Kisongo Market

---

Wow. Yesterday we walked a few miles in the opposite direction of Arusha to a weekly market called Kisongo. Held in a giant empty dirt lot, women and men lay out their fabrics, bags, shoes, huge tubs of spices, and most excitingly, shukas. Near our area in Tanzania live the Masai tribe. They are still a very rural tribe that live in the hills. Many of them still speak their native, tribal language, and many do not even know Swahili. They all dress in red and blue checkered blankets of different patterns, known as shukas, which they drape over their bodies in various fashions. In Swahili, 'shuka' means 'cover'. This outside market was packed and was a sea of red and blue cloth either being sold or worn. It was very hectic and crowded, but so much fun.

*As I'm writing this, Jeshua just held my hand! Can't be afraid of the blonde hair forever.

I bought my first shuka, which I will use as a blanket when we have our morning meetings. Oddly enough, they are made in China. For lunch I was introduced to the popular dish Chipsi Mayaii- literal translation "chips and eggs." This dish is served in an individual mini pie tin. They place french fries, or chips as the British call them, in the tin and fry eggs among the fries. Of course this is served with their version of ketchup. Thus far, the food here is amazing! I'm determined to write down recipes and make them back in the states.

When we got back to our house, Peter laughed at us as we attempted to wrap the shukas as they do. Although my family is not very tribal, Peter and Babu use Shukas at night as jackets.

Today we worked on site and dug holes to plant banana trees. I'm really enjoying the workouts. They will be planted as a border along the soccer field we are making, hosting kids from around the village to come play for fun or in a league.

Amazing fact, I have not yet been bitten by a mosquito. Let's hope I can still say that 50 days from now. Speaking of mosquitos, however, I am taking Malarone, a malaria medication. It gives me the absolute most vivid dreams in the world. Usually I know who is in my dreams, but I can't see faces super well. With the medication, I see faces perfectly, and when I wake up I can still remember every small detail.

Poverty- Thus far I have been surprised with how well-dressed everyone is here. In town, the men most often wear slacks and button-up shirts. I suppose the men selling goods in the markets wear jeans. And the women are always dressed in African materials, either a dress, or a skirt and shirt. Also, I don't think this is the picture of poverty that I had painted in my head because everyone is so loving and caring and grateful for what they do have. So maybe because everyone is so happy, the low-income quality of life is not as noticable. Also, Africans love to be clean. Thus far, the volunteers prefer to shower when we go into town on the weekends, in the hostel with running water. Our family laughs at us because they take bucket showers every night with water they heat up from a fire. They also sweep as much loose dirt as they possibly can out of their yard. Although I'm only showering once a week, I think the amount of dust that is probably in my hair absorbs all the oil that would be there anyway.

**to the present day I still use my shukas weekly, as beach towels and when doing Bikram yoga.

**How I would interpret Chipsi Mayaii: cut up potato chunks to be slightly bigger than french fries, fry the potatoes a bit, add egg whites and cook the potatoes into the eggs. Use a small pan so they have a shape! (They would just serve them to us in the pie tin.) Easy.

---