Saturday, September 15, 2012

Radio Nyota


I'm a radio star! Not really, but since I've been home, I have really enjoyed a bit of my old 'life-of-a-pr-professional'. Lots of friends have invited me to talk about my life in TZ to their civic groups and churches. AND this past Wednesday I got to go on-air at WKMS during Sounds Good. It was a great time! If you missed it, not to worry. They taped it and posted the audio on their website! Check it out here: http://wkms.org/post/peace-corps-volunteer-shares-tanzania-experience-sounds-good

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Usually I write about what HAS happened. But today- with this awesome American constant access to internet- I am writing about the future! 

Tomorrow will be a fun blast from the past when I get to visit the gang at WKMS in Murray, KY! I was a student worker there in college, and now I have been invited back for a live interview about my past two years in Tanzania. 

You can listen via wkms.org. Just click on the Listen Live button in the left hand corner (NOT the one in the center as that's their all music sub-station). I'll be on in the noon-1pm hour of Sounds Good....that's Central Standard Time!

Then comment here to let me know what you thought!

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Quality of Life: United States vs Tanzania.

Check out this website! It compares your life in one country to what your life would be like in another country. The various comparisons include things like life expectancy, amount of electricity and oil used, amount you spend on health care, etc.

Comparing The United States to Tanzania.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Habari za Home Leave?

Here I am halfway through my 6-week home leave, aka Operation American Indulgence. So far my hair has been cut in a style that doesn’t require the everyday pony tail. I spent an amazing afternoon at a spa getting scrubbed cleaned. I’ve ransacked the summer clearance racks at my fav clothing stores. And I’ve enjoyed so many lunches and dinners out with friends and family that I barely fit into most of my new pants- but I regret not a forkful!!

Being back has been a crazy mix of feeling like I never left and feeling like everything is completely different. Even friends commented that we all picked up conversations like I’d still been around. But then there are those moments when someone asks me the simplest questions and I have no idea how to answer!  

The first few days I was mainly sleeping and visiting. My first trip to Wal-Mart ended up as a 2 hour walk up and down aisles. I finally realized I must have had a strange look on my face when I noticed other shoppers staring at me and how employees kept asking if they could help me find something.

The first major cultural shock moment came when I was finally able to spend a day helping around the family farm. I guess because this showed the biggest comparison with the agriculture and farming ways I had been surrounded by in the village.

My dad had me run water over a horse’s swollen leg. It was something the horse definitely needed. But I was standing there watching ALL this clean, clear, drinkable water being run over the horse’s leg and then onto the ground….it just seemed so wrong, like I was wasting it. I should at least find a way to capture it as ran off the horse’s leg so we could use it again later.

I was also shocked to find that pizza rolls are not nearly as tasty as I remember them! And I can no longer handle air conditioning!! I have to carry around a wrap to restaurants, movie theaters and stores as they usually freeze me out.

One good surprise I have had is being able to see the support I have here at home. So many people have been really interested in and supportive of what I’ve been doing in TZ. Many groups have invited to talk about my work at their meetings. It’s really been fun!

For now, I must run— literally! It’s time for my daily workout to combat all the food involved in Operation American Indulgence!