(Friday June 3rd)
I've just arrived at my home in Zanzibar!
Before I start, I should make it clear that I've been to East Africa before. So I won't be complaining about the bugs, the lack of power, using bottled water, garbage on the streets, or the heat - scratch that, it's always 35 degrees here and it makes me so sleepy. Even with chai 3 times a day, I'm still always yawning.
But when I was last here, I stayed with my relatives. Now that I'm with a local host family, it's very different- life is slow, simple. There's no running water, which leads to interesting bucket showers (mainly splashing water with cupped hands). Interestingly, the water isn't cold - I guess the climate keeps it toasty. And in any case, a bit of coolness is welcomed by all here.
Before you read any further, watch this clip:
Now picture the exact opposite. No sittin', no toilet, no an' Flush! Just a hole in the earth and my friend the bucket. I wonder how long it'll take before I suck it up and just do it. I suspect I'll frequent the university/hotel toilets for a bit. Advice to future adventurers: bring tissues. Or better yet, a whole roll of the good stuff. I could really elaborate on this bathroom, but I'll spare you the details.
From my last visit, I also don't remember there being constant noise. I'm on the ground floor and there is construction going on outside my window - and by construction I mean five guys beating sheet metal into useful shapes. And it seems they're all named Mussa.
I've just arrived at my home in Zanzibar!
Before I start, I should make it clear that I've been to East Africa before. So I won't be complaining about the bugs, the lack of power, using bottled water, garbage on the streets, or the heat - scratch that, it's always 35 degrees here and it makes me so sleepy. Even with chai 3 times a day, I'm still always yawning.
But when I was last here, I stayed with my relatives. Now that I'm with a local host family, it's very different- life is slow, simple. There's no running water, which leads to interesting bucket showers (mainly splashing water with cupped hands). Interestingly, the water isn't cold - I guess the climate keeps it toasty. And in any case, a bit of coolness is welcomed by all here.
Before you read any further, watch this clip:
Now picture the exact opposite. No sittin', no toilet, no an' Flush! Just a hole in the earth and my friend the bucket. I wonder how long it'll take before I suck it up and just do it. I suspect I'll frequent the university/hotel toilets for a bit. Advice to future adventurers: bring tissues. Or better yet, a whole roll of the good stuff. I could really elaborate on this bathroom, but I'll spare you the details.
From my last visit, I also don't remember there being constant noise. I'm on the ground floor and there is construction going on outside my window - and by construction I mean five guys beating sheet metal into useful shapes. And it seems they're all named Mussa.
