A New "Normal"

In my last entry I said that life here seems normal. I feel that I should clarify and say that it is a new “normal”... Today on my five minute walk to work I realized that the sights I see would be completely foreign and even shocking to some people back in America.

When I step out of our back gate, I first see our five year old neighbor. She is wearing an old raggedy piece of faded gray cloth that is tied around her neck as she pours water into a small pot, which is resting on three rocks with burning wood below. She is starting to boil water for her breakfast. I say ‘za asubuhi,’ she simply smiles in response, and I continue walking.

Next, I walk about fifteen feet on the dusty dirt road and on my right I see three women dressed in their traditional clothes, two kangas wrapped around their body, one brightly colored cloth on top and one around their waist. They are working hard on their bustani (garden) with a jembe, which looks like a flat, sharp piece of metal attached to a long wooden handle. I wave to them, and greet them saying ‘za asubuhi’ (how is your morning). They reply ‘salama’ (peaceful). I say ‘shikamoo’ (I respect you elders, you have to say this to anyone that is older than you), the women respond ‘marahaba’ (I accept that you respect me) and I continue on my way.

As I walk a little further, I see three little boys who range in age from about three to five years old. They are sitting outside their mud/clay home, which is two houses down from ours on the left. They are all naked, one is sitting in the dirt staring and waving while screaming ‘dada Mary’ (that’s me), the other is squatting and taking a poo right in the front yard, while the third little boy is pushing a goat which is grazing on the grass next to their house. Mind you they are all naked! I just wave, smile, and continue.

As I walk a little further, there is one mama sitting on a wooden tree stump in front of her house making the local pombe (alcohol) out of coconuts that grow above her. We see each other kila siku (every day) on my way to and from work. This morning I greet her with ‘Habari za kazi’ (how is your work), she replies, ‘nzuri’ (good). She is in her 50s so of course I say, ‘shikamo,’ and I get a ‘marahaba’ in response. Side note: One time Moss and I tried her coconut pombe and it was disgusting! It tastes like bottled fizzy B.O., with a touch of coconut flavor. Moss and I actually make our own wine these days and it is amazing. I will have to share that recipe, but I am getting side tracked here. So, after I greet the pombe mama, I continue walking.

At this point I have to walk over a small hill and on the other side I see two watato (kids) waving at me from a distance and yelling ‘dada Mary, dada Mary’ at the top of their lungs. They are adorable and always get so excited to see me. I give them a good, long wave and continue on.

I am almost to work now, but right before I enter the big metal gates of the training institution, I see two wanawake (women) carrying big 20 liter buckets full of maji (water) on their heads. This skill has always impressed me, most of the time they don’t even use their hands to help balance the buckets. I smile at them and continue walking into the gates. I have arrived and I am now sitting in my office typing away.

So that is a typical journey to work, and it is now a regular part of my new “normal” life!