First day in Tanzania

First day in Tanzania

Amanda's aunt's house

The first day in Tanzania ended with me dancing to East African hip hop with Amandas 70 year old aunt on the balcony after a few glasses of wine. It started with her wanting to hear my music. I never seen anyone laugh so much when hearing if you're lucky and stolen bike. It was incredible. Then she danced for Amanda and me on the balcony. The music had a very special meaning to her and the dance became very emotional. So Amanda and I had to join her later to dance us all happy again. Now I'm waiting for her to get her tarot cards to predict my future. Soon I will know everything about my future love life, career etc. Exciting!


Earlier today we went to a community museum to look at traditional houses, art, tools etc. I climbed a coconut palm tree and we saw a family of monkeys. 

Rangi climbing a coconut palm tree

Monkey family

I'm learning swahili all the time and I think I can improve quite quickly if I really make an effort. I understand a word here and there, but it's hard to understand the full meaning. I try to say the things I know in swahili and ask people to teach me new words and phrases.

A beach in Dar Es Salaam

After the museum we went to meet Amandas oldest aunt where we had fish for lunch - samaki, with corn mash, and spinach. It was very yummy (chakula kizuri!). It seems to be quite common to employ girls to help with house keeping, chores and making food. I don't think you have to be very wealthy to employ a house keeper or a security guard, but I do wonder how much they are paid and how normal people can afford it. They seem to work very long hours, and some I think live in the houses where they work. I don't know if it's rude to ask questions about working hours, wages, holiday entitlement etc or if it will just seem condescending and nosey. Another thing to add to the equation is the fact that it is very tiring doing anything in this heat, so housekeeping is a full days job. For instance you have to iron all clothes you wash because flies might lay eggs in wet clothes and they will go into your skin. This I've been tld is only a problem in Dar Es Salaam, so hopefully we won't have to worry about that in Tanga.
Amandas aunt gave me two outfits, Kitenge which made me feel like a proper african woman, but amandas aunt says that I'm not like a norwegian girl, I'm a cherokee woman. I like that. Oh, and my new name is Rangi, which means colour in swahili. What better way to fit in here in Africa than with my new kitenge and being called colour!

Amanda in her new house (at the museum)

I hope the two glasses of wine won't react too badly with the malaria medicine this time. I'm taking Lariam, and it might make me go insane. But luckily the tarot cards promised me a very happy future with eciting adventures and oportunities. Quite good for my first day in Tanzania I'd say! Kwa heri na lala salaam!