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Published: December 1st 2006
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What's for Sale?
These ladies are all along the road, selling whatever they can to passersby. The last month has gone by fast. So let me get you up to speed. I’ll try to cover the high points without going into too much detail. Who am I kidding? If I am telling the story you get the details no matter what - if you are short on time read it in two settings, or sign up at the local University for a speed reading class.
We are staying with Cy and Stephanie Stafford in their home. Fortunately it is large enough for us all and we aren’t having to camp out on their couch, although she has a huge couch perfect for sleeping on. We have known Cy and Stephanie for many years. We met them when we first stepped foot on Africa soil in October of 1992. I find it ironic that we returned in October of this year and they were once again waiting for us at the airport. We have lots in common and between the four of us, are dear friends and confidants.
Although we have been in Arusha several times, there are things that you just won’t know without living here. Stephanie and Cy have been busy letting us in on all
Watermelon Anyone?
Fresh fruit ... and I mean fresh! the hotspots, shopping areas, prices to expect and directions to all the places we will need to go.
For your reading pleasure and amazement I have compiled some interesting pricing facts for you. I have been pleasantly surprised to find that most of the fruit is incredibly cheap, very fresh and makes Del Monte look like last weeks leftovers. Don’t choke on your Big Mac as you read - I would hate for you to waste a single bite!
Dollars
Parking for a day 0.24
Stamp tp US 0.64
10 Roses 1.04
Tunafish per can 1.92
18 oz cokes 0.11
Jar vaseline 2.72
Jar jelly 3.04
Johnsons Baby Shampoo 3.19
Pancake Syrup 3.28
Crest Complete toothpaste 3.52
Lea and Perrins Steak 4.48
1 10' pizza 5.16
Pantene Shampoo 5.68
SweetnLow (100 pac) 5.68
1 pd grapes 6.00
Old ElPaso Salsa 6.32
box Rice Krispies 7.60
Lysol Cleaner (35oz) 9.76
St Ives Shampoo 10.64
Ivory Snow Fabric Soft 10.88
bath towel 13.20
1 jug Liquid Tide (reg size) 20.08
Gallon diesel 4.00
To fill up our car 152.00
As you can see … some things are quiet cheap … cokes, roses (I finally got a dozen
Potatoes, Pototoes?
One potatoe, two potatoe, three potatoe, four roses!!! Actually they bundle them in 10 instead of 12) I haven’t seen the nurseries yet, but they tell me that Tanzania is one of the largest rose exporters to Europe in Africa. And then you get to basically every thing else. Oddly enough if you are willing to pay for it you can buy it! I expected the fuel to be expensive … and even expected some of the American type foods to be a little higher in price .. but the things that really surprised me are the cleaning supplies, both for personal hygiene and for household cleaning. Now, you all know why I had detergent on my list of things to bring over!!
No Mt. Dew sad to say. (Pause for sighs)
We are beginning to find our way around town and have our driver’s licenses, which you purchase, rather than test for. It seems if you have a driver’s license from another country, you qualify to drive here. No DMV here! And if there were, it would be filled to the max every day. This is the craziest group of driver’s I have ever seen in my life!! There are no lights, no stop signs,
Bunny Bread?
How many loafs fit on one bike? no merge signs, no lines on the roads!!! Just chaos. It is common for drivers to pass you on both sides while driving down what we would consider a two-lane highway - with oncoming traffic coming! Road rage takes on a WHOLE NEW MEANING! Last week I literally watched a man (who was wrongfully in the road), get hit and flung to the hood of a car (who was wrongfully going in the wrong direction in the wrong lane) …. The car stopped .. the man got off the hood of the car … and both left the scene of the crime as if it was just another misunderstanding! I couldn’t believe it!
To add to the driving confusion are those on bikes, those driving the pushcarts, and all along the roadside are men and women selling something, anything to make a dollar. Most are women selling fruits and vegetables, and men with their store on wheels selling whatever they can find to buy and resale. It reminds me of the vendor who used to come to my Granny Akins via truck. He’d have flour, milk, eggs, pots, pans, crackers, and candy. I imagine if I had paid attention
It's the Real Thing!
Coke is the Universal drink .... been to the bush? Coke is there .. I know - I've seen it! when he was there, he probably had shoes, socks, and who knows what else. These “traveling salesmen” as it were, move all their goods on a makeshift trailer, which they pull along until they find a good spot to set up.
The women will buy or grow the veggies in large quantities, then set up and sell small piles of whatever they have to help increase their profits. During the day you can also see women setting up to sell various food for lunch or dinner. One of the most common is roasted corn ears. They will start early enough to get the coals hot, set the full ears of corn over the flame until cooked. It is tough, chewy, and actually quiet good if you like a cross between popcorn, cornbread, and Corn Nuts. Preventive medicine - make your dentist appointments BEFORE you eat one of these.
We have located temporary housing and are excited about getting into our own space. It is available for us Dec 15th, Is not far from the school or town and will work perfectly until permanent housing is ready. In addition, our container arrived on Thursday night and we unloaded it in
Traveling Salesman
I remember the traveling salesmen when I was young, but I don't think he had to PULL his truck! one hour … a huge difference in the minimum of 8 hours it took to load it. We will have to move it again into our temporary housing which we do not have access to until the 15th of Dec … but at least it is here and in record time! Less than 7 weeks from the US to us.
We have started to settle into the responsibilities that we each will have, taking on a little at a time to become familiar with it. The work here is incredibly organized and there is something for everyone to do. I will be taking on some accounting work to help take some of the data work off Cy. Anthony is getting ready to assume his role as Dean of Students, and is on the schedule to teach several classes in the spring semester. And we both are teaching Bible studies whenever we are able to get to the villages.
The “Sew Be It” project has its first meeting Dec 9th and I am working to get everything ready for our first sewing endeavor. It should be interesting to say the least to try to explain why we would want to
Road Rage!
I'll NEVER complain about traffic in the US ever again!! take a perfectly good piece of fabric, cut it into smaller pieces, only to sew it all back together again. I’ll be sure to let you all know how that goes!
We have been on lots of Bible studies, and are enjoying the freedom and the interest in studying the Bible. Each week we are usually in homes 2 - 3 days a week. It is odd … instead of trying to find a way to get rid of us, like it seems it is the case often in America, those we are studying with will say. “Can I ask one more question please?” I can’t fully explain the liberating feeling it gives you to actually know you have more Bible studies than you have time to get to them. That is one of the main reasons why we chose to come to Tanzania to work.
We are really excited about it all and hope you will write, via email, or this journal and let us know what you are thinking. I know what we are thinking, “I can’t believe we are in Africa!”
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Karen Latner
non-member comment
Northport, AL
Shasta, Thanks so much for your informative blog. It is so interesting to read someone else's thoughts and How they perceive life in Africa. I look forward to hearing how the sewing projects go. I feel it will be a big success. Thanks for you and yours and the work you are doing. Your sister in Christ, Karen Latner