Nov. 6.....GOBAMA Fever.......Moshi

I woke up yesterday and hooked straight into the internet to find out the results of the election. Nobody really believed me when I explained why I had yelled a big Canadian "WooHoo!" from my bedroom - I don't know how to say the words "won the election" in Swahili so I settled for "Obama is president", but I got the replies "Insha Allah" - God willing - it took some time for me to convince them that it had already happened. By afternoon word had spread throughout the town and everybody had Obama on their lips and hope in their heart. Because Tanzania is so close with Kenya they are proud to have a nearly fellow countryman in office and I think all of the African community is united in hope that their lives will somehow get better because a black man is in power. It will be disappointing for many when they find that no more help is coming from America just because the mother of the new American president made a kid with a Kenyan man. Still I think the power of the hope that has been inspired is as important as any change he will make in office. Personally I am a non political person, but had goose bumps for a total of about four hours yesterday. Hearing the news put a smile on my face all day which is difficult to do these days... I’m suffering from the blues. I know logically that not as much will change as we would hope for but to know that there is still something to believe in is a great medicine. It almost fights my decision to never bring children into this suffering, senseless dying world. Whoops! got a bit depressing there but that’s life.

People are sending and forwarding text messages to each other and to me congratulating each other on the African American in office. Some examples:
"
____@
__/ ["]\____
{_(@)______(@)\

Peep..peep.. Am coming 2 pick you 2 celebrate 4 the winning of OUR fellow black American Barak Obama"

"

"I trusted you but you have a mouth that never closes. Why did you tell everyone my secret that Barak Obama is my Uncle?"

"I received a message from America today that said Barak Obama chose me to come and visit him in the new Black House. He said I could invite one friend and I choose you."

*messages are partially edited for Canadian English speakers



Today has been declared a national holiday in Kenya in celebration of the election of Barak Obama and "They have slaughtered many cows" - good news from the streets of Moshi.

Nov 3...A Halloween Party of One......Moshi

Determination. My mother taught me an important lesson when I was in my late teens and she was in her early twenties (well, early fifties, but she had just started dating again so we had some things in common). When I was feeling low because I couldn't rally troops to join me in some social event I would often mope around the house all weekend, complaining to my mother while sitting on the bathroom counter while she so bravely prepared herself for the weekly single's dance. She would get tired of my whining and very blatantly tell me that if I wanted to have fun I had to make it myself.

"Don't ask someone if they want to go to the movies. Tell them that you are going and let them know that they are welcome to join you. And if no one joins you, go anyway. If you go out by yourself, you only have to be brave for ten minutes. By the time you get where you are going you will start to enjoy yourself and don't have to be brave anymore."

I know she was convincing herself as well as me as I would often find her pacing in her room on a Friday night, wearing pantyhose and a bra, trying to muster up the courage to face the world as a single, fun loving, middle aged woman. One night she even had me copy my Chinese Tattoo on her shoulder with a permanent black marker to bring out the rebel inside.

So it was in this spirit that I decided that I would celebrate Halloween in Moshi. I spent the entire day making myself a costume and was met by many a confused face when I explained to onlookers that I wanted to dress myself as a lion. With half of my costume finished, I went to the store to get some candy to distribute and the shopkeeper, who I speak to on a daily basis, announced "Happy Birthday!" and gave me extra candy as this could be the only explanation for such odd behavior. My English speaking friends got the gist of the holiday with much explanation, but with my limited Swahili I think most of the others came away with that October 31st every Canadian paints their face like a cat and eats candy.

I tried to find people to go to the bar with me, not even mentioning that I would look a bit freakish. I ended up calling Bob, my old standby because he has an underlying belief that I will one day marry him and make his failing business a success. He also has a car. And a girlfriend. And a newborn son. So he came by to pick me up, with his girlfriend and two month old baby, Bob Junior coming along. (Yes the baby came along to the bar and no that’s not an odd thing here.) I carried Bob Junior to the bar where I met my old friend, Abbas, who I hadn't seen in at least a year. Ditching the whole Bob clan, I had a great night with Abbas, some of his Canadian safari clients and two of Jerry's brothers who showed up later. Maybe great night is an over statement. It was nice. With the right crew it could have been a rager but I have learned that great nights out can't be planned in TZ. They just happen and hopefully you are in the right mood and have enough money in your pocket to follow along.

I was one of about 20 white people at the bar and was dressed like a lion. I stood out a bit but kept forgetting I was wearing a costume. I gave out candy to anyone that said trick or treat but other than that it was just catching up and sharing stories with new and old friends all night.