Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
I am really starting to settle in here and enjoyed my first real weekend here in Dar. On Friday night, I attended the "Send Off" wedding party for a work colleague, as I mentioned int he previous entry the send off is when the brides family says goodbye and presents the bride to the groom. So I was really thinking it would be something low key and was expecting a small party at a hall or something with many traditional dances etc. Well to my surprise it was set up very much like an American wedding, with a big reception hall, lots of food, alcohol and a DJ, it was quite a production. first was the presenting of the cake, then the bride has to find the groom who was sitting deep amongst all the guests, then some traditional dances, more speeches, more dancing, the paying of the dowery, and then after the family gives her away the groom's family has to pay for her to sleep the night at her family's house, sort of like a hotel..the brides father said as a joke "I have given her to you and now I have no room for her in my home"
. After the Send off I wen tout to the Rose Garden (locals place) for some more beer, most of my colleagues were a little drunk, I was not since I really do not like the beer here it tastes like warm coors light ick. After miuch swahili and a few laughs I finally got home at 2AM. I lazed around on Sat morning reading my book and swimming, then I went to The Slipway for some shopping and lunch, this is a place sort of like south street seaport (well not really but close enough) with restaurants and shops. Sat night was quiet, I was tired so I watched a movie, there are these 2 great movie channels on my tv which show consecutive movies and fairly recent ones which is good but I find myself already glued to the TV for movie marathons! Sunday I visited Dar's "fire island", its called Bongoyo, I had to take a dhow over to this marine reserve (10K shillings $8), not bad I even received the 'resident rate', since I toild the guy I was working here. Funny thing here if you are a tourist they usually charge you double..word to the wise if you ever decide to travel here..just tell some white lies to get the resident rate! Beach was beautiful and I had my first swim in the crystal clear Indian ocean..it was like a warm bath but it felt great. I ended my night with a fish and rice dinner on the docks and I met a French boy (Paul) who is here in Dar for a few weeks waiting for his temporary work permit, which b/c of the umm "interesting" TZ immigrations office who like to work 'pole pole sana' (very slowly) it sometimes takes up to one month to get your passport stamped and you have to go into the office everyday and ask about the status and the response is "kesho" (tomorrow). Yikes I will start the process soon as my visa runs out in April. Paul will then go to a small town on the northwest coast of TZ to work in a hospital..we exchanged numbers and planned to meet for dinner on Tuesday. ps I successfully escaped the sunburn as I spent most of the time in the shade :-)
Comments
Hi from NC
Amy, really enjoying your updates. I always love a party and the wedding must of have been fun. Dad
Wow, what a life!
I'm so glad you are settling in. I love your blogs very expressive. You need to send me some good pictures to paint from. Love, Mom