Nimefurahi Sana.

The title of this blog post states "I am very happy." It is also long overdue, I had typed it while I was on the coast working on my independent study project but found that all internet nearby where we were staying was down and I have added fun and not fun things from the whole experience:

One of the things I love about Swahili is that you can say exactly how you are feeling but it manages to make it sound that much better. One of my favorite greetings that people ask “Umeshindaje?” probes to how one has conquered their day… to which the answer is typically “Salama, kabisa” or 'completely peacefully'. Anyways, it is a great way to explain how I have felt the last week and also a way that I would describe Africa as a whole as I realize I have less than a month left on this program.

My last week has been spent on Ushongo Beach, it is the most beautiful place, I wish everyone could see it and be as peaceful as I am. Well, except for the whole Independent Study Project that I am conducting here. Although it may not sound exhausting conducting interviews in another language, it can actually be quite tiring, even with the help of a translator. I have learned really interesting things about changes in the village since tourism has arrived and what the desired direction for tourism is for the villagers. None of my predictions have really came true, which tells you how well I thought I knew this place. Also, the food is incredible, I thought by now I would be tired of beans and rice, but having great parachichi (avocado) and nazi (coconut nothing to do with Hitler) to go with it, makes it taste like a new dish. Nevertheless, I have never felt more welcome walking into people’s homes and asking them questions or for food, I think the people may be the nicest I have encountered in my lifetime.

Great things:

Snorkeling

Swimming

Running on the Beach

Talking to villagers and the food

SEEING 74 SEA TURTLES HATCH (so cute)

Hanging out with the coastal crew (8 of us)

Deep conversations with my translator

The stars

The crabs that cover the beach at night that are funny to watch

Chumvi- our coastal kitten

Going to the school and teaching them about sea turtles, coastal reefs, fish, and trash

Dancing at the club in a nearby village owned by the owner of where we stayed

Not so great:

The girls that are studying the outer reef suffering from jellyfish stings

The tsunami warning

Swimming in my tent one night when it rains

Mosquitoes

The salt water helping things heal but helping to infect others wounds, two people got ring worm, and there were a few hospital trips

It may sound unpleasant at times but I love the coast and I loved conducting my own study there. It could be hard to get motivated with the beach trying to steal your attention but I got the data I needed. Then, it was a long rainy travel day back to Arusha to write my ISP report.