Hamjambo? or “How ya’all doin’?”

Christine here, reporting from East Africa in response to the kind friends and family who expressed interest in our year here at Mt. Meru University, Arusha, Tanzania.

Things that we have NOT seen: children being carried off by giant tsetse flies; armies of giant tarantulas taking over whole villages; King Kong.
Things we have seen: twigas (Swahili for giraffes), families of baboons, Pumba and his cousins rooting about; noble Masai warriors striding along in their deep purple and red robes; warm and generous welcomes.

I’ve finally begun to master the many varieties of handshakes. They range from the typical one handed professional handshake to the one handed shake whilst holding one’s own elbow or forearm to the grip/slide/thumb grasp/slide/grip. Any confusion on the part of the newby Westerner is warmly amusing to all concerned.

Upon our arrival at the airport, the first signal that we were somewhere other than the U.S.A. – Nairobi airport provides a chapel room for Christians, a prayer room for Muslims, and a reading room for anyone who does not fit into the first two.
Interesting fact: There’s no malaria in Nairobi, Kenya, so the 100% DEET OFF (guaranteed to kill anything standing so watch where you’re pointing that thing) can be stashed. Our itinerary originated in Lynden (Blaine, really – thanks cousin for seeing us off); we flew out of Seattle, changed planes in Amsterdam and set down in Nairobi. We spent five days there, then took a bus to Arusha.

Farkel report: Chris beats the socks off of the two Keiper men three nights in a row. Matt finally manages to eke out a win in the final round of the final game.

Want to pray? Tim and Matt leave Sunday to head up to the refugee camp near DaDaab, Kenya where Matt will be visiting longer term.

First Swahili song that I’ve learned:

Ni wewe, ni wewe bwana; ni wewe ni wewe Bwana
You are, Lord; You are.

(simply profound)

Tutaonana!