Let's run this backwards, or forwards--or hell, just start in the middle

I feel like an explanation to this blog's domain name and even to it's title might have been appropriate clear in the beginning. Or at least while I was in Africa. My foresight wasn't half bad on the choice of words though. However, it hasn't been until I returned and have begun settling in that I truly felt that. So the blog's title "That's Africa Baby" is a bit of a copy-cat line that was used fondly by one of the groups Jill travelled to Africa with in the past. One of Betty Levitov's interim or semester abroad groups. And the phrase so accurately encompasses the mild frustrations and odd, wonderful joys that travelling throughout Africa creates.

Examples....when you want to be anywhere on time. Traveller's toilet. A local on his/her bike with a goat/pig/sheep(dead or alive)/loveseat/bed/couch/rear axle(of varying sizes). Mzungu prices. An over-capacity matatu. T-shirts with inappropriate/misspelled/inaccurate writing.

Read Betty's book and get a good insight into what's African, baby. There's my plug--take it.

"Africa on Six Wheels: A Semester on Safari," Betty Levitov.

And the domain name.

big, contemplative breath...

Maybe it should have been meganinafrica because I feel like I left a big chunk of my heart in Kenya that someday I'll have to go back for and that maybe I left for safe keeping and good reason. But I also took much of Africa back home with me and within me. I feel it literally pressing on my heart at times. Exploring our country's traditions, our culture, and our behaviors has been something my mind goes to frequently. Where do we come from--where is our sense of community and strength coming from or at--how do we value family. And I think most importantly, I am trying to live by the examples my brothers and sisters in Africa showed me of being hospitable, generous, open, joyous, humble, and kind. They may have little, but they live lives that are much more full than many of ours here.

And a nice transition to where I'm at now. Living with little.

It's now almost four months later and I'm in Seattle working as an Americorps intern for Feet First in a program called Quest sponsored by the University Friends Meeting Quakers. I'll hold off on getting into the basics of what exactly I do. I went into this specific program though partly for the spiritual journey. And just today I feel like I stepped off onto the right path of that.

I've been attending Sunday meetings which is an hour of unprogrammed, (meaning no pastor, no singing, no sermon) intentional silence. This is the Quaker version of church. Quakers believe that "there is that of God in everyone" and their testimonies for equality and against violence grow out of this belief. According to Quakers, every person no matter their race, creed, sex, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation, etc is worthy of respect. And each person "has within a seed which will illuminate the conscience and foster spiritual growth." It is through moments of intentional silence that anyone who is willing to sit quietly and search diligently is able to be open to a direct experience of God. Translation is open to interpretation. Meaning I can (and do) sub the word "god" for whatever, like "Susan". "Divinity" though is more what I'm seeking.

Today my mind settle on pacifism, an almost universal principal of Friends.

And it got there because of a few lines that James Naylor, an early leader in the Quaker movement said while he was lying in a field dying. Like very many Quakers at that time, he had been persecuted--flogged through the streets of London, his tongue bored with a hot iron, and imprisoned.

The words.

There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to avenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things, in hope to enjoy its own in the end. Its hope is to out live all wrath and contention, to weary out all exaltation and cruelty, or whatever is of a nature contrary to itself. It sees to the end of all temptations. As it bears no evil in itself so it conceive none in thoughts to any other.

Back in Arusha...

ahhh....the 'week or so' between posts or any word from me was a bit longer on the 'so' side, and apologies for the extra worries! we are all safe, happy, and well on our way back to nairobi and the plane to take us home. we are staying an extra day in arusha, tanzania just to not have a consecutive three days of bus trips. this last one from mbaya was a grueling 17.5 hours, of which we broke down temporarily. apparently some part of the steering mechanism broke, no worries though--it was fixed with a long piece of twine--practical, maybe-safe, probably not.
malawi was a wonderful experience for the last leg of our trip. loads of relaxing, reading, and time with friends. we spent a couple of nights in nkhata bay at one of the best places we've stayed this whole trip--complete with beach side camping, the world's best bbq, and a compost toilet. it really felt like paradise--well, if paradise is in europe because there sure were a ton of europeans at the lodge! we met sara and austin there and then went to stay the four nights in their village, farther south and closer to nkhotakota. along with the time, the language also changes so we were quick to learn the greetings in Chichewa. both austin and sara speak wonderfully and have picked up the cultural and social norms of village life and living. they have done a load of work on their home and it's really a great place! their backyard is fenced to keep in the pet ducks and to keep out the neighborhood kids with a great starter garden growing tomatoes, corn, and peppers. i'm excited to keep hearing from them and the progress they make there, not only with the home but with the community and whatever projects they take on. i'm adding a link to their blog as well--it's worth getting their two cents about village life and our stay!!
and, of course i'm running out of internet time to post too much more, but i'll be back. until then check out their blog at malawiwowi.blogspot.com
peace,
megan

ice cream and 350ml sodas!

We made it to Dar es Salaam (more commonly called 'Dar'), picked up a traveller, and have lost the trail for finding real/good coffee again.
The bus ride from Moshi to here was the best we've had yet! Great seats, free soda, candy, and beautiful landscape that reminded Lauren of something like Montana with palm trees. The road for the main part of the trip ran parellel to the Pare Mountain range. We are now back to the Indian side of the ocean, but have yet to see it--Dar is fairly big. This is our time to start adjusting, or rather taking immense pleasure in the western comforts of back home (to be fair, we kind of started already in Moshi). Drinking real coffee at a real coffee house, not terribly different from the favorite places at home was a start. We've been anxious to catch an American movie at a real movie theatre here in town. And, we're just being a bit lazier and relaxing more. We could even get hotdogs now if we wanted (i still don't). We need to get all this Americanization in though before we head off for Malawi to see Austin and Sara. No doubt it will be similar to time spent in the village, maybe a few less comforts and convenience.
And don't get me wrong, I love the simplicity of living here. I just get the cravings for home.
So, this day in Dar then we leave early tomorrow for the border and stay the night. Austing and Sara are meeting us in Mbaya and taking us to their village. We'll be there for a few days before coming back and making the long trec back to Nairobi. Probably a week or more before any word from me again. Take care all though!!
And, where is my Milo??
Peace,
Megan