This morning I got up and went for my first run in Africa. We left camp at about 6:30 am and started on the “long” trail which is about 5km long. The run takes you around the base of Moyo Hill and through a series of little community farms. It was not my easiest run since we are at altitude and there were a few good sized hills but I fared better than I expected. I also did get to see the sun rise turning the sky brilliant shades of pink and yellow with streaks of blue.
Today was also our first day of classes. We began the “school” at 8am with Wildlife Ecology until 9:30am. From 10 am til 11am we had Swahili Language class and learned the correct pronunciation of the alphabet and several more words. 11:30 to 12:30 covered Massai Culture and began to show us how the world looks though Massai eyes. Some of their ceremonies and traditions are being changed by the government because of the non-sustainability (such as killing a lion to show your bravery and courage) or health hazards (circumcision) of what is involved. House building, labor division, and modern changes they have had to make were all covered. Our chief here is also Massai and has offered to get us the traditional spear and/or short sword if we would like them…who knows what I’ll come home with! Our last class of the day was Environmental Policy which was from 2pm til 4pm. It was not my favorite class. It was hot in the classroom, this is not my preferred subject material and we were there for two hours straight. I was not alone in zoning out on occasion. Lots of information was tossed at us today but I’m sure I’ll fall into the school rhythm very soon.
After our last class all the girls ran and changed into our skirts and the group headed to the huge market held every 7th of the month in Karatu. On the way we were given a quick lesson in bargaining and then set loose with the suggestion that we stay in pairs as we wandered. Immediately that we arrived we were swamped by salesmen trying to get us to buy jewelry, paintings, and all manner of other things. While I had hoped to practice my primitive Swahili, the word I ended up saying the most was “No” or “Hapana.” There were so many people of all ages crowded around endless numbers of stalls. It was sort of divided into sections so food was in one area, shoes were in another, and clothes and fabric were in still another. After much searching, I finally found two length of fabric that I liked. After much haggling I got the vendor down to 13,000 Tanzanian shillings from 20,000 (I believe 1,000 shillings is $0.35). Several other students also bought stuff and I am happy to say my price was the lowest of the bunch. While our driver laughed at the outrageous prices we paid, I still was happy at my savings and therefore did not mind being gouged by the locals. The tailor is coming tomorrow so we have him make things out of our fabrics.
This evening we signed up and are meeting with our committees. There are several sustainability committees and a few more the group has created based on our interests (fine dining, ballroom dancing, running etc.). It appears that my main focus will be on the electric committee wiring a bike to generate power that can be stored or used to cut down the electricity used here at the base. I have no real idea how to do this but my favorite engineer is helping from home and I get to ask the local mechanic for advice. Fingers crossed on that one. We are also starting a gardening/compost/recycling committee which has lots of cool ideas. The garden here needs a lot of help (drip hosing is our goal), the plastic water bottles can be used in the local area as slow irrigation for plants, and the kitchen scraps need to be put to better use that the trash. I believe that is all of my adventures for today guys!
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