headin' to the store for some bakin' supplies when the parkin' attendant stopped me".  This is true not only for spoken word, but also for hand written signs and menus.  Hearing it verbally was something that I expected, but to have it actually written down in formal settings makes me giggle.  It's not considered to be improper English, but rather just the "norm".  If you decide to take a look at the Cracker Barrel menu through the website I listed above, you will see exactly what I mean.

Well...that's all for now!  As I come across more differences I will possibly edit this blog post to include them, so keep checkin' back.  Y'all have a great week, and I'll be postin' again real soon!

Dad's Visit to Africa, Part 1: Ngara, Tanzania

This story is...2 months overdue or so...but better late than never, right? I'm inspired to write today, so I hope you're inspired to read!  This is the first part of my story about my dad's visit to Africa.  Part 1 will take place in Ngara - where I lived for 5 months.  Part 2 will be about our time in Rwanda, where we went on safari and took in the big city life.  Here....we....go.....

I am now back in the states, but as you all know from my blog, my dad came to visit me in Africa on February 1st.  For your first time off the continent of North America, that's a pretty big leap to head to rural Africa.  The average person would more likely choose a cruise to Europe or something like that to ease themselves into international travel.  But, not my dad.  He just so happened to have a daughter who wanted to travel to one of the most remote areas of the world, and he was determined to share the experience with her.

Edson (my co-worker and our company driver), Hilary (my co-everything) and I made the early trek from Ngara, Tanzania to Kigali, Rwanda that morning to pick my dad up from the airport.  The first part of our drive was treacherous, to say the least. The massive rainfall had made our "shortcut" road very sketchy, and we swerved and slid in the mud for a good hour before we hit pavement.  At least 5 times during that part of the drive, I said to myself in one way or another "ok...so when the jeep tips over to the left and we crash, I'm gonna pull myself over towards the driver side of the vehicle by grasping the edge of the seat like so....."  Thanks to the quality of the jeep and the incredible talent of our driver Edson, we made it safely to the border and were on our way to the big city.

It being my fifth month in Tanzania, I knew my company well, and knew Edson to be reliably late.  So...I told him that my dad's flight was arriving an hour earlier than it really was...and we were actually early to the airport!  The three of us sat in the lounge area, at Bourbon Cafe, and enjoyed gourmet coffees.  After our 4+ hour trip to Kigali, and a caffeine boost, we were all feeling a bit antsy.  Hilary excused herself to the bathroom, while Edson decided to head outside to chat with some friends.  I looked at the clock on my cell phone after a minute or so.  15 minutes til dad's arrival.  Waiting, waiting, waiting.  I was used to that.  But then, I looked up, and to my surprise saw him walking through the arrival gates.  I was watching Hilary & Edson's stuff at the booth we were posted at, and paused for a minute not knowing if I should move or not.  "Dad!" I shouted.  He turned and saw me, and as soon as I saw his face emotions overcame me.  I rushed out of the booth and ran into his arms, both of us bursting into tears.  I had been so isolated for so long that it felt wonderful not only seeing someone new and familiar, but also someone who had known me for my whole life and knew who I really was, inside and out.

Soon after our tearful embrace, we reunited with my co-workers and were on our way back to Ngara.  We had to make it back to the border before it closed.  We arrived back at the WomenCraft headquarters late, and my dad was completely exhausted after his 48 hour journey.  I got him acquainted with the house, and we all went to sleep.

The next five days were jam packed with activities. We headed to the orphanage for street boys for him to watch me teach my hip hop class and for him to make balloon animals for the boys.  We spent time hiking in the hills behind my home.  And...dad visited the artisan groups with us to give vision exams to the women.  Well...technically he didn't do it.  We brought along a local optometrist assistant and she administered the exams while dad gave her advice.

One of my favorite parts about my dad's visit was seeing my experience through his eyes.  He was in awe and surprised by things that I had considered normal at that point.  He took lots of photos of my normal day to day activities that weren't typical by US standards, but I considered just to be a part of my lifestyle.  These photos for the most part were taken by Shannon (another co-worker of mine) or my dad, although a few are mine.  Enjoy seeing my journey through the eyes of others...

Boys at the Nazerete Orphanage admiring dad, and his fancy toys: sunglasses & camera.

Me teaching the baby freeze.  This was the boys' favorite move, and they all got it so quickly!

Teaching choreography.  Dirty shirt and face from rolling around on the ground.

Sister Nicole announcing to the boys that this is my dad.

Teaching the boys how to make balloon animals...

En garde!  A sword.

Happy participants.  Probably was their first time ever seeing a balloon...

Eye exams at our first group, Gichacha.  The optometrist assistant is giving the exam, while dad assists.

Eye exams for the first time ever....

for women who really need it...

My dad is a 3rd generation optometrist, and he said that these lenses they used for exams in Tanzania were like something his grandfather used many, many years ago...

Checking vision improvement with the use of the WomenCraft baskets.

Dad noticed these glasses were crooked on her face, so he adjusted them so she could be more comfortable.

As you can see, she was very pleased with her improved sight.  She said something in Swahili, and Pastor (my co-worker) turned to my dad and translated what she said.  "She said that she is so happy she can see her weaving clearly now, that she's skipping lunch today so she can continue working".  Tears welled up in my dad's eyes and all he could do was nod, and then walk away for a few minutes to gain composure.  He'd been administering eye exams for 30+ years  in the states, but he could really see the big impact he made in every artisan's life here in Ngara...

In places where artisans met and didn't have shelter, I held the eye exam chart.  Dad trained Hilary & Pastor (the social impact team) on how to administer exams, so that they could continue after he left and distribute glasses as necessary...

Seeing the children as we toured from village to village was always one of my favorite parts.  Pastor was adored by all the kids.

This was our last stop of the day on Route Week, and while the artisan group was not there, this little boy was.  He was dancing outside his house and my dad took a video of him & I dancing together.  Here he is watching himself, without question for the first time on film.  He couldn't stop dancing and smiling...and neither could dad.

This is what our walk into town (Ngara) looked like.  About 5 km from Murgwanza, where I lived.

Buying fruit & veggies at the local market in Ngara.  We did this several times a week.  Hilary is most likely swatting a fly away from her face...

Besides walking on foot, our other option for transportation was to hail a taxi...or otherwise known as a motorcycle to us.  "Piki piki" is what they say in Tanzania.  My dad loved taking the motorcycles home.  Here, my motorcycle driver is giving me change.  The typical cost for a ride from town to Murgwanza is 1500 shillings, or approx. $1 USD.

Groups of kids often follow you around, curious to see a white person in their neck of the woods.

Hiking in the hills behind our house

Children do a lot of hard labor, and carrying sticks to make fires is one of the many tasks they perform.  These kids followed us up to the house and....

...had the special treat of having balloon animals made for them.  It was rather amusing to see them head down to their piles of sticks with balloon animal hats on their heads.  They looked puzzled at each other and thought "wait a second...how am I going to do this?" The balloon animal hats won out, however, and they carried their sticks under their arms.

This was my office and desk at WomenCraft.

Ernestina, our WomenCraft Director, wearing her full kitenge traditional wear as always.

The vision team, giving more exams.

And to finish out the week/evening in Ngara, we stopped by "Garden Pause"...a popular local bar. Cheers!

Video: Nazerete Orphanage for Street Boys - Hip Hop Circle Time

I posted this video on my Facebook page yesterday, but for those of you who don't have Facebook or aren't connected to me through it, I wanted to make sure to share this video with you too.  I've written so much about my hip hop class at Nazerete Orphanage for Street Boys here on the blog that you know the scene well...and now you get to see it live!

This is a video of our "circle time" at the end of our 4th hip hop class, which my dad recorded when he came to visit me (you can hear him at the end of the video say "whoa! nice moves"....lol). Circle time is when the boys get to demonstrate to me what they've learned in class.  Such talented kids!  The boy in the pink pants even gets up the courage to perform the choreography I taught them.  I love them so much and this video always makes me smile so big when I watch it.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

These kids truly have nothing, and they appreciate every little thing so much.  We could all learn something from them....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-p09ZKPXWg

The Apparel Mart, Dancin', and Subbin'...Oh My!

When I decided to come to Atlanta, I had a few objectives in mind:

1. Spend time with my family (Aunt, Uncle & cousins)

2. Figure out next steps in life

3. Make & save up as much money as possible teaching dance and working odd end jobs here and there.

So far, I've been doing pretty good accomplishing all three of those things, and this last week I really hit #3 hard.  Last Tuesday-Sunday, I worked the Apparel Mart, smack dab in the middle of downtown Atlanta.  I got connected to this job through a mutual friend of my Aunt's.  With my background working trade shows, I had experience that many other candidates did not.  And after a short phone interview with the Michael & Paula Hyman showroom, I was hired for the job.

Here's the Apparel Mart's website, if you're interested in seeing where I was at: http://www.americasmart.com/apparel

I was to show and model designer clothing, and more specifically I was asked to rep a brand called "Tulle".  Being back in sales and back in the trade show atmosphere was a breath of fresh air and so familiar to me.  I really felt like I was in my element.  And I absolutely loved being downtown in the midst of the hustle and bustle of city life.  However, I simultaneously felt totally out of place.  My hand made kitenge shoulder bag from Tanzania stood out like a sore thumb in the break room, lined up next to the finest Gucci and Prada purses available.  And my Danskos and hoodie hardly fit in with the more popular cowboy boots and button up silk tops.  But...I did my best to blend in and make friends.  And by the end of the show, I even mustered up the courage to forcefully throw out a "y'all" every once in a while when conversing with a customer.

One of the most stark contrasts between here and the Northwest is the influence and importance of religion, mainly being Christian.  Almost everyone goes to church, and its rare to hear someone challenge a view point of someone who has strong Christian beliefs, because here everyone thinks very similarly.  On Sunday, for example, when I arrived at the show, my co-worker Lindsay came up to me and said "hey....is there, like, a meeting going on across the hall or something? There are a whole bunch of people gathered over in that showroom...along with some of our co-workers".  I didn't have a clue but after five tiring show days and it only being just past 8:00 am, I honestly didn't care to investigate.  About an hour later, another co-worker of mine, Annie, struck up conversation with me:

"Oh, I'm SO glad that they had a church service over there in that showroom," she said.

"I'm sorry...what?" I said.

"Oh yeah.  They brought a pastor in and he gave a service so that people who had to be at the mart wouldn't miss out.  Isn't that wonderful?" exclaimed Annie in her cheery, energetic way.

"Oh wow," I said.  "That would never happen in Oregon.  I....don't go to church".

And just like that, our conversation was over. Neither of us had insulted the other, but it was clear that our lives centered around different beliefs.  So far from what I've seen here in the South, church & state are intertwined...and apparently so is church & fashion.

This year I have worn so many different hats and have been to so many different places that I have learned a lot about what I like, and what I really don't.  And over the past week I have realized that tried and true, I am a Northwest girl.  I miss drinking beers out of a mason jar, seeing hipsters walking down the streets wearing beanies and having to jump out of the way of bicyclists trying to make it on time to work.  I really miss quality NW coffee, fresh organic food, the smell of the ocean, and just being around people that make an effort to be...well...different from the norm!

On the other hand, I have to say that I will miss many things about the South, and sometimes I wonder if I'm crazy for wanting to go home.  People here (overall) are so very warm, friendly and welcoming.  I feel like even though I've only been here for a month and a half, I have a network of friends and a great support system, and that feels really nice.  The generosity people have shown to me is overwhelming...whether it be giving me rides to the metro, inviting me over for dinners, or simply wanting to sit down and share a moment to talk story.  And..."the weather here ain't bad neither".  Today the high is projected to be a balmy 82.

Now that the mart's over, I'm busy putting my entire focus back on dance.  I'm not only teaching with my Aunt's dance school now, but I also have private lessons lined up which are paying quite nicely and are highly rewarding.  Working one on one with dancers really gives me the time and focus to help them work on their strengths and weaknesses individually, and give them my full and undivided attention.  I hope to continue doing soloist work when I get back to Oregon.  I am also busy choreographing a hip hop routine for the end of the year show for my Aunt's school here in Atlanta.  My cousin & I will be dancing it together.  It's to the song "Wild for the Night" by A$AP Rocky.  If you're not into profanity, I wouldn't suggest looking it up. But...if you've ever danced hip hop with me before, you've gotta check out this song!  The beat is siiiiiiick!  And...if you'd like to see the choreo I've got so far...take a peek: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKmIjNrLvrA

I've also just finished up my application and testing process for substitute teaching in the Gwinnett County School District here.  My Aunt works for North Gwinnett HS, and as soon as my application goes through, she thinks I'll be a shoe in to sub regularly for the next month.  Apparently their French teacher is out with a sick child for a while, and I am crossing my fingers I'll get to be in that classroom.  I am excited about this opportunity because I have always been interested in becoming a full-time high school teacher, but have never had the chance to try it out.  And while I have never been the head teacher in a high school, I have taught as the head teacher in pre-school and also in the dance studio for many years, so I don't think it will be too much of an adjustment.  However during part of my studying yesterday, there was a section called "other management suggestions", and #11 said "notice if a student has a pen without an ink cartridge.  It might be used as a spit ball thrower...."

Great.  Can't wait to get started.

So that's it for now!  Spring is in full swing and so are my allergies, but besides that I'm healthy, and very, very happy.  Hope the same goes for you!

Hugs & Love from the Dirty South....

Successify!!!

I ran across this blog the other day via Facebook, and I found it really inspirational. So...I wanted to share it with all of my blog readers. This video and blog post is ESPECIALLY inspiring and thought provoking:

http://successify.net/2013/03/22/what-if-money-was-no-object/

Enjoy :)

Wobble & Wop!

I got back into the states just over two weeks ago now and if you think going from a developing country to the states is a change of pace...try going from a developing country to the dirty south!  Everyone keeps asking me if I have culture shock, but really it hasn't been that bad.  It was way harder going from India to Tanzania then going from Tanzania to Atlanta, because everything here feels familiar. Every once in a while I get REALLY excited about something that I realize I haven't had in such a very long time...like a root beer float or wearing high heels.  I think in general, its just nice to be able to rely on people and things and to know that they'll function like what I'm used to!

The day after I arrived in Atlanta, my entire family had to go to work.  But...my Aunt gave me the keys to her truck, and the instructions on how to get to Wal-Mart.  Whoa.  Driving was interesting...since it had been 6+ months since I'd done that, but on top of that going into Wal-Mart was overwhelming.  I just stood in the clothing section for 5 minutes, not knowing what to do.  I felt like I wanted one of everything, but also needed nothing.  Boy, do we live a charmed life in the states.  Going from one of the poorest regions in the world to Wal-Mart?  That will throw anyone for a loop.  So I got myself out of the clothing area as quickly as possible and found myself some shampoo and chocolates.

I've now traded in my "wewe" (meaning "you" in Swahili) for "y'all", and have easily found my groove and sweet spot here in Atlanta, which to no one's surprise is dance.  Apart from teaching dance classes during the week, I've also been enjoying the Atlanta nightlife.  Dance in Atlanta is not only a past time, but it seems to me that it is an integral part of the culture.

My dance friends would feel like they died and went to heaven going out dancing here.  Why?  Well I'll tell ya.  You know how they have country line dancing for songs in the Midwest?  Well the equivalent is true here in Atlanta for hip hop.  You go into the club, and everyone knows the same dance to the same song.  Heck, my Uncle even knows the dances!  For some reason they all start with the letter "W"...like "the wobble".  I felt out of place at first, but it hasn't taken me too long to learn the steps.  Everyone here was in shock that I didn't know what was going on. "You don't know the wobble??!!!"

So...to my dear dance friends in the Northwest, this one's for you.  I'll be teaching y'all these dances when I get back up North, but you can start practicing now.  Here's a couple versions of your first little number, "The Wop":

A couple southern girls breakin' it down:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AdZhZnGo98

A hip hop dance class:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GClFcBg4nU

So...when the weekend rolls around, you can envision me "wopping" and "wobbling" to my hearts content with my cousin.  And...hopefully in no time, you'll be joining in too!

Final Thoughts from Africa...

It's 9am and I'm sitting here in the dining area at the hostel "Heaven" which I have stayed at many times in Kigali before, but now will be the last time (well...at least for a while).  I just said good-bye to Hilary, my fellow American and co-worker who I worked with, played with, traveled with...that I pretty much was with 24/7 for the past 4 1/2 months (she's heading back to Murgwanza but flying out in a week and a half.  Declined her contract offer with WomenCraft too).  Behind me on this open terrace is a tree, weighed down and heavy from its abundance of avocados, waiting to ripen.  There are also tons of palm trees, lizards, and song birds.  And while the sky is hazy over the big city, you can see that the clouds are soon to break.

For those of you who know me well and have been in regular contact with me, you know that my time here has been very trying.  Murgwanza, in all of its beauty, is very remote and isolating, and every day my patience and personality felt tested to the limit.  But...I wouldn't trade a minute of it.  I believe that pushing my personal boundaries every day has made me a stronger and more conscious person, and for that I am happy.  So as I am about to embark on a big change heading to Atlanta, I feel more excited and optimistic than sad and pensive.  That being said, I did see a lot of Tanzania and Rwanda, and while Murgwanza won't be somewhere I pine over, I will miss Africa.  And...I think I'll be back.  I've made many contacts and connections here, and on this beautiful continent there are so many mysteries and adventures yet to be had.

My last few weeks have been full of good-byes and celebrations.  We had a good-bye party for me at our Retreat House, which was mostly attended by muzungus but also some local staff.  Then, there was a good-bye celebration at the orphanage where I had been teaching dance (we shared coca-colas with the kiddos, and they prepared a thank-you speech for me and showed me some of their local Tanzanian song and dance).  Then last but not least, there was a good-bye party at WomenCraft, where I was given a specially designed basket, made by Genevia from our Motomoto weaver group, and we had cake to celebrate.  While I feel more than ready to move on from Murgwanza, I sure do wish I could take all the people with me...

Then, there was a surprise fun twist to the end of my time here.  Several weeks ago when I had brought my dad back to Kigali for his flight, we had lunch at a hot muzungu spot in town called the "Burbon Cafe".  While we were enjoying a drink, a girl approached us.  She had noticed my dad's Oregon shirt, and she said "hey...are you from Oregon?  You know, I graduated from the University of Oregon".  Of course this sparked conversation, and wouldn't you know it, her name was Kiah (for those of you who don't know, that is also my dog's name back home...Kaya. Ironic).  Anyways, we exchanged pleasantries and I gave her my WomenCraft business card, inviting her to come visit anytime she like.

And...she did.

She emailed me 3 days before I was to leave Murgwanza, saying she wanted to come.  And I said "well, if you want to you better do it...oh...tomorrow...cause I'm leaving soon!"  We went hiking in the hills of Tanzania, and she sat and learned to weave with our artisans.  She then came to Kigali with Hilary & I, and we've spent the past few days eating amazing food, going to a concert at the stadium here in town, and shopping.  We've even come to find we have several mutual friends back at home in Oregon.  How small the world can be!  She's staying at another hostel, but she will be coming by here in the next hour or so to have brunch with me and to run a few last minute errands.  Such an odd transition that my last few hours in Africa will be spent with another Oregon alum (who is super fun and cool, BTW).

So...this is my last post from Africa, and friends...you're in for a real treat.  I have a surprise for you, and no one was more surprised by it than me.  If you've been a loyal blog reader, you will remember my post "I'm Going, Going...Back, Back...to Kigali, Kigali".  If not, go read it first and then come back.

One of my favorite things in Africa, and one thing I will miss the most is seeing the t-shirts here.  The most random, silly t-shirts that people are wearing around, having not a clue what they mean.  I always get a good laugh from them.  And...in part of my post about Kigali, I wrote about our first bus ride from the border, and how on the bus there was a guy wearing an especially awesome t-shirt.

So a few days ago, Hilary, Kiah & I crossed the Tanzanian/Rwandan border, and as we did we reminisced about previous crossings.  And as we were reminiscing, Hilary & I remembered the fabulous t-shirt we saw on our first bus ride into Rwanda: "Q: What girl does Jesus love? A: This girl".  We had talked about it ever since, and Hilary even made me a laminated bookmark with the saying on it, since she knew how much I loved it.  As I turned to tell the story to Kiah, I looked out the window and saw not only the same ticket taker guy on the same bus...but he was wearing the SAME t-shirt!!!  Here was my missed photo-op about to happen.  The final missing piece.  We jumped out of the car and snapped a few shots, which I am going to share with you now.

Kiah & I with our favorite (well...my favorite) bus ticket taker.  Which girl does Jesus love?  I forget....

Oh yeah!  This girl!!!!

So...that's a wrap folks!  I'm not going to say anything sappy or profound.  The sun's coming out and I've got last minute things to do.  But...thank you for reading and following!  And..the next post will be from the grand ol' US of A!

Next Stop: HOTlanta!

Hello Wonderful Blog Readers!

Sorry to keep you hangin'.  I've been busy!  My dad was here for 10 days, and we had a wonderful visit.  For the first five days, we were in Tanzania.  He loved shooting around town on the motorcycles with me, visiting the orphanage, and doing vision trainings/exams with our artisans.  For the last five days, we headed to Rwanda, where we went on safari and spent time in the big city, Kigali.  It was refreshing to have him visit to say the least, and I have a grip of amazing photos and stories!  I will share them soon.

Dad & I with one of our artisans from the Gichacha group, with her new scissors.  I told dad that our artisans were in dire need of scissors, so he brought scissors with him from the states (donated by his church) to give to our artisan groups.  People at the church were so generous that he had too many to fit in his suitcase, so a box is in the mail and on its way to WomenCraft as well.  Thank you donors!  Now these ladies can cut their kitenge for product fabrication with more precision and greater ease.

But for now, the big announcement: I'm leaving the Tanz!  Just a few days after dad's visit, I received my official job offer from WomenCraft to be their Sales, Marketing & Product Development Manager.  After some discussion and negotiation, for various reasons, I declined.  It is a disappointment as I am in LOVE with WomenCraft and whole heartedly support their mission, but I also have to think about my future and my career.  There is still the possibility of working remotely for WomenCraft in the future from the states, so we'll see where this story goes.  But for now, its time for me to get back and make some moolah.

Next stop on adventurama: Atlanta!  I'm heading there to teach dance, etc.  I leave Tanzania March 1st, so its coming up soon!  I'm spending my next 10 days here soaking up and giving back as much as I can.  I've learned a bit of Swahili, improved my French, and have learned a lot about the import market. And as much as I feel very ready to leave Murgwanza and to stop living like "Sound of Music" style, hanging out with the goats, I will truly miss the people.  Especially my co-workers at WomenCraft and my dance students at the orphanage.  What great memories and times I have with them that I will treasure forever (oh...and my dad took a video of my dance class while he was here!  I can't post it from here, because the internet is too slow, but I'm hoping to get it up when I get to Atlanta.  A little insight into these amazingly talented kids!)

That being said, I still have a lot of stories and insights from my time here in Tanzania and India to share with you.  So...the blog might become a mix of lots of different things.  We'll see what happens!  If there's anything you'd like to know about India or Tanzania or Rwanda that I haven't covered here yet, please let me know! Otherwise, you will most likely be seeing safari photos, balloon animal creations from dad's visit to Nazerete, a story about women in developing countries and how bad ass they are, and of course a little dance video.

Take care everyone & a bientot!

WomenCraft is NOW on Etsy!

Whew!  Well...my dad arrives here in 3 days, so I am busy preparing for his arrival.  He is going to bring his optometry, astronomy and magician skills to Ngara, and help to improve the lives of our artisans through eye care and wow the orphanage kids with his balloon animals!  I really, really can't wait.  I can't wait to show my dad how I've been living here and to share his first travel abroad experience with him.

So needless to say, I've been planning for his arrival and have not been concentrating on blog posts.  Also, I've been busy being productive at work!  Which leads me to this exciting announcement....

WomenCraft is NOW on Etsy!

Yep, I got us up last week.  It is the first online shop that WomenCraft has ever had, and for now we're exclusively shipping to the United States!  I am still working on getting products uploaded (as you know with the internet speed/reliability here, it is not an easy task.  Especially since we've been having crazy thunder storms lately), so we have not yet made the Etsy store public.  But...we will be unveiling it very soon. You blog readers get the first sneak peek glance!

Please take a look, shop, and share the link with your friends and family!  I'd also appreciate your feedback, if there are things you think I could improve:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WomenCraftTanzania

Oh...and while you're at it, if you haven't yet "liked" our Facebook page, please do so! I created it and am the voice behind it, so I'd really appreciate your support.  And again, if you can encourage your friends and family to "like" it too, then we can spread the message of WomenCraft even further:

http://www.facebook.com/womencraft.org

OK - well I'm going to be incognito for a few weeks, but I'm sure to have a great post and photos to share after my dad's trip.  Thanks again for your continued support and happy shopping!

Chakula Kitamu Sana! That Was Delicious!

Whoa.  My past few posts have been kinda heavy, so I'm going to lighten it up a bit and talk about something everybody loves to talk about: Food!

Before I came to Tanzania, I was debriefed on some of the foods I would be eating during my time here.  Ugali, rice pilau, and cucumber salad just to mention a few.  I had these dishes prepared for me, and even made them for some of my family and friends.  And all of these, I was told, I would be eating with my hands.

NOT true people.  I've had ugali once out at a restaurant in Kahama because I specifically searched it out and wanted to try it, had rice pilau a handful of times at home, and cucumber salad last night at a muzungu party in town.  And while I have eaten with my hands a couple of times here, more often than not restaurants - even in Ngara - seem to have utensils at your disposal.  So Cleven, I know that you were looking out for me trying to teach me the local ways, but things here in Tanzania are a-changin'!

Granted, the life we have here at the Retreat House in Murgwanza is not the same lifestyle the locals lead.  But...all the same, we eat many of the same local staples, including:  plantains (which they call "food bananas" here), potatoes, rice, beans, mandasi (google it), chapati, and bread.  Basically anything with carbs goes here.

Here are a few of my FAVORITES, which I will miss so much when I return back to the states:

CHIPS MAYAI (in English?  Eggs & Fries)

Have you ever considered putting FRENCH FRIES in your eggs?  Well, you should.  It's delicious!  And Hilary and I jump at every chance to eat it...in town, at our house, or wherever we are.  Sometimes people put hot sauce on it, and sometimes fresh veggies...like onions and tomatoes.  No matter how you dress it, it's simple, cheap (about $1 USD out at a restaurant), and tasty.

SAMBUSAS

Sambusas are made in a variety of ways.  These scrumptious little pastries are sometimes filled with meat, or sometimes veggies.  If you're buying them off the side of a bus, it's anybody's guess!  But my favorite kind are the kind filled only with rice.  There are two young girls who sell these at the Saturday Market in town, and every Saturday like clockwork I go and buy some from them.  The first time I did, my Swahili was so bad and I was so unfamiliar with the pricing that I ended up buying 30 of them, on accident.  Luckily, we had a potluck that night and I was able to share. I however no longer get "muzungu'd", meaning these girls now know what I want and give them to me at a fair, local price. (10 of these tasty treats cost 500 shillings, which is about $.33 USD).

ROASTED CORN

In addition to piki pikis (motorcycles) waiting for someone who needs a ride and the occasional stray dog or goat, there are corn vendors lining the streets in Tanzania.  These people sit on the side of the road, roasting corn over an open fire BBQ.  It's not sweet like corn at home.  In fact, to me, its more like eating popcorn on a stick. But...when you're wandering around town, its a great roadside snack.  One of these suckers will set you back 300 shillings (um...$.20 USD?)

What say you?  That lady is Indian?  True.  I cheated.  Sorry!  They do the same thing in India and I do not have a picture yet of the corn folks here.  I'll work on it.

Besides that, I will really miss the fresh local fruits and veggies...avocados and mangoes the most.  And...avocado pineapple juice is something they make from scratch occasionally here at the Retreat House, and it is super good!  I will miss that as well.

Overall, food in Tanzania is basic.  No fancy sauces and dishes don't change all that often (some volunteers I know in town working for other organizations, for example, eat the same thing for every meal).  But all in all, I love it.  With my high metabolism, a carb filled diet is right up my alley.  And knowing that 100% of the food comes from a local source (unlike at home) makes me feel even better about consuming it.

I know that some of my readers have been to Tanzania before.  If you have, please share your experience!  How did you find the food here and what were your favorites?  I'd love to hear from you.