Rafiki

Put aside any worries of the children assimilating in rural Afrika. While we may have enjoyed a soft landing in Ghana due to the relative isolation of our location and our volunteer commitments, the kids have met the immersion and overwhelming friendliness of our daily lives in Tanzania with exuberance. Pictured, the oldest with a few of her many rafiki (friends) in the third-story shell of an unfinished building that is a popular local playground. While our younger daughter remains the shyer of the two, they have both made many friends and acquaintances throughout the community. Enthusiastic cries of "Mzungu" (white people) have been replaced by the familiar shout of "Sarah!" everywhere in town. The girls wear uniforms to school and the glances, stares and outright gawks we used to encounter have been replaced by bright comments of "...Nakoza..." as everyone is notably impressed with their dawning of the universally recognizable maroon skirt and tie. We are especially eager to encounter the few Masai who live in Ukerewe and they seem equally enthusiastic for our company, willingly engaging us in lengthly, one-sided dialogs of Kiswahili that they must certainly understand we don't comprehend a single word of. Seeming to appreciate that we are easily more recognizable and rare than themselves, one of Kirsten's introductions even involved a dramatic pantomime of his eyes bugging out upon seeing her.