Cookin Pancakes on a Kerosene Stove

Yep...for all you fish crockpot naysayers...yours truely cooked pancakes on a kerosene stove last night. We've been without power for a few days now...makes feeding the kids hard. Can't wait till we get the car on Sat. We live a bit out of town, I usually take taxis to town each day to do my business but to do it again at night is costly. So...creativity needs to prevail in these situations...one great advantage of no power is how early I can get the girls to sleep. They aren't real fond of taking showers in the dark so I hurry them during sunset...we read books by headlamp light under our mosquito nets...and fall asleep so early. This morning, breakfast was peanut butter on a piece of bread and a banana off a woman's head...hey that rhymes..would be a good rap verse.
The girls and I are going to Paul Oliver's safari camp this weekend..and to see a few other lodges...Sam and I are not really satisfied with the pricing and type of hotels available for our trips. I am determined to find something special. This camp is permanent tents right in the park...there are guards with guns to keep the animals at bay. Sounds exciting uh? We are seeing a few other places as well.
My friend Robby who was my guide on the mountain during both climbs is finally down from the mountain...he went up and back three times in a row!!! I found it very hard both times and can't imagine doing it three times in a row. This is not unusual for these guys..they are worked so hard and get paid so little. I found an organization in town called the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project...look it up. It is really amazing..collect clothes and mountain equipment for porters who generally don't have anything they need to survive. I use that word, survive, literally. Last week 5 porters died on the mountain from exposure. It has been cold here and also wet..they were not a part of the project obviously...so sad.
I have yet to address the poverty that exists here in an effort to show how wonderfully happy most people are with their existence. Like all of us they want more...but life is simple...the average yearly salary of a Tanzanian is less than a dollar a day. Hard to imagine really...but when you see the beauty and simplicity of this life...I don't really think most are missing something important. This will probably be an ongoing stream of thought....or theme that I will address. The first two times I was here I was always focusing on what was missing for these people...but now I think it is us who are missing this...calm, simplicity, fresh air, simple language, time with our families. In Swahili there are not too many words for negativity. There is no bad news in Tanzania...hmmm....staying positive...important. I'll address this more later when my thoughts are more fully formed...but I do know that the way i live and will continue to live is changed.
Before I came here, Scott, the ex, wanted to file a court order to basically insure that the kids would come back. He/we spent thousands of dollars doing something that could have been done over a civil cup of coffee....this is the type of thing I am refering to...why? That money could have bought an entire orphange. Seriously...provided for 200 children for an entire year...hmm...hope that will change. Hope my children will be able see past themselves after this experience. I certainly know they do already...they want to work at an orphange...Nell said she'd like to change diapers. Don't have the heart to tell her they don't even have diapers. We'll see...work in progress.
So Josh told me you all can leave comments here now...please feel free to so I don't feel like i am writing into an abyss.
Love to you All!!!
Sarah

Eddy the Elephant!!!

I am happy and proud to announce that Nell has received an Eddy the Elephant award for story writing...so Josh may be on to something about her soon to be released novel. On Fridays at school there is an all school assembly and she got her award but refused to read her work aloud...kind of the silent artist profile she's working. I think she really needed that nudge after a long week searching for her "special friend" I am also pleased to tell you that she AND I both got one this week. I met a wonderful brave woman who is South African and has three children at the International School. Her husband is doing business, by choice, in Iraq. He lives there and comes home every three months...so she is a single mom essentially. You should see her tool around this area in her car....she is so comfortable and confident...spending the day with her and our kids really helped me feel like this is even easier than I had anticipated. We went to a school picnic/swim party. One thing really struck me...the kids here are able to be so free, parenting is a whole different thing. I sat most of the afternoon with three mom's and never once did any of them wonder where their kids were or even get up to go look for them. We were in a beautiful secluded area with a pool, tons of trees, and lots of land. Kids run free and no ones worries....nell spent the whole day in trees, which seem to aid her in her friend making ablility. She was REALLY high up when i found her with the older girls....she infiltrated to cool older girls....makng Natalie in her class a bit envious....she now wants Nell to be her pal. Pearl in the meantime has a posse....she was in the water the whole time...her friends all had floaties on so her swimming abilities were her magnet. We all left on a happy note feeling happy to have made connections and been outside all day.
Sam came back to Moshi from Arusha yesterday...she was full of all she had learned about the potential bike trips and routes. These are really going to be amazing as Tanzania has such culture and beauty. So much to be seen while enjoying the glorious scenery. Today we met with our partners Rift Cross to secure the details of our two Kili climbs. Sam will go driving tomorrow to design some bike routes and the girls and I will spend the weekend exploring lodges....we will spend the night at a tented eco -lodge in Lake Manyara....they are thrilled as Paul our driver has promised them baby elephants bathing and a wonderful car for hanging upside down. I'm looking forward to leaving Moshi even though I love it here....just nice to get more of a sense of what is available. I am hoping to love this lodge and use it for my Feb. trip.
I get my car on Sat....and the girls have a bday party Friday afternoon....so even after traveling more than half way around the world...the lives of kids/parents are surprisingly similar. We'll just see goats chickens and banana vendors on the way to the party as opposed to skyscapers and streetsigns (did i mention there are NONE here).
So on a sad note...Josh 's house blew away...literally....I got a humorous email about kansas and chicago but i know this must be hard for him...please call him...moral support!!!!
My house by some miracle seems to be ok??? thanks Shawna!!!
Love to you all....life is good!!!
Sarah

Lulu is Pearl in Swahili!

I really almost named Pearl Lulu...come to find out that is the translation in Swahili....coincidence??? I think not. Let's see...I had my first experience driving on the worng side of the road today...I actually will have a car starting on Sept. 1rst. So today I drove to the market with the brother of the people who own the house I rent. All went well until I encountered one of those turnaround type things....now let's be honest, are we ever really sure who has the right a way even going the right direction.....now imagine essentially going around backwards. My head was swiveling all over the place as the natural way to look is the WRONG way to look. While most people would be scared....this whole thing just made me giggle...guess that is my reaction to flaying. All that said, I made it to the market and the ATM. I am going to tape a map to my dashboard because there are no street names here and no grid system of streets. Places are signified by what they are next to.....be it a cow or a big banana tree. Each day is a babystep to familiarity and comfort. I am enjoying the challenge of it all. Even the girls were squealing " don't crash" fromthe back seat as i drove them to school. Thery are being super brave and daring in their own rights. It is not easy to be the "new kid" let alone the only American in a very unfamiliar place. Pearl has made to transition seamlessly while Nell may be a bit more aware of the social dynamics of it all....she is also in a very boy-heavy class and has not yet found what she refers to as a "special friend". Tonight is the disco at school. Nell asked me this morning if it wuld be like a prom?! How does she know these things? She said she wasn't ready for the date aspect of that....I assured her she'd be going with me and Lulu.
Hot dogs and soda are on the menu....so both are thrilled. Tomorrow we have a picnic and swimming party also with the school. I've gotten a little more bold with the other mom's....in an effort to show Nell also...they have been telling me about where to shop for food which is an ordeal compared to my beloved Whole Foods. There seems to be a woman who comes down from the mountain on Wed.s with fresh veggies and soon 400 chickens will be slaughtered if i want in on that action....yogurt is made Thursdays...and avocados and bananas of course best bought off women's heads. The good news...real organic living and eating....the bad news....I don't know how to cook any of it. I have a friend and his family coming over Sunday for a cooking lesson....yikes...hope Nell doesn't spill my fish in a crockpot secret.
We found the biggest praying mantis i have ever seen on our stairs last night....are those harmless??? I think so and for sure told the girls as much....let me know if i am wrong. Wondering if my basement is flodded in Chicago....anyone dare to go check for me??? I heard the weather there is WET. Keep dry and stay in touch!!!
Love and Peace
Sarah

I met Jimmy Carter today

So it is an everyday occurence to get approached by people. Mzungus (white people, said with out an ounce of malice) are a rarity...I don't really realize how much we stick out until I watch people look at Nell and Pearl. Yes...at times jaws drop. Interesting to be the minority...such a lesson to the way we receive people and how much we can express just through open faces. The girls actually love the extra attention....
I got sidetracked....Jimmy Carter, I don't know if you know this but he is a short Tanzanian man who sells batik for a living. He really wanted me to slow down and look at his work today....I had to catch myself from laughing outloud when he introduced himself....didn't dare ask after Amy.
I also met Micheal Rasta today...he is one of the partners in a group called Kilibikes....Samantha ( who arrived last night with macaroni for the girls) and I are planning trips on bikes for Global Alliance for africa. These 3 guys have started a mountain bike company that does trips all over this area. They have a pretty impressive array of used mountain bikes. We are going to do a sample trip with them in the next few days. Sam has lofty ideas of planning a Sea to Summit trip...climb Kili and ride to the coast. Think I'll leave that one to her...I was thinking a more casual cultural trip around the base of Kili visiting the mountain villages and seeing both Tanzania and Kenya. But this meeting got our wheels (pardon the pun) working....we need to ship NEW mountain bikes for our trips in the next container leaving Chicago in a month...anyone wanna head this endeavor up? Having good bikes here would ensure a safe and comfortable trip for our friends and clients. I don't know if you know this but I am here to develop the Travel Initiative for Global Alliance for Africa. We send trips of people here to raise money for the several programs GAA runs here....orphanages to Woman's cooperatives. Check out GAA's (new almost I think) website to get more info. The basic idea is that everyone who travels here with us fundraises a certain amount which goes directly to the women and children we serve here. I saw a few programs 4 years ago when I climbed Kili with GAA. Those images and the power of their programs have never left me. I rarely turn on a water tap in my house in Chicago without thinking about the fact that I have a clean ENDLESS water source....and that my children have a safe clean home in which to live....GAA's work is moving to say the least...thus the main reason we are here.
Anyway...I ramble....anyone have any ideas about getting some decent mountain bikes donated? We have a container coming...so that part is taken care of....any thoughts appreciated. Alex....what about Orbea? Just a thought....
well...need sleep, wonder who I'll meet tomorrow???
Peace....
Sarah

Rock and Roll Literally

So last night we had small earthquake. For those of you that haven't looked at a map to see directly where we are...Tanzania is right on the Great Rift Valley. About 3 weeks before we came there was a pretty big quake registering 6.6 on the Ricter Scale....where's Ned Field( a seismologist I dated) when you need him? Anyway, it was a pretty cool feeling...we were all safely in bed which seems to be the prefered location...the bed shook and kinda rolled. Pretty exciting for this Midwesterner. Nell and Pearl had no clue, except when it came time to make their coveted toast in the morning and we had no power. What seemed like big news to me wasn't to the rest of Moshi...business as usual commenced outside.
I took a cab into town, not quite ready to brave the "dala dala" ( local VERY crowded somewhat smelly buses) alone. I sat at the local coffee shop and watched the weather change back to beautiful. I have a small list of household items we need so I was daring myself to go negotiate (as EVERYTHING is a negotiation) these puchases.
Here's the scene, I walk into a stall for lack of a better desciption, pick out my purchases and am told it will be 30,000 TSH (tanzanian shillings) equivalent of about 30 dollars. HA..I told him I would give him 7000. Done. There are no hard feelings in these negotiations.....just a fact of life. My friend here told me that whenever buying something he hasn't purhased before, he calls all his friends to get a range of prices. Can you imagine the time involved in this....thus the reason trying to get a lot accomplished here is difficult.
The environmentalist in me is feeling satisfied here, I hang my clothes on the line, have no dishasher and no car(yet). The simplicity of life and it's daily tasks feels familiar....like I should have been born in another time. As you can tell I am really enjoying myself. Nell and Pearl are in school all day today...which offers me the time to explore and learn. Nell has signed up for gardening...the Montessorian in her is screaming to come out. Pearl takes satisfaction on getting to stay all day and the fact that there is a "duka" (store) on campus that I let them get ice cream from after school. All is well here in Tanzania.
Love to you all,
Sarah

Nell put down the book...there's an elephant!!!!

What's UP!!!!!
Hi it's me finally. Thanks to josh who stepped in so humorously for the first two updates...how about his writing? Did I mention I was his teacher???
So much to write for sure this entry will have a somewhat ADD inflicted tone to it. Let me just give you a sensory image of where I am right now. I am sitting in my new bedroom in our new house...Mt. Kilimanjaro is looming right out my window and also from my terrace...yes terrace. No hut for us this year. I found the most beautiful house...huge 4 bathrooms 3 with actual showers?! The house is gated and has a live on the premises gardner....we'll be needing him because my green thumb is about as apparent as my cooking skills. Oh..back to the imagery...big banana trees surround the property, purple flowers everywhere. The sunset last night was so beautiful I had a lump in my throat. I feel so lucky...the girls each have their own room with little beds equiped with mosquito nets....a must in this Malaria ridden portion of Africa. Don't worry we are taking our medicine with stedfast regularity.
I have been lucky enough for the last few weeks to have been joined by Dayna Block and her two kids. Wow our safari was great...at every stop the kids scrambled up on the roof of the vehicle, finding that almost as much fun as seeing the lions,elephants, zebras, hyenas, giraffes etc. that were almost within their reach. I have wonderful pictures of my kids observing the animals with their new binoculars ( thanks Ted and Dara). It was thrilling and exhausting which seems to be the theme. I was explaining to Gabby, Dayna's 15 year old, that Africa has high highs....and low lows...to survive we really have to enjoy the highs. Dayna saved us through our first stomach ailment...I've been reassured super common for kids upon arrival. Everyone is 100% so no worries and much learned.
One of my favorite thing these days is watching Nell and Pearl walk to school. The have all the obligatory Swahili phrases down pat...so tehy greet each and every person with a chirping "jambo" "habari asurburi" (hello, goodmorning) People turned shocked to look at them often but they just smile and say hello!!! It is a pure pleasure to have them with me experiencing this....love to share it with any of you as well!!!!
I'll try to write soon....we miss all of you but are thrilled to be here!!!! Keep those emails coming...
LOVE AND PEACE!!!
Sarah

Sasa by Proxy, Part Deux

Don't get excited folks -- still Josh, the ghost writer. I just got a very brief note from Sarah who apparently was able to email me but not update the blog. Hmm...I should have known I'd be authoring this thing for the next year. Anyway, the email was short and written in a choppy "..." format, similar to when Superman is pleading for help after being exposed to his radioactive green nemesis. Need help...kryponite strong...losing...strength. Good news is that the info, albeit short-winded, was all positive, so here's the quick update from Supergirl:

Seems they found a house that Sarah claims is "better than Hoyne Street." For those who don't know, Hoyne is where Sarah and the girls live in Chicago, and it's a great, spacious place, so I'm imagining she must have luckily happened upon Tanzania, 90210. Not sure when they move in, but if/when Sarah sends some pictures, I'll upload to the blog (note: this requires said Sasa to a) take photos, b) upload them via memory card to her laptop, c) find an internet connection, d) attach them to an email, e) press send. Which one might not happen? f) all of the above. But let's hope for the best!). Word from Jodi (sister of Dayna who is over there with Sarah now) is that the hotel has been great, so they clearly aren't wanting for nice accomodations.

Looks like Nell and Pearl start school Monday, and all are thrilled with the International School. The report is that it's an amazing place with lots of outdoor space and turtles (not a typo, she said turtles). The girls are excited as they get to wear uniforms to school, and are apparently already applying their newfound Swahili to communicate. Word is that the teachers are great and have been very helpful and welcoming to the Wood-Prince transplants and their Block/Rosenberg tag-alongs.

Sounds like the motley crew (copyright, Jodi) of Sasa, Nell, Pearl, Dayna, Gabby, and Noah are en route or currently taking part in a 3-day safari, so the communication will probably be even less until they get back to home base. Hopefully some pictures and fun stories will come with the next update -- can you imagine all of those kiddos seeing those animals up close for the first time? You can certainly tell from Sarah's email (and Dayna confirmed) that she is in her element, thrilled to be there, and that they all have carpe diem on the brain and are soaking it all in every second of the day.

Until the next update from Dian Fossey in a minivan, enjoy the day and know that Sarah, Nell, and Pearl send their love to all.