Kerosine

A part of the peace corps is culture exchange. Tanzanians teach me how to cook, clean and wash according to their standards. In the time that I have been in Tanzania I have not learned how to make many Tanzanians food but that's because I do no like Ugali, rice or andazi. Most of there reason are do to allergies to such food or that fact I just really don't like them but my first family of Tanzania was amazing. My mama taught me to know what it meant to be part of a family, my sisters taught me to understand how to act and talk like a young women of the culture and Mi, my youngest sister taught me to smile and laugh again. In the mean time I taught them how to make cookies, cake, how to use peanut butter in food and how to rest but most of all I taught them O-H-I-O! Now being in Lushoto, my villagers are teaching me the local language, games, conversations and what is needed in the village. In the mean time I am teaching them how to play american games, use walking/hiking as enjoyment and how to make banana bread. But I made a mistake and burned myself very badly while trying to help my neighbor make bread. Warning the next pictures are kindof bad....

This is what happens when you have hot water on a Kerosine jiko and it falls on your skin! So everyone please be careful!

You belong here

One the first day of going to my site at the base of the mountain the song playing on my Ipod was You Belong Here. This is how I feel. Life in Lushoto is wonderful. Words can not describe how this first month at site has been for me. I can honestly say I am happy, happy that makes you smile everyday and happy that is not fake or forced just plain and Simply Happy. For a long time I have been looking for missing piece of me and now I feel that I am coming together. The pieces are coming together. In the last year I have been through a lot and I finally feel like I can focus on me. Focus on getting healthy mental and physical and helping support my village to improve it. Here are pictures of my new home and happiness.

Its going to get better

This is where we stayed in Dar

 My 80lbs of stuff

 Tanzania money 1500 tsh equals about 1 dollar

 Lady Liberty in Africa

Where I stayed in Muheza with my homestay family.
Its has been almost two month since the last time I wrote on here. It has been a very busy and crazy time. I think I will be posting based on pictures and one great story of the week or month. Possible the highlight of my time. No one really like to read long blogs so I want to keep this simple and fun. I will probably have post from the past and present as well. Because during trying I kept telling myself it is going to get better!