Yesterday was classic Tanzania. I sauntered around town (one big street with a few side streets) bargaining for vegetables (3 avocados for 30 cents!) and buying enough snickers bars to keep me mentally stable for the next week. I get to my bus about 1 hr early to buy a ticket and secure a good seat.
Christie and I sit on a bunch at the standi and start chatting about this and that when I see my bus rolling down the street. Yes, actually rolling. There were three men running and pushing down the main road. Okay, weird. I wasn't worried it was leaving without me as I'm certain there are laws of physics dictating no African bus can ever leave on time. About 30 minutes later it was being rolled back into the lot. I boarded at 1, with a hopeful 1:15 departure. What I saw was ominous at best. The entire bottom of the front of the bus was missing and men were all over head to toe filthy using makeshift tools. No big deal, I'll sit next to the old, blind man and read my book. 2pm passes, 2:30, 3. No closer to take off. At this point, I'm hungry. Howveer, it's a rule that whatever you eat you must share on a bus. I barely trust where my own hands have been let alone those of my fellow bus patrons. I keep reading and trying not to be a type-A mzungu by keeping the distressed sighs to a minimum.
I finally get off the bus at 3:30 pm and say I'll come back tomorrow. There was something about riding in a bus that took 3 + hours to fix by untrained "mechanics" that reminded me an awful lot of a test-dummy car crash commercial. Christie's bus simply never appeared so we trekked back to the hotel for night two. The two of us, Brie, and our new PC friend Lou, had dinner and watched Lars and the Real Girl. Weird movie.
So here I am, it's 11:11am (make a wish) and I'm about to have second chai and meander to the bus standi. I am REALLY ready to get back to the vil and even feel guilty at having been gone 2 days. I missed a pretty important meeting of the PLWHA group (People Living with HIV/AIDS) yesterday and was supposed to go to the secondary school in the village over this morning to introduce myself. It's okay though because things like this happen all the time. Transportation mishaps are a daily, hourly part of life.
On a final note, I finished painting my living room! I may even get my couch today?!
Be back next Saturday.
XOXO
K
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So glad that you were able to take a real shower and watch a movie! It must have been nice to have a little bit of regularness (is that a word?). Eat your yummy Snickers slowly...avocados? Who are you??
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M
I am so happy for you. A shower two days in a row. Your body must squeak from soap and water. Don't get use to this..Sounds like the break was good.What happened to cat?Proud of you nd think of you all the time. Kisses. MOM
ReplyDeletei found you from your sister....this is an amazing thing you are doing and i love hearing all about it.
ReplyDeleteKatie, Sonny and I love hearing about your exciting life. Your energy and enthusiasm is contagious and your humor a scream. Stay safe and have a blast. We are living vicariously through you. Aunt Neecie and I are doing on holiday next month - I can hardly wait. Hugs Katie...Jan and Sonny
ReplyDeleteYea~ I guess that's about as close of a "spa day" you can get! HA! We love you and miss you! So proud of what you're doing! Love, Amy, Gary, Harrison and Holly
ReplyDeleteLove you! I'm curious about the people living with hiv/aids meeting. What goes on in those? Anyway, keep on keepin on kate! Michigan misses you!
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