"Hello my name is Yemi. What's your name? [Unintelligible answer]"
I wanted to use the internet and Josiah thought it would be good to introduce me to some of his fellow colleagues that were working in the lab even on a Saturday (we are still in the lab as of 8pm). After we went through the usual introductions, I realised that I am either horrendous at pronouncing Tanzanian names or they just mumble their names. So far, I have met Kwame (no, he's not Ghanaian), Nassor, Godwin, Baraka and Isaac; Isaac and Godwin had to give me their English names because I had no shot on their native names.
I talked to Nassor about his project before I finally got to my real purpose: getting online so that I could contact my family for the first time since arrival and chatting with friends who happened to be awake (Tz is GMT+3; +8 from US East Coast). I was interrupted several times by others including Baraka and Josiah to give an overview of what I had done and help them with their projects. Once, a group of them gathered around me and listened to my big mouth flap continuously. In four continents and at least five countries, it is a known fact that I talk too much. My shrink is helping me out but until I'm cured, I hope to not add Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to that list.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
A drive through the town
"Sorry, but we only exchange the 2000 series"
I needed to get money changed and a sim card this morning. One of the students, a graduate student named Josiah, who picked me up from the airport, drove me around to get those things. I arrived after midnight last night/this morning, so I did not see much. As we drove, the street shops and the sidewalk-less roads reminded me of the simple life in Nigeria I have long since abandoned.
We went to the Mlimani City mall to exchange a $100 into Tanzanian shillings (Tzs). To prevent car-theft, the security guard at the gate gives you a card that you must prevent in order to leave the mall parking lot; it does not always work but it is innovative. At the money exchange place, I took out a $100 for exchange and a cashier rejected it. Apparently, it was a 1996 series and was not what they want. Strange. Good thing Josiah had told me to take all my money with me, so I just searched and found a 2001 series and I now had my first ever Tanzanian shillings. I was so excited by my big stack of cash, I didn't bother to even count. What's Swahili for high-roller?
I needed to get money changed and a sim card this morning. One of the students, a graduate student named Josiah, who picked me up from the airport, drove me around to get those things. I arrived after midnight last night/this morning, so I did not see much. As we drove, the street shops and the sidewalk-less roads reminded me of the simple life in Nigeria I have long since abandoned.
We went to the Mlimani City mall to exchange a $100 into Tanzanian shillings (Tzs). To prevent car-theft, the security guard at the gate gives you a card that you must prevent in order to leave the mall parking lot; it does not always work but it is innovative. At the money exchange place, I took out a $100 for exchange and a cashier rejected it. Apparently, it was a 1996 series and was not what they want. Strange. Good thing Josiah had told me to take all my money with me, so I just searched and found a 2001 series and I now had my first ever Tanzanian shillings. I was so excited by my big stack of cash, I didn't bother to even count. What's Swahili for high-roller?
A few thoughts random thoughts
"Karibu Tanzania"
I arrived at Dar Es Salaam just after midnight on Friday and these are some of the things I have pondered or noticed:
The 'e' in Dar Es Salaam is silent and the first 'a' in Salaam is short
Why does everyone assume I speak Swahili? Is because I'm black, isn't it?
"People only follow the rules of the road after an accident. If you follow it before [an accident], you'll get into one." - My first Tanzanian friend that has been driving me around
Motorists have the right of way: Ignore at your own peril. Three people tested my friend twice and both times, he let them know how it goes down in Tanzania
A few years ago, a Kenyan told me that male friends used to walk together with their pinkies intertwined many years back; when Western culture came, homophobia also came with it which put an end to that. I got to see two guys doing it and I didn't take a photo of it in time.
Not sure if the bites are real or just in my head, but my elbows are covered by numerous bumps.
These Tanzanians are just as bad in saying my name as I am in saying their non-English ones.
I arrived at Dar Es Salaam just after midnight on Friday and these are some of the things I have pondered or noticed:
The 'e' in Dar Es Salaam is silent and the first 'a' in Salaam is short
Why does everyone assume I speak Swahili? Is because I'm black, isn't it?
"People only follow the rules of the road after an accident. If you follow it before [an accident], you'll get into one." - My first Tanzanian friend that has been driving me around
Motorists have the right of way: Ignore at your own peril. Three people tested my friend twice and both times, he let them know how it goes down in Tanzania
A few years ago, a Kenyan told me that male friends used to walk together with their pinkies intertwined many years back; when Western culture came, homophobia also came with it which put an end to that. I got to see two guys doing it and I didn't take a photo of it in time.
Not sure if the bites are real or just in my head, but my elbows are covered by numerous bumps.
These Tanzanians are just as bad in saying my name as I am in saying their non-English ones.
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