some ordinary days in Dar

One of my strategies to distract myself from getting impatient while commuting in Dar es Salaam is taking pictures.  These are some that I’ve got.



There are parts of Dar that you need to cross the sea by Ferry



Passengers crossing the sea



this is public beach - everybody is allowed even these cows





while waiting for a ride at the bus station from my place of work to the city



A Tanzanian who sells stufftoys at the busy road of Dar

 

beside the busy road in Dar_pic1



beside the busy road in Dar _ pic2

  


A man who has its own way to wear sandals**

  

**my apologies. my arrow drawing on the picture was pointing at the wrong direction.:-)

"You can’t control the length of your life, but you can control its depth."

=Source: Philippine Star; Word of the Day; 20 June 2011

temporary escape from living like a poor in Dar

Last weekend (Saturday), after the battery of my laptop was exhausted (no other way to recharge it since the power was still out), I decided to go out, brought a novel (this was a gift I got last Christmas 2010 but it was only yesterday that I started reading it), camera and a bottle of water.  I went to Slipway – (this is a street name and it is along Msaki ward) there’s a hotel, restaurants, shops and African crafts stalls in the area.  Most of the people that go there are the expats, tourists and some locals - who are from the middle-class or upper class (?) <– just a presumption>; for obvious reason – it’s expensive (for a Tanzanian that earns USD 200 - 300 a month). 

the middeteranian-style building at the Slipway

A scoop of ice cream is TSH 4000 (almost USD 3), a bottle of soda is TSH 1000 (price is doubled compare to ordinary stores) and a decent meal is around TSH 10,0000  (almost USD 7).  The price you pay is actually for the comforts of staying there – away from the discomforts of living in Dar.  



There is a corner which is called “Streetfood at Slipway” –  the food are cheaper (mostly grilled) but the  stalls start to open at 6pm.  Loitering there during day time is allowed while the stalls are still closed yet be responsible not to litter.



some shops and restaurants



I was lucky that I found a shaded place to stay; with my novel, the bottle of water and something to chew (bought some at the supermarket there).  I was intently reading when I noticed that there’s an Asian guy (East Asian national) sitting at the other side of the bench where I was.  At first, I thought that he was trying to get a signal from his phone while moving towards my direction.  Then I realized he was taking my picture through his phone.  He did not say anything.  He smiled at me and fled. He speaks Kiswahili and he was telling his local lady companion that I am his fellow Chinese.  I don’t know why - my eyes are small but not like his and the color of my skin is also different from him.  I don’t want to spoil my serenity so I continued reading.



the playground



I was glad that I stayed there for few hours.  I was relaxed and my thoughts were distracted from whining.  Lately, I am unhappy of what I am doing due to some unmet expectations, disappointments and frustrations.  I was thinking that I am disillusioned of making a difference by doing a volunteer work.   Until now I haven’t sorted out my brain yet – it’s still manageable (I think).  Besides, what I am going through right now is nothing compare to a poor Tanzanian (30% of their population are living below of the poverty line) who struggles to work to have a meal in a day.

the indian ocean

While watching the sunset, I was grateful that I had the opportunity to appreciate God’s creation.  I spent almost USD 10 for the day but the inner peace I had at that moment was priceless.



the sun still shines behind the dark clouds





the beautiful sunset





too much Kiswahili!

Some of the locals speak English in Kiswahili way.  I have heard these words during some of my conversations with the locals around me. They add “e” but they pronounce it as “eh”- soft “e”.

• friendeh – friend
• househ - house
• hoteleh – hotel
• bageh – bag – “bage” is actually the Kiswahili of bag
• stoveh - stove
• magazineh - magazine
• restauranteh - restaurant
• foodeh - food
• milkeh – milk
• cleaneh – clean
• breadeh – bread
• turneh – turn
• righteh - right
• magazineh – magazine

So, the first time I’ve heard these words, I thought I haven’t heard them right.  Some of my “Kiswahnglish” (Kiswahili-English words) moments.

How are you my friendeh? 

Sorry, that’s not my name. (my reply)

Do you eat breadeh?

Is that a food?

Where is your househ?

My househ? Who is that?

You go righteh (when I asked for a direction).

Sorry, is that a street name?

I will hold your bageh?

Hold what?

Kiswahili references provided by the Program Office

I’ve been here now for more than 4 months.  My ears have learned to decipher Kiswahnglish vocabularies.  I hope that when I am going back to my home country, I will not speak English in a Kiswahili way.

“Listening is the beginning of understanding”.

Philippines in Tanzania

The Filipino Community in Tanzania (FCT)

Last weekend, Saturday night (11 June), I was with fellow Filipinos to celebrate our Independence Day.  The FCT (Filipino Community in Tanzania) was the organizer. Based on our History; the first Philippine declaration of Independence Day was on 12 June 1898 (113 years ago) – the independence of the Philippine islands from the colonial rule of Spain (Philippines was under the colony of Spain for more than 300 years but defeated during the Spanish-American war - the reason why Americans are always the hero of some Filipinos). 

In Tanzania, Filipino community celebrates this day yearly and that night was the 21^st.  According to a fellow pinoy (means a Filipino in our lingo), there are more than 400 pinoys in Tanzania; around 30-40% are in Dar es Salaam (am not sure if that includes me).   My attendance was through the courtesy of Abeth.  She’s so generous to shoulder my registration fee (thank you very much Abeth!). I’ve met her for the first time during this event.   We have a common friend in the Philippines who introduced us to each other via internet chat. 

Abeth beside the FCT logo - the logo represents the flags of the Philippies and Tanzania, the famous Luneta Park in the Philippines and the Mt. Kilimanjaro of Tanzania

The celebration was a relief temporarily from my home sickness.  The venue was packed with almost 200 pinoys.  They are from different walks of life.  Some of them have established their lives in Tanzania together with their family members.  My fellow volunteer Filipinos were not around so, I tried to fight my anti-social personality (not really - I am actually shy! <blushing>) by mingling and did some small talks to few. The bad thing about me is that - I have a difficulty remembering names (but I can easily remember faces), as a result; there are only 4 names that were stored in the data-base of my memory bank after the night.

During the singing that National Anthem, I have observed that all of us sung it by heart – or I was just sentimental?

The Tanzania Dance Troupe- with 2 Filipino members

After the programme – the protocol delivery of messages, entertainment and dinner, it was dancing time for everyone but it was too late for me to stay.  Instead of going back home by taxi cab, Abeth demanded (take note -not requested -hahaha!) a fellow pinoy named Alvin to drive us (with Thess – a newbie like me in FCT).  

While in the car, we had the opportunity to talk about what we are doing in Tanzania – reason/s why we are in Africa.  Me, a volunteer, Abeth works in a local NGO, Thess; a development adviser of an International NGO and Alvin – not sure but I think he works in the energy sector.  He corrected me when I asked where does he work – it was in Taglish – (Tagalog <major dialect in the Philippines> and English) that when it is translated to English – it would be – “What is the name of your company?” It makes sense that his answer was – “I don’t own the company but I work for the company”.   Yeah, you’re right! J He also gave me a classic pinoy puzzle or a joke (?) – translation of “good road” to my dialect.  I was not able to answer it.  The answer is “okay nga road” – you are really smart eh! (thank you so much for taking us home safely Alvin!)

Interpretative Dance = "who I am"

I was back home.  I was again alone and the silence was deafening.  The limited number of my neurons have digested this – from one of the lines of the message of our President Aquino that was read by the representative of Philippine Consular’s Office in Kenya – “I hope that we (Filipinos) have the same vision for the Philippines – a country that is free from poverty, corruption and apathy”.   I was trying to process the message until I was sleepy and my little brain was too tired to think of anything.

Not so Filipino food - oriental dishes- noodles, spring rolls, vegetable and pork  saute'

Filipinos with their friends

the "hot babes" dance group :-)

while watching the "hot babes" - not everyone was happy?

pole sana!

Today, I have encountered the rudest person in Tanzania. 

Since it was my last day living in Gongolamboto, I decided to take pictures in the area before going to the city.  Jovenary (the ful-time staff of my organization) was with me to bring my big luggage to the repair shop of bags and shoes. 

camera shy neighbours - w/ permission

While on our way, I began shooting sceneries .  We passed by along the compound of a public school. It was a morning break-time of the school children.  When they saw me holding a camera, some of them shouted “Pigapicha (take picture) Mchina!" Some ran towards me making wacky posed and big smile.  I took some and show them the pictures afterwards.  We were leaving but some children were following me; pulling my hair, touching my arms and some were trying to snatch the camera from my hand.

open field nearby the public school - children and young men play football here

Jovenary told them to go away, but they kept on following my pace.  Then I’ve heard a loud voice of a woman behind me.  She was almost shouting and saying something.  I almost run away out of fear.  Her eyes were looking at me like she wants to attack me or eating me alive.  I stopped walking because she was pointing her finger at me.  When she was approaching, I tried hard to smile and maintained my composure.

Woman:  “Hey, you! you! Who is giving you the authority to take pictures here? “ While still pointing her finger at me and her other hand was on her hips.

Me: “Sorry.  The pictures are for my souvenirs only.  I will delete the pictures of the children.” My eyes were glued on her angry face.

Woman:  “Who are you anyway? Why are you here? What are you doing here? If you want to take pictures, you go to the Administrator or Head Teacher to ask permission!” This time, both of her hands were on her hips.

Me:  “I’m a volunteer here and I’ll be leaving tomorrow.” I smiled again like a moron and pretended to be meek and humble.

She did not reply after that and started going away but she was still staring at my face and her eyes were still angry.  All I could utter was- “She is rude”! I was not aware if I said it loudly. Joven replied was  – “ She is a teacher here.”

What then if she is teacher.  She acted like she was the most superior being on earth.  That was not acceptable – (to me.)  I knew, I was at fault (taking pictures without permission – like a paparazzi but my intention was harmless), but do I deserve to be treated that way? I felt bad. Perhaps, if she approached me in subtle way, I would apologized wholeheartedly. 

I will be leaving this place tomorrow. I will be moving to the city (it was a decision of the Program Office that I should not live in this area until the government declares it safe after the bombing incident last February).

outside my house are young children playing on the street

I hope I will not meet again another person like her in the remaining days of my placement (more months to go).       

This is where I always buy banana

P.S. I did not delete yet the pictures of the school children. I am tempted to post them here but that woman might track me and report it to the Authority.  Hahaha!

kwasababu (because), lakini (but)

I am not yet through of battling the feeling of isolation.  Perhaps the main factor is my inability to talk in the local language.  This limits me to mingle with the people around in my area.  I could respond to the Tanzanian greetings but I can’t cope up with conversations.  When local people start talking to me, I have to butt in and say ‘Pole sana, Si jui Kiswahili” – (am very sorry, I don’t know Kiswahili).  I am not a good reader of facial reactions but their faces show disappointment that I can not continue talking to them. 

The lizard who is giving me occassional company

I don’t report daily for work so I have to spend most of my time staying in my house.  That means;  I, me and myself are the constant company that exists in my world.

This week, in one of those days(I, Me, Myself Company), the only full time staff of my organization came to give my allowance and to relay some requests from our Executive Director.   He was showing me a tool about weekly log activity report and explaining how to use it.  I was listening patiently from his broken English and trying to decipher what was he trying to tell me.   My brain did not process correctly so I misunderstood the whole point of the instructions. What I thought was that, our Executive Director wants me to prepare and submit a report like that.

Exclusive working area for I, Me, Myself Company

I can’t rationalized why do I need to do that log activity report.  Instead of clarifying things from my Executive Director, I got mad and emotional.  This triggered the pent-up emotions that I had for quite sometime – the isolation, boredom, home sickness, etc.  No one was around to comfort me so I  grabbed a bar of chocolate from my fridge to make me feel good but it didn’t help.  I decided to do my laundry instead.  But before I could start, I can’t avoid anymore of not crying.  I continued washing my dirty clothes while appeasing my self.  It gave me a relief for a while yet I was still thinking of that report.  I was restless that I sent e-mail to my Executive Director.  Since I was still touchy, my message was a bit defensive.  Not enquiring but trying to protect myself.  I realized, I acted impulsively.

Until on the next day, I was still carrying the burden. It was late at night when I had the chance to open my email and read the reply of my Executive Director.  The report should be for further review for its usefulness and not for me to accomplish it. It means I embarrassed myself. I sent an apology but I felt bad for not able to understand clearly of the instructions that was relayed to me.   I learned 2 things from this incident – 1. never assume or presume, 2. learning the local language promotes better understanding. 

A masai - the original settler of Tanzania **

Next time, I promised to I, Me, Myself Company that I should be more logical rather than emotional.  And have to take seriously learning Kiswahili-(sigh).

**this picture is not related to this post but rather to present something relevant to the culture of Tanzania.