Navigating in Tanzania requires an entirely different headspace from what we are used to. Here are some snapshots. In 2013, on our first trip to Dar es Salaam after we arrived in Tanzania, we got lost. Badly. We had a map, but it didn’t help because most of the streets on […]
We knew several Wahindi in Dodoma, but the suburb we’re living in in Dar is chockers full of Wahindi. So, who are they? Here’s some of what we’re learning. Most simply, the Wahindi are Indian background Tanzanians. Many of them were born in Tanzania and their families have been here for […]
Living cross-culturally leaves you vulnerable. You don’t know how to do all the ‘normal’ things or what the everyday procedures are. People laugh at you. They think you are stupid. Each new life experience brings this home in new ways. So doing the already vulnerable state of pregnancy cross-culturally is […]
We’ve observed in Tanzanian students talk of ‘losing the Holy Spirit’ and before each exam period, we have been included in massive prayer days where students go from church service to church service, receiving a special blessing at each. We were concerned that this was an issue of assurance. Did […]
MZUNGU. We hear this all the time. Called out to Elliot in our backyard as people pass by; whispered in a tone of surprise when I walk into a shop where people haven’t seen me before; used as a description when someone answers their phone while at our house and […]
Living cross-culturally continues to have it’s surprises and tensions, 2 1/2 years in. Here are some moments that weren’t big enough for a post of their own. (Some others from around this time last year here.) One of the TAFES staff was explaining to us how some of the Associates […]
In the months before we publicly announced that we are moving on from St John’s University to work for TAFES, we had a number of meetings with our boss and people who have been mentors with us. We were very nervous because we knew they would be very disappointed, but […]
Meet Jesus at uni 