Monday, July 19.

4:30 p.m.

Day Two of orientation: culture sharing with Baba Fulgence and Mama Fatuma. Basically, the mzungu (visitors, a.k.a. white people) were taught the basics of Tanzanian greetings, practices, taboos, and customs. Tanzania 101. We learned how to translate "Mzungu Time" (punctuality) into "Tanzanian Flexible Time" (how many hours after the sun has risen + whenever you get there because meh, there's no hurry). There is a laid-back casualness to appointment-making here that I wish we could adopt back in the States. I would LOVE to show up for a 9:00 a.m. meeting at 11:00 or noon, and have it be perfectly acceptable.

We were also given words of wisdom to take with us to our placements, where we start work tomorrow (example: unexpected circumstances? "Don't cry." Thanks, Baba F.), and our first Kiswahili lesson.

Baba Fulgence is quickly becoming one of my absolute favorite people. He calls all of the new young women "My Daughter", and you completely feel as though he could be the father of a village or an entire city. He is patient and hilarious and so, so kind.

We met with out placement partners after lunch. I met Sophia, the matron of Kiwodea, and Sarena, who teaches computer classes there. Tomorrow, I will meet Mama Nancy Tesha, the founder and executive director of the center.

Some of us also took a trip into Moshi Town. Walking through the dusty maze of streets and lanes, besieged by vendors selling bracelets and necklaces and banana-fiber collages and whatever else, weaving through the throng of pedestrians and chickens and avoiding the swerving motorbike drivers, passing a woman carrying a tray full of banana bunches on her head (with no hands) that had to weigh at least 40 pounds, hearing the unmistakable lyrics of Jay-Z coming from an open storefront, hearing "Mambo! Habari?" from everywhere and proudly saying "Poa, nzuri, asante" in response--snapshots of a full and busy hour.

On the road home, children in school uniforms would reach out to touch our elbows through the open van windows. Their grins are contagious.

7:30 p.m.

Digestive tract is rebelling. Being on the top bunk sucks. Crabby and going to sleep... tomorrow is my first day at Kiwodea, so this stomach thing better settle down ASAP.