Thursday marked my first African Thanksgiving. I have an amazing family, so I knew that they would call me and include me in our Turkey Day traditions. They called and passed the phone around the table to all the members of my family and each person listed three things they are thankful for. This is what we do every year, and as our family grows, it gets even more fun. My personal favorite this year was my niece (3-year-old Kaleia) saying..."Ummm, I'm thankful for Mommy, Grandmama, Daddy, ummm and you Aunt Say". I think she would have listed every person at the house and probably have moved on to the grass and trees and animals if you'd let her. After the phone call, I decided that I would....invite (a.k.a. force) out my two roommates and make them celebrate Thanksgiving with me. So the three of us went out for dinner and I made my friends list what they are thankful for. It was fun to celebrate my holiday with a British guy and a Norwegian guy.
I then decided to trek to the beach for more Thanksgiving contemplations on my own. So, I took my usual two dalla-dallas into town and took a ferry over to Kigamboni beach (very beautiful) for the day. I took my journal and wrote, and slept, and thought about Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be in Tanzania for a year. It feels like home to me. Although I missed my family, I love being here...and I'm happy.
I had my first research interview this week. It was intimidating. When I think about the word 'researcher', I envision a very stately, distinguished-looking person with glasses and 12 degrees. For me, I just got my undergrad and here I am being funded by the US government to research NGOs for a year. Sometimes, I can't believe how lucky I am. Anyway, the interview went well and he gave me the names of some contacts to interview, which was good. I'm ready to get everything in gear.
Pictures will be posted as soon as I get a camera. Mine decided to break, but I promise soon. Next weekend, I am going to Zanzibar, so I'll definitely want to post pictures of that. Until later, baidi rafiki!! Siku njema!
Sarah Hensley rocks!!!! Hehe, I had to be the first to comment your blog. I'm so proud of my best friend!
Posted by: Kahle | November 30, 2007 at 05:02 AM
Sarah
Glad that you are finally in Tanzania and great to read your blog. I look forward to reading of your adventures. We are all proud of you. I'm going to show your blog to my Core 112 class in the hope of inspiring some of them to follow in your Fulbright footsteps. Good luck with the research.
Posted by: Kent | December 01, 2007 at 10:45 AM