Meeting My Host Family - Day 8
the 18th was spent in language training, wandering around the grounds, etc. there were two weddings on site at the center. really cool/funny to see. i think both families were very well off.
woke up on the 19th to have a breakfast and then load up the old charter bus for the road from dar to morogoro. i had one of those whoa moments taking the bus out of the grounds and into the “real world.” bikes, motorcycles, crowded buses, people walking everywhere, african music playing. very surreal moment. felt it. we got to a place in morogoro about three hours later called CCT. christian. saw a world vision truck or two. great lunch, language lessons, and then we loaded up a land cruiser to get dropped off at our host families.
it is a very awkward but funny experience, being introduced to your family. i don’t think i’ll forget it. the day was a bit uncomfortable, but that is given. it was only a few hours of visiting, but it was more than enough to make it awkward. we are all trying our best, though. the warnings and cultrual training they gave before i arrived at the house made me unsure, or just very aware, of what i was and wasn’t doing, as to not upset them. fortunately, the baba is not very strict and isn’t an observant religious person, so rules were a bit more lax.
i mostly talked with baba that nite, explaining michigan, watching their tv. mama asked me to play guitar after dinner so i did for them. heart of gold and let it be. why? i dunno. her cooking is very good, and i love the food so far. for the most part. that nite i had trouble sleeping. i woke up during the nite, asking myself what i was doing there, not thinking i could make it all 2 years. i missed my girlfriend and home.
the 20th began with the call to prayer outside my window, waking me up early. it was a hard day in general. i took my malaria dawa before breakfast and it upset my stomach, so i couldn’t eat their chakula. i left, assuming i would throw up. all day i was sad and depressed. i was really wanting to cash it in and head home. that made me decide i needed a phone asap. we had studies at morogoro secondary for the first time. the days feel long. usually something in the morning, chai, something, lunch, languageeeeeeee, home at 5p. up at 6ish. can’t help it with all the noise outside.
after morosec we got a ride back to our neighborhood. steve and i decided to take a walk up the road and find the town, not necessarily allowed, but we’re grown ass men. we walked in the wrong direction, but it was beautiful nonetheless. this area is amazing, and i still get taken aback by it. it was fun for us to greet locals and just walk around, not be constrained by my house or school. that nite, with my family, talking was way easier, perhaps because i felt more comfortable and at ease, expecting what was coming. avocado was served for the first time at this meal, and it was the best avo i ever had. guitar after dinner again, a bit of chating with the kids, then to my room to iron my clothes and for some nice alone time.
