6 Months in
I wish my myspace page still existed.
10 years ago I remember writing a 6 month entry about my exchange in Sweden as a 17 year old, A 17 year old with all intention to change the world. My blog entry on Myspace has gone, as has my naivety. The prevailing decade has given me a healthy dose of pragmatism about the scale of the world and my tiny place in it.
It is comforting to note though, that the spirit and optimism that caused me to move to a different country then, is still a part of me now.
There is a certain level of clarity that you gain about yourself when you move to a place where you know no one and no one knows you. A reaffirmation of who you are and who you want to be. A large change needs time to settle.
Once settled, one must make time to reflect:
- I am still quite poor at writing about my experiences on a regular basis;
- I still don’t cook;
- I still get frustrated by people who walk too slowly;
(though have learnt patience from living in a country where walking slowly should be the national sport) - My awareness of my own emotions has grown, as has my ability to affect them;
- I am beginning to understand the extent of my own privilege as a result of being born in Australia;
- I undervalued humility as a virtue and am striving to be more humble;
(writing a blog post for the internet is probably counterproductive) - I am more ballsy and more adaptable than I thought I was; and
- I am struggling to find the balance between humility and being proud of my own achievements
A decade on, A different continent, and 6 months in feels the same as it did 10 years ago. It feels like home.
The beauty of this place still strikes me. In the last six months I have had the opportunity to see more of Tanzania. It is a large country, full of diverse terrain and climates. Tanga & Pangani have beautiful sleepy beaches. Dar Es Salaam is sprawling, hot and full of life. The Usambara Mountain Range between Arusha and the Indian Ocean blew my mind. Even Arusha has such diverse landscapes, I don’t feel like I’ve quite scratched the surface. These are my favourite photos of the TZ landscape so far.
I must continue pushing to explore, normalcy leads to complacency and I must remember that I am living in East Africa and must use this time to experience and explore as much as possible.
If you have made it this far though, you might be interested in what “normal” is for me now. Let me try and explain:
- My Swahili is improving everyday, though slower than I’d like. I can now convey basics, follow instructions, order food and discuss the day. This has made it much easier to get around and navigate Arusha as a resident rather than a tourist.
- Dalla Dallas (the local buses) are the cheapest way to get around, though I have seven taxi drivers and four motocycle riders saved in my phone that are almost as efficient as Uber (most of the time).
- Dust, colour and noise are a part of life here, and all shop signs are hand painted, by painters of various skill levels.
- We know the right guy to get fruit from, and where I can get the cheapest dried fish for my cat.
- I have a cat. It’s name is Deanu, and it got hit by a bus when it was a baby. We saved it but it’s tail had to be amputated. It’s stupid and kind of annoying in the most endearing way.
- The girls here are my foundation. Shit goes down sometimes but we all have each others back and our Sunday debriefs with coffee at the Sheraton have kept me sane.
- My job keeps me grounded, I love what I am doing and seeing the kids I’m working with grow as leaders and human beings has being pretty fucking rewarding.
- And some photos that I think capture it…
So here I sit, under my mosquito net, listening to music and reflecting on what a crazy, beautiful and intense time the last 6 months have been.
All I feel is gratitude. For the people here and at home, for my current circumstances, and for the opportunities that led me here.
