Still Sweating it Out

Hi everyone, hope you are doing well. It's Sunday night and I am just sitting here as sweat drops off my face. I think I'm kind of hot. It's been an interesting few days, a few lessons learns, a few sights taken in. I think I last left the blog on Thursday morning so I will just start from there. Thursday night a big TAWE meeting was scheduled and all members were supposed to attend. I had been kind of discouraged up until this point with their interest and involvement, so I was just kind of expecting a dull meeting with no progress. The meeting was set to start at 4:00pm so Loyce and I left the house at 3:30 and made a few stops and then made our way over to the meeting. I sat with the board a few minutes and shared some information and examples I had put together with the Treasurer. Her record keeping was pretty poor and my recommendation had been to just start fresh. Prior records were missing or lost or stolen and there was nothing they could do about that, but based on the information I shared with the Treasurer, my suggestion was to start fresh and begin being organized and detailed about the financial records. The meeting, though scheduled to start at 4, did not start until 5:15 and women just kind of came in whenever they felt like it. I am coming to learn that this is the way of Tanzanians. American, or rather Western, business, does not translate so well here. I greeted each woman and handed out the agenda information and then sat in the back. The meeting lasted about two hours and I spent most of it lost somewhere in my head since the meeting was held in Swahili. At some times I thought it was going well, other times not so sure. There were some new members who were really giving it to the board regarding their record keeping and leadership and I really admired those members, thinking the org needed a lot more people like that. Afterwards I met with the board and learned that they went through almost everything that we had discussed and that really impressed me. Despite their lack of communication with me, I had the sense of hope that my being there at least spurred them into action and they resolved a lot of open issues. I can only hope that this continues. After the meeting I took Loyce to dinner at this awesome outdoor restaurant. There is little lighting so you eat by candle and we had some myshikaka (sp.?) which is just meat roasted over charcoal - like real charcoal straight from the tree. It comes with a chili and we got some chips (fries) and salad. This is the second time I've eaten at this place and I love it, the meat is cooked so well and its so fresh, judging by the hour we wait for our food each time. Loyce and I had a few drinks (though I stopped at 2!) and just had a really nice discussion about random things. I learned that her husband died some years ago and she would like another relationship but its not so easy at that age here, most men are already married or want her money. I was asking about Edina and learned that she is actually 30!!!! Edina looks like a 15 year old girl and that completely surprised me. Since Edina has worked with Loyce for a long time, I asked if Edina was too old to get married here or what she would do. So just a little aside on Edina - she is tiny. I mean kind of tall, but just super skinny, nio hips or breasts, probably a very western view of beauty. So it was funny and interesting to me when Loyce turned to me and said, "Edina is very beautiful, but her body is very queer." So we had this discussion of how men in Africa love women with curves and with a full figure, not women like Edina. Loyce said 'Maybe if we can find her a white man we can get her married.' That made me laugh very hard. . . .On Friday I just lounged around all day. In the morning Loyce and I ran errands and in the afternoon my TAWE appointments cancelled . . . surprise surprise. This is a feeling I am getting used to so I am just trying to enjoy my time with Loyce and going around town. Friday night we were supposed to go out with some friends but Loyce went to a meeting and then met a friend and one thing led to another and I think she had a nice time out drinking and basically forgot about me. I stayed home with the girls and bought them some beers and we just chilled watching Africa Magic . . . So that brings me to Saturday . . . Do you remember last weekend when Loyce and I went to the island and met two guys? And we had all exchanegd numbers and Loyce had some interest in doing business with them? So one of the guys, Jim, had called and asked if we wanted to go to the beach on Saturday morning. I checked with Loyce and she said she couldnt come but I could go. So I made plans with Jim and then even double checked with Loyce to make sure she was okay with me going - and nto just that she was okay but that she trusted who I was going with. She went in circles but in the end said I would be good. So Saturday morning Jim picked me up and we met another friend of his Matt and we went to the island together. I had a really nice afternoon, a good walk on the beach, a lot of snorkeling, and a good boat ride. On the boat ride over we happened across some dolphins and it was pretty neat. We were about to jump in and go swimming with the dolphins when we realized we had no masks . . but that is what I like about this trip so much, just the idea that if we had wanted to, we could have just jumped right in and hung out with the dolphins. I guess it's like this adventure streak or something? I also had the best lunch ever on the island. So we had ordered a fish and some chips and then Jim had bought some fresh octapus and squid with him that the kitchen (i.e. outside open fire) cooked up. So we were all sitting there in our bathing suits, eating on shared plates with our hands and it was just fabulous. We spent the rest of the day swimming and hanging out before we left around 5. So Jim and Matt had asked me if I wanted to come to a BBQ that evening. I called Loyce and spoke with her and she was fine with it. We went to this huge fish market, like a true africa fish market, and bought 20 fish in auction. The fish were cleaned and gutted and then we headed over for the BBQ. I had a really nice time - no so much because of the company and not even because of the food, but it was just nice to sit outside, be around people close to my age, and be out after dark. Matt is from the UK and a very funny guy, so it was also nice to just joke around with him. I was home by 11:00pm. So it turns out that Loyce doesnt like Jim. She doesnt really trust him and she doeant really want me to hang out with him. So this morning we had a bit of a fight about it. So a little about Jim - he is 37 and married to the daughter of the President of the DRC (Congo). He has a crap load of money and a crap load of businesses - same with Matt, who is only 22 and moved here 3 years ago. These guys are the biggest wheelers and dealers you would ever met. They are always looking to make a dime and have contacts everywhere. It was annoying at first to listen to them but I just started ignoring it. So anyway, Jim was a nice guy, though definitely interested in me. I had already had the conversation with him about not being interested, only being friends, etc. And I had made that same point clear to Loyce . . . so it was a surprise to me this morning when we got into a fight about him. She said she didnt want me near him or doing anything with him. Basically the point is that she thought I was doing something with him and didnt like that. And I was pissed because she was not listening to me and because she told me many times that she was okay with me hanging out with him. I was so mad because I don't like Jim, was really only happy to be with someone younger, and would have listened to anything she told me to do. So I resolved not to speak with him again. But after that I was so annoyed that I needed to get some energy out and had Loyce take me to a gym. I worked out there for about 2 hours and then walked home. I felt a lot better after I came home. Then in the evening Edina and I took a walk to Coco Beach and then on the way back we stopped and had some dinner. Again, it was nice to be out after dark and with someone my age.
So I feel like I have skimmed over a lot of this stuff and I really can't help that . . . I dont have a lot of time on the computer and its hard to always remember what happened or how I felt when it happened OR to provide all the detail. I hope some of this makes sense!
Shout-out to Maddy Gitomer . . . of course I never stop thinking about you. And I totally love Without a Trace. Oh that Poppy Montgomery . . .
And a shout-out to Amer, was listening to our dollar dollar bill song today at the gym and I missed you!
Its hard to believe I've already been here for 5 weeks . . . time flies when life is crazy . . . .
Love,
Ann