Category: Other Page 161 of 181

There’s always parts about living in Africa that could be considered “inconveniences” or “problems” but that I am learning to choose to see as “adventures.” And sometimes, I succeed.

Last week we saw two chalk lines headed down our road and around the corner. They also happened to pass directly through our driveway. A couple days later, when we saw workers digging a trench between those two lines, we got a little worried that the trench was therefore headed for our driveway.

And indeed, it was, as you can see from the picture above. The water company decided to put in a new pipe and figured our driveway was the best path.

Thankfully, after living here five years, I’ve had enough practice seeing such things as “adventures” that I actually saw the whole thing as rather humorous. After making friends with all the workmen by bringing them orange Kool-aid, they were all very helpful when it came to passing children and bags over the large trench in order to get in and out of the car and in and out of my house. And when it rained and the entire thing became one giant mud pit and I was still trying to get in and out of the car with two small children, it became even more humorous.

One thing is for certain: Life does not get boring here.

However, lest you think I am now an expert at being “adventurous,” I am struggling very hard to take the recent news of more power cuts with an adventurous spirit. During the entire year of 2006, Tanzania endured a major power shortage and we were without electricity from 7 am till 7 pm each day. Now there is once again a power shortage, and starting last week, we are without power from 9 am till 6 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. I’m afraid this will be only the beginning…as is often the case.

It certainly is not the end of the world to be without power two days a week. There are many people in the world, including most of Tanzania, who never have electricity, but when you have it, you depend on it. All of the work I do at home (school projects, lesson planning, and work on my master’s degree) is done on my computer. But probably the hardest part is no fans now that we are entering summer.

So. I am trying to remind myself that there are far greater inconveniences in life, and I should be most concerned about how power rationing affects the economy of Tanzania, since so many businesses and factories are reliant on it.

Okay. It’s an adventure, right? We’ll play outside in the sprinkler more; I won’t have to worry about getting my computer work done since I can’t do it anyway; and it will make me all the more grateful for when the power is on. Such is the stuff of sanctification.

A number of months ago, about a mile from our house, we saw a large sign appear labeled “Zoo,” with an arrow pointing down the road.

We were intrigued. There’s never been a zoo in Dar es Salaam, and the arrow pointed down a road that didn’t lead to much.

So yesterday, since there was no school, we decided to be adventurous and find the Zoo. The signs led us through a village, down a bunch of very bumpy, very dusty dirt roads, to what looked like someone’s house.

It was someone’s house. And the Zoo was in their backyard. A very, very large backyard, mind you, but a backyard just the same. The owner and his family live there. When we arrived, their laundry was hanging out to dry and they were just finishing lunch.

We did a little negotiating over the price (think you could do that at the San Francisco Zoo?), and since we were the only visitors there, the wife and her little boy showed us around.

It actually was more than we were expecting. They had a few zebra, wildebeest, a baby crocodile, two lion cubs (repeatedly labeled “Lion Curbs” in the brochure), some gorgeous birds and a few other things. The cages were all hand made but sturdy, and the animals looked relatively healthy. All of the animals were native to Tanzania. I asked our guide how they got them.

“We have trappers,” she said.

Oh. Got it.

Wildebeast. Not quite the same as seeing them in herds of hundreds out in the wild.

Loved seeing all the birds up close, though it was a little depressing to see the gorgeous birds of prey in cages too small to fly in.

These were my favorite. Gigantic land tortoises. I think they are native to Zanzibar Island, since that’s the only other place I’ve seen them before. They are enormous, very gentle, and very old (can have longer life spans than humans).

Too bad we didn’t get Daddy in this picture. Could have been our next prayer card!

At the end of the visit, Gil asked Grace what animal was her favorite.

“Minnie,” she replied. Interesting, considering our Jack Russell wasn’t at the Zoo.

Actually, I think her favorite was a little monkey that fascinated her.

“Mommy,” she said. “He’s talking to me!”

“Really? What’s he saying?”

“He’s saying that he wants to get out of this…this…[looking up and down at the cage]…this basket!”

You’re right, Grace. I think that’s what he was telling you.