Wazungu Capture

• So a lot has happened since the chicken slaughter. I’ll rank them in order of importance.
  
  1) THE STEELERS WON THE SUPERBOWL!!
  Magical. I purchased a black and gold khanga for the occasion. The game was at 2:30 in the morning, and I had to be at school at 7:30 that morning. I had planned on going to bed super early and getting up to watch it, but I was too excited so I stayed up all night. Pre-game was kind of a low point for me. I was up preparing some treats for myself and felt extremely homesick. I was thinking about the last time the Steelers won the Superbowl and the being surrounded by all of my Bonaventure loves. Thinking about dragging people to Lucky’s to watch games and eating delicious wings. Thinking about home and wishing I could be in PA for the game. Thankfully I had an unbelievable football game to watch to distract me from being sad! So good! I’m so thankful that I got to watch it!
  
  Okay the ranking system isn’t really relevant anymore; I just wanted to depict the enormity of that particular occasion.
  
  




• Alice: A doctor who teaches at Stanford came to teach at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) and has been staying at the Jesuits for the past month. She was such a blessing to Mary Beth and me. She was a warm motherly presence and she cooked us all sorts of American treats. She even made pizza one day! As I was helping her pack, she gave us all sorts of little goodies to keep that she couldn’t fit in her bags. She spent a large part of her stay trying to convince me to consider medical school as an option for my future. She helped me practice too, she took me along to a class she taught on infant resuscitation and she had me give an injection of an anti-inflammatory. To a real live human being! I practically already have my license. She was fabulous, I’ll miss her a lot.
  
• A Tanzanian Matrimony: The teacher that I team teach my English classes with was married recently. It was nice that I was able to teach all of the sections of the class myself for about three weeks, her and I have been having a lot of trouble communicating and collaborating. The festivities surrounding her nuptials were fascinating and I’m glad I got to be a part of them. The Wednesday before the wedding, we attended her Sending-Off Party. The invitation said it would begin at 5:30 and we were worried that we were going to be late because Mary Beth was trapped in the staff room. We arrived at about 5:15, and there were approximately three people there. It was held at the YMCA, and the room was GORGEOUS. They had it all decorated with hanging, silky fabric and candles and thousands (I’m not kidding) of roses. It was really beautiful. It had a similar feel to what a wedding reception would look like. At 5:30 there was still no one there so we wandered to the hostel’s café for a soda, courtesy of our co-worker Tom. The party didn’t actually start until about 7:30. And what a party. Everyone was dressed beautifully, it was a really big deal. Mary Beth and I became Sister Njau’s little pets for the night. The bride (my co-teacher) is Sister Njau’s sister. Every time Sister Njau had to go up as a member of the family, she took Mary Beth and me with her. We ate some more goat cake in front of everyone, we toasted the bride in front of everyone, we got food first, we were presented with a tier of the cake, it was slightly embarrassing to be paraded about, but the perks of good seats and eating first were appreciated. Some highlights included when Sister Njau admitted she did not know the name of her future brother-in-law, when the entire staff of Maria Goreti Secondary School danced up the aisle, singing and holding our presents to the bride above our heads, and when the groom hid from the bride and she had to wander around the entire room looking for him. We were there until 12:30am, it was a big party. Good times. There were at least 300 people there. Then Mary Beth and I attended the wedding on Saturday. We were told that there would be three women dressed up as brides and the groom would have to choose the right one. What actually happened was that three weddings were performed simultaneously. No one comes to the wedding; there were very few people there. My English class was there though, and when I get married I totally want 100 teenage girls to be a part of the ceremony. They were awesome. They would bust out in cheers and screams at random parts of the ceremony. They would start singing songs if there was a lull in the music. It was great. Later that night there was another party for the wedding reception. Not as big of a deal as the sending-off party. People weren’t as dressed up; it wasn’t quite as nice of a place. Still a fun time though. Here is a picture from when the family entered the sending off party:

• Skiffy, JJ, Franco and Superman Mary Beth and I are beginning to make friends at work. This is evidenced by the fact that we are learning real names of people and no longer feel compelled to reference their nicknames each time we need to speak of them. A female teacher that we had been calling ‘Skiffy’ due to a dress she frequently wears featuring a print of a spoon, knife and fork (S+K+F=SKiFFy) recently locked Mary Beth in the female staff bathroom, but luckily ‘Superman’ was nearby to hear her cries for help and release her from captivity. I was too busy giggling about the ordeal in our little corner of the staff room to be of much assistance, having watched the whole thing go down.

• Speaking of captivity... MB and I also got locked into the computer room at the end of a school day and had to yell for students until someone came to save us. I don't know how the person that closed and locked the door didn't see us in there.... we've been told we glow in the dark.

• The 2009 Kilimanjaro Half-Marathon So I ran a half marathon. In Africa. It was pretty much up a mountain, no big deal. It was an unbelievable experience. As I was brainstorming ways to keep my mind occupied with things other than how much my knees ached, I decided to dedicate each of the 21 kilometers to someone or something, and think of them while I was running and offer up a short prayer for them. Here’s my list!
  

1. To finish without be stricken by heatstroke




2. Gratitude for simply being there and being able to run in that race. What a blessing it is to have the opportunity to spend two years in such a beautiful place and to be healthy enough to run 21 kilometers!




3. Sheena Jacobi! And her discernment process about international volunteering! Hooray!




4. MercyWorks 06-07 Never Before, Never Again. My community from my year of volunteering in Chicago has been absolutely incredible in how supportive they have been. From the encouragement through the application process, to the eight long months of preparation, to all of the phone calls and e-mails and cards and kind words I continue to receive, they have been nothing short of amazing. You guys are fabulous.




5. Thinking of Chicago… thought I’d offer up a lil’ Noha Home lovin’ as well. I miss the lil’ munchkins and my staff, the kids here are too polite and my co-workers are too appropriate all the time.




6. My Students and Co-Workers at Mary Goreti….they’re not Noha Home, but I really, really enjoy working with them and the other teachers have been so welcoming to Mary Beth and I.




7. The Jesuits and Sister Njau: The friendships we have developed have been such a gift. They have done so much to help us get settled here and I am incredibly appreciative of them.




8. Mary Beth Neckles: We complement each other so well, good job JVI staff! What an adventure we are on together! And she made such a sweet sign the day of the marathon that someone asked her if he could have. It said ‘Congratulations Talia.’ He was satisfied with taking a picture with me and the sign. She also came through big time in getting me a t-shirt.




9. The Dar JVI Community: Good people.




10. JVs All Over! I hope all of their experiences are fulfilling in their own ways.




11. on my way HOME! This was the point where the race route turned back towards the finish, which was very close to where Mary Beth and I live. As I began my journey back home, I began to think of my home in the States, particularly of my favorite running experiences, most often with Leah. I know it was hard for my family to be supportive of me leaving to go live in Africa for two years, and I appreciate all they have done for me. I miss them. And the Doodle.




12. Grandma Ruthie… rocks my world. She sent cheese to Africa. And various other treats. She is so good to me and I miss her like CRAZY!




13. Friends: This kilometer was a huge thank you to all of the thoughts, prayers, e-mails, phone calls, letters, gchat words of encouragement and Steelers won the Superbowl magazine care packages (thanks Adam!) that all of my friends have been sending this way. Thanks friends. I’m so blessed.




14. Holly and Dan: Deserved a kilometer just for them because they rock my world. Headlamp….awesome...comes in so handy for sorting rice with no electricity and tucking myself in my mosquito net after I’ve already turned off my light. They sent me an AWESOME care package too… Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, yummy chocolate, a magazine with Britney on the cover, what more could a girl want? You two are so sweet, thank you.




15. Johnathan: Speaking of fabulous packages. He sent a fabulous care package filled with such practical thoughtful things. Yes I have a Skype headset now, who wants to Skype with me!?!? Not only that though, he has been so incredibly patient with me and supportive in so many ways… I don’t even know where to begin in trying to express how thankful I am, all twenty-one kilometers wouldn’t be enough. And I couldn’t have done this half-marathon without his helpful sports psychology tips! Go go go! I’m a lucky girl.




16. My Growth: This was both a kilometer of gratitude and hope. I’m thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to grow in so many ways, but I’m hopeful that I can develop a little more self-awareness about what this particular experience is doing for me. There are plenty of ‘What the f am I doing here?’ moments, and I would like to be more aware of what I am learning and what positive impact I am making.




17. Bonas and TH212: Thinking of some of those formative experiences that have helped me grow, obviously Bonaventure shaped me in a big way. I’m trying to hold on to that Franciscan spirit as much as I can while being surrounded by Jesuits! Living with Amy, Andrea and Rebecca in 212 was such a blessing and as I’m finishing this blog entry on St. Patrick’s Day, I can’t help but to think of the good times we’ve had together celebrating it both at Bonas and in Chicago. Love!




18. Fr. Dan Riley: I recently received an e-mail saying he was being honored for his work at Bonaventure, so I wanted to send a little African lovin’ his way! This kilometer was for him, both in appreciation of the support and love he’s offered and the prayer that he may continue to touch many other students’ lives in such a powerful way.




19. My Mountains: As I glanced back at Mt. Kilimanjaro, and thought about the peace that comes with my morning runs when I’m able to stare up at her beautiful peaks, I also thought of Mt. Irenaeus and the peace that place brings. I’m so thankful for the people it brought into my life and the lessons in contemplation and reflection I learned there.




20. As I approached the finish line I again ran in gratitude for being here. What an amazing opportunity! Sometimes I still can’t believe that I’m living in Africa.




21. For Finishing! Without heatstroke! Whoo hoo! Altogether an amazing experience that I’m so glad I had. Next year… full marathon! Eek!

before the marathon....feelin' strong!

after the marathon....feelin' hot and happy!