Just call me mzungu

DSM, January 2007

Karibu! So, we've been here round about a week and we learn new things everyday, mostly by making frequent mistakes; like dalla dallas, i.e. buses, to the wrong place. That said, we are having a grrrreat time (pronounce like Tony the Tiger or random Scottish dude).

Of course, one issue that rarely can be forgotten is how we stick out here like, well, one of just a few white folks in a very black country. Sure, we've both traveled in East Africa before but it still strikes me as odd that local people will walk by and simply utter the Kiswahili word, Mzungu, the word for European or American (think "whitey"). It doesn't have negative connotations, per se, but is simply an acknowledgement that you aren't from these here parts. Nevertheless, it's not like, back in the States, every time I see a minority person or foreigner that I utter the word for them aloud and directly to their face, "Hey, black person! Hey, Chinese woman! Hey Peruvian!"

One of the more unexpected aspects of life here so far is meeting folks who aren't from Tanzania. We've hung out w/ people from Congo and Zimbabwe the last few days, cool.

Oh, one other thing, it's settled once and for all and right quick: no one says Tanzania, as in Tan-zah-knee-ah, no ma'am. It's pronounced Tan-zay-knee-ah or maybe Tahn-zahn-knee-ah. It's taking a bit of time to rid myself of that mispronounciation but I'm on it like a bad suit on a car salesman.

kwa herini...