Saturday in Tanzania - Day of Rest

On Saturday we had a day of rest. While Herbert worked on arrangements for our transport back to Kisumu, George and I hung out at the house and played with the kids. Herbert’s daughter in law who helped with the cooking brought her two kids, Amy and Alan, to the house every day. We had a fun time interacting with them.








Tanzanians are very polite. When we first got there, Herbert taught us a greeting that would be often used. When someone comes across a person that is older than him, he says “shikamo” and the elder person responds with “marahaba.” It’s a way of showing respect. So, every time we passed kids, they said “shikamo” to us and we said “marahaba.” George and I (with an immature sense of humor at times!) tried saying “shikamo” to Amy and Alan to see if they would respond to “marahaba” to us. They, of course, were confused and didn’t say it back. After a few days, they finally did it and after seeing us laugh, continued to do it. At least to George. They never said it to me. On Saturday, Alan came up to Herbert and asked “where is my junior?” Herbert asked, who is that? He was talking about George! Since George said “shikamo” to him, Alan was the superior. At three, he was probably excited about having a junior! Herbert was confused and asked George about it. George was busted and admitted he said “shikamo” to Alan. Herbert laughed. It was really funny!




Alan was a funny kid. He kept calling me mazungu (white person). I am used to hearing that when I walk around here. Several times a day I hear “mazungu, how are you?” I kept saying to Alan, my name is not Mazungu, it’s Stacie. By the end of our time there, he was calling me by my name. Or at least close. It sounded like Stah-chi.

We also drank the water from fresh coconuts from the coconut trees. I can’t say I liked it, but I am glad I tried. I always wanted to do that.