What's that smell...

...? Oh, it's me. When i first got here, i made a note to myself about the way people smell here. it's different. and, well, it's not always entirely pleasant. Kent warned me that I'd get used to it, and he was right. After 4 1/2 weeks of drinking the Tanzanian water and eating Tanzanian food, I too smell like a Tanzanian. Rob, this is a warning to you. No amount of fancy western deodorant can beat this. It's just the way it is.

I got done with work early today - the kids are all doing well and I figured I'd take advantage of the afternoon. I met up with Kent - speak of the devil - and we went to McMoody's for a late lunch. Only they don't have sandwiches that late in the day, so i settled for a strawberry milkshake, which was quite possibly the best milkshake I've ever had. (keep in mind, it's all relative. i've been drinking mostly water and tonic water here it was a veritable tastebud-explosion at first sip) Then we stopped for gas and were, as always, hit up by a couple of women carrying baskets of food on their heads and begging for us to buy some. Actually it was a pretty sweet deal - specifically the passionfruit which (once you get past the slimy texture) is absolutely delicious. I can't wait for Rob to see all of this. The people on the street willing to chop fresh sugar cane for you, faster than you can eat it - the little kids who run after us yelling "Mzungu!" and just want to shake our hands and then run away giggling - and how graceful the women are, walking down a rutty street with a full basket of fruit or water on their heads.

I feel like my blog entries are too depressing. I don't want to give the wrong impression - being here is actually a lot of FUN. Most of all, it's a privilege to get to live and work here, rather than in a hotel or just pass through on vacation. I do not regret a moment of it. Yes, work is frustrating, but there are more successes than failures. And the people, Tanzanian and otherwise, really do make the experience a great one.