Hey people who read this!
I have finally gotten 1000km on my bike and I am still very much alive (with the way people drive here thats a blessing in itself) Here in Africa there is a food chain when it comes to the road, it goes like this from smallest to biggest; person, bike, motorcycle, small car, SUV, Dolla-Dolla, and Tour bus beats them all! They have a saying here called "African time" which pretty much means that they move slow as grass growing but they cross the street at the speed of light.
Now people here have road rules, in fact they are almost the same as canada's but its like not smoking at a bus stop, nobody enforces it, so most of the time you'll see people doing 120 in a school zone. Now me driving on the road is dangerous for 2 reasons, 1. I have a bike and that means I'm low on the road foodchain, and 2. Nobody likes bike drivers here, and if your a white bike driver its even worse. In total I have been run off the road 12 times, almost hit 4 times, been cut off more times then I could count, had someone try and play chicken with me, and yet still I am alive. I tell you my angel is working over time! I will never complain about the speed limits ever ever ever ever ever again, I mean after your passing a coke truck (coca cola not the other coke) and a tour bus come out of nowhere and skims by you, you learn to love rules of the road.
Just so most people know I might become a stunt driver when I get home, I mean my nerves have become steel driving here. A couple of things to keep in mind if you ever find yourself in Tanzania driving, 1. keep one foot over the brakes at all time (most peoples brake lights are broken) 2. If you think the car is far enough back that you can pass the guy in front of you, don't pass chances are that guy on the other side is doing 140 3. Tour buses don't believe in sides of the road, so if you see one coming on your side, remember tour buses beats EVERYTHING and they know it! driving on the dirt is better then being under it 4. If your going to cross the street at a busy intersection do so when all the Tanzania people are, this will not only keep you safe, but it also makes for a great picture. 5. Dolla Dolla's don't believe in turning lights so remember rule 1, and finally 6. If you can't follow any of the rules up above, drive with someone from Tanzania (by that I mean let them drive) cause they drive crazy but they know how to do it in a way that won't kill you!
Well thats all for now I hope you all learned something today oh one more thing, only the person driving has to wear a seatbelt but after being here you'll learn to love yours like Jesus loves us all! So until next time ttyl God bless and please drive safe :)
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
I'm more into eyes myself
Hello homedogs, homefrys, homies, and hometown people!
I'm nearing the half way point, almost been here for 6 months now, hard to believe, it really has gone by faster then expected, but insanity will do that. There have been lots of things going on here in Tanzania, both good and not so good, however I really only like talking about the good things. One of the best is that people do remember the orphans in this Countary, we often get donations of food from the towns people, or just people wanting to give, it has been something as small as a couple of muffins, to as much as 2 weeks worth of cooking fat (remember we've got a lot of orphans here so thats really something) and no matter how big or small you can tell its coming from these peoples hearts, the way they talk, the way they smile, these people care about the kids.
Now I had seen a lot of different things come our way sense starting out here, pineapples, bananas, cooking oil, cooking fat, rice, beans, etc... but nothing prepared me for what came yesterday. Got to the orphanage ready to go thought the motions of the day (yes things become routine here as well as home) and outside the door someone had dropped off a cow leg and hip, and I don't mean like neatly cut up meat, I mean like the LEG AND HIP hoof and a lot of fur still attached and all; from the looks of things it was a FAT COW. So its part of my job to recieve things and get they put where they are needed to be, only problem is I couldn't fit this in the freezer the way it was. So I took a page out of my grandfathers book got a saw cleaned the blade and had at it. It went well till I got to the fat which was exteremly hard to cut, so the kids gave me a hand by getting some axes and we took it from there. once we got it in the freezer, I smelt something I hadn't smelt in a long time, and that was that new car smell. Took me about 5 mintues to realize that it was the Kids and I. (I hate the smell myself, and my hands still smell like it even now.)
So thats about all for now, I personally never was a leg guy myself, plus seeing the hip bone and hoof of a cut off leg has kind of taken my desire for beef away for the moment. However it will come back, and everyone who reads this but doesn't send me an email owes me a burger when I get back! Anyways ttyl God bless
I'm nearing the half way point, almost been here for 6 months now, hard to believe, it really has gone by faster then expected, but insanity will do that. There have been lots of things going on here in Tanzania, both good and not so good, however I really only like talking about the good things. One of the best is that people do remember the orphans in this Countary, we often get donations of food from the towns people, or just people wanting to give, it has been something as small as a couple of muffins, to as much as 2 weeks worth of cooking fat (remember we've got a lot of orphans here so thats really something) and no matter how big or small you can tell its coming from these peoples hearts, the way they talk, the way they smile, these people care about the kids.
Now I had seen a lot of different things come our way sense starting out here, pineapples, bananas, cooking oil, cooking fat, rice, beans, etc... but nothing prepared me for what came yesterday. Got to the orphanage ready to go thought the motions of the day (yes things become routine here as well as home) and outside the door someone had dropped off a cow leg and hip, and I don't mean like neatly cut up meat, I mean like the LEG AND HIP hoof and a lot of fur still attached and all; from the looks of things it was a FAT COW. So its part of my job to recieve things and get they put where they are needed to be, only problem is I couldn't fit this in the freezer the way it was. So I took a page out of my grandfathers book got a saw cleaned the blade and had at it. It went well till I got to the fat which was exteremly hard to cut, so the kids gave me a hand by getting some axes and we took it from there. once we got it in the freezer, I smelt something I hadn't smelt in a long time, and that was that new car smell. Took me about 5 mintues to realize that it was the Kids and I. (I hate the smell myself, and my hands still smell like it even now.)
So thats about all for now, I personally never was a leg guy myself, plus seeing the hip bone and hoof of a cut off leg has kind of taken my desire for beef away for the moment. However it will come back, and everyone who reads this but doesn't send me an email owes me a burger when I get back! Anyways ttyl God bless
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Of Hedgehogs and Monkeys
Hey party people, and not party people, and people who find themselfs stuck between those partying peoples and the ones who are just reading books :P it has been a while I know but you are at my bloggin mercy so MAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I know that was overkill but meh, So I know I told some of you about my pet hedgehog sonic, which I saved from the kids (They like to beat things with sticks) anyways Sonic is now running free in the wild and very very well (I know your thinking my name for him wasn't at all uniqe, but when you find your own African Pigmey hedgehog you can name it whatever you like) gotten a couple of birds falling out of the tress here to, so the kids bring them to me to put them back when it happens, which is nice and all but some of the trees here are beyond tall, and I have a minor fear of falling (not hights tho that would be funny, being 6'4" and all) and its always humming birds never anything cool like a Kite (type of bird, think Hawk but bigger)
The newest animal on the list is...the monkey...yes I had a monkey in my arms for about 10 mins, the kids found it in a tree and somehow managed to catch the thing AND get a belt around it. Now I'm all for having a pet monkey but they can carry some pretty wicked sickness in their cute little selfs so we had to let it go, however the kids tried to stop me everystep of the way. Now monkeys are cute but they will become violent when they are cornered and its loud, and having a monkey around, the kids began to crowd it and scream in excitement. In the end I was able to get the monkey and cut off the belt they put around him, and once I got him away from the kids, he just let me hold him until I could take him outside the Orphanage.
Sometimes I feel like that monkey, belt keeping me stuck to one place, all I can go is where it will let me, having people crowd me that I can't understand a word of what their saying, and yes sometimes wishing I could just climb up the nearest tree and hide when Africa becomes crazy. It doesn't help when the little ones call me Monkey cause they can't get Mikey. But thats just africa, sometimes it can drive you bananas and sometimes it can be amazing!
Anyways next blog will be very soon, have a lot to write about this week, including the MARKET PLACE!!! total insanity! so until next time God bless and remember monkeys are our friends, not our grandparents!
I know that was overkill but meh, So I know I told some of you about my pet hedgehog sonic, which I saved from the kids (They like to beat things with sticks) anyways Sonic is now running free in the wild and very very well (I know your thinking my name for him wasn't at all uniqe, but when you find your own African Pigmey hedgehog you can name it whatever you like) gotten a couple of birds falling out of the tress here to, so the kids bring them to me to put them back when it happens, which is nice and all but some of the trees here are beyond tall, and I have a minor fear of falling (not hights tho that would be funny, being 6'4" and all) and its always humming birds never anything cool like a Kite (type of bird, think Hawk but bigger)
The newest animal on the list is...the monkey...yes I had a monkey in my arms for about 10 mins, the kids found it in a tree and somehow managed to catch the thing AND get a belt around it. Now I'm all for having a pet monkey but they can carry some pretty wicked sickness in their cute little selfs so we had to let it go, however the kids tried to stop me everystep of the way. Now monkeys are cute but they will become violent when they are cornered and its loud, and having a monkey around, the kids began to crowd it and scream in excitement. In the end I was able to get the monkey and cut off the belt they put around him, and once I got him away from the kids, he just let me hold him until I could take him outside the Orphanage.
Sometimes I feel like that monkey, belt keeping me stuck to one place, all I can go is where it will let me, having people crowd me that I can't understand a word of what their saying, and yes sometimes wishing I could just climb up the nearest tree and hide when Africa becomes crazy. It doesn't help when the little ones call me Monkey cause they can't get Mikey. But thats just africa, sometimes it can drive you bananas and sometimes it can be amazing!
Anyways next blog will be very soon, have a lot to write about this week, including the MARKET PLACE!!! total insanity! so until next time God bless and remember monkeys are our friends, not our grandparents!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Pizza and Ice Cream
Hey everyone, its that time of year again, THANKSGIVING!!!!!! come on tell me your not excited to eat that stuffing and turkey and all the leftovers for the next week and I'll tell you, your a lier! We don't get turkey over here, well not unless you want to raise it yourself, but the turkeys here are more aggressive then the other wildlife, seriously I never thought I'd get out of a turkeys path before :). That being said I'm not upset about the lack of turkey and all that stuff, cause I get to eat in the first place, and after being here that in and of itself is a huge thing to be thankful for.
I'm thankful that my family is all well and safe, I'm thankful that my friends have been doing well in school, I'm thankful that music keeps me sane and sometimes insane depending on what is needed at the time. Believe it or not I'm thankful for the cold (Which I miss, crazy I know). I'm thankful that you find my life interesting enough to read this ha ha ha. I mean I could spend all day telling you what I am now thankful for, but you wouldn't be able to finish reading it in time to eat the feast so I won't be that cruel as long as you send me some stuffing to, P.O. Box Mike's Mouth, Mwanza, Tanzaina :)
The title may seem odd to you, but I promise it will start making sense soon, and if it doesn't you've just wasted 5 minutes of your life whahahahahaha! A while ago we had a missions team here, they went out and got enough soda and ice cream for everyone in the orphage to have a float! It was the best and stickest thing I've ever seen, some of the little ones tried giving me some of theirs but knowing where they're hands have been I said no thanks, The Mamas (workers who look after the kids) all had a good time as well, and one of them was so happy because...it was her first time ever having ice cream in her life. 25 years old and never had it once until that day.
Similer story, yesterday Joe (translator and friend) was with me while we did some shoping for the orphanage, he had spent the whole afternoon with me and missed lunch so we went for Pizza (I know! They have pizza out here, its just a little hole in the wall and no meat but then again knowing how long the meat can sit out for its better that way) and like wise he had never had pizza before. He kept asking me what it was called and how he could make it, he must have said thank you about a thousand times. Which put things in prosective for me about what I have had all along to be thankful for, so I'm not sure if your alone this thanksgiving, or with family, if you have had a good year, or a bad one, if your having a huge feast with all the fixings or just a Wendy's Hamburger or a slice of pizza with your roommates, but don't forget that what you have at this very moment, little or lots, is something to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving Friends God bless and keep you safe this holiday and everyday, I'm thankful that you took the time to read this.
I'm thankful that my family is all well and safe, I'm thankful that my friends have been doing well in school, I'm thankful that music keeps me sane and sometimes insane depending on what is needed at the time. Believe it or not I'm thankful for the cold (Which I miss, crazy I know). I'm thankful that you find my life interesting enough to read this ha ha ha. I mean I could spend all day telling you what I am now thankful for, but you wouldn't be able to finish reading it in time to eat the feast so I won't be that cruel as long as you send me some stuffing to, P.O. Box Mike's Mouth, Mwanza, Tanzaina :)
The title may seem odd to you, but I promise it will start making sense soon, and if it doesn't you've just wasted 5 minutes of your life whahahahahaha! A while ago we had a missions team here, they went out and got enough soda and ice cream for everyone in the orphage to have a float! It was the best and stickest thing I've ever seen, some of the little ones tried giving me some of theirs but knowing where they're hands have been I said no thanks, The Mamas (workers who look after the kids) all had a good time as well, and one of them was so happy because...it was her first time ever having ice cream in her life. 25 years old and never had it once until that day.
Similer story, yesterday Joe (translator and friend) was with me while we did some shoping for the orphanage, he had spent the whole afternoon with me and missed lunch so we went for Pizza (I know! They have pizza out here, its just a little hole in the wall and no meat but then again knowing how long the meat can sit out for its better that way) and like wise he had never had pizza before. He kept asking me what it was called and how he could make it, he must have said thank you about a thousand times. Which put things in prosective for me about what I have had all along to be thankful for, so I'm not sure if your alone this thanksgiving, or with family, if you have had a good year, or a bad one, if your having a huge feast with all the fixings or just a Wendy's Hamburger or a slice of pizza with your roommates, but don't forget that what you have at this very moment, little or lots, is something to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving Friends God bless and keep you safe this holiday and everyday, I'm thankful that you took the time to read this.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
I saw the Witchdoctor la la la
Okay so this ones been a loooooong time coming so lets do this people!
A little while ago I was walking down the street and as is normal looking at just about everything (taking in Africa) and I saw a man with his face painted all white. So thinking this was a witchdoctor I had a few opinions as a Christian man 1. Damn his evil powers back to hell with my trusty pocket holy water 2. Start praying silently or 3. get creeped out that he was making eye contact, grab my cross hanging on my neck and run.... being the brave man that I sometimes am I choose number 3 :D
Now after a few days I talked to Ron (the head of Starehe) and he told me that it was more likely a doctor who preforms special operations on little boys (decaping their captains) and then it made sense to me why when the little boys see me smile and wave at them they run away, they most think that if a guy with a white face did that to them, then whats the guy whos completely white going to do :P.
They have a word for all white people here, its Mazongo which means European, however thats its new meaning, it use to mean "One who holds their farts" no word of a lie. So seeing as how it means European and I am not one, I've started teaching all the little ones the word Canadain, to which they still responed MAZONGO, to which I have now started responeding with KENYIAN! (I live in Tanzania) after this they start responding with Canadian :) so all is right in the world now.
Anyways that was my story till I can find time to write another one for all you people out there, btw you all get little updates on my life, how about giving me some on yours? you all have my email or facebook so get to it! God bless :D
A little while ago I was walking down the street and as is normal looking at just about everything (taking in Africa) and I saw a man with his face painted all white. So thinking this was a witchdoctor I had a few opinions as a Christian man 1. Damn his evil powers back to hell with my trusty pocket holy water 2. Start praying silently or 3. get creeped out that he was making eye contact, grab my cross hanging on my neck and run.... being the brave man that I sometimes am I choose number 3 :D
Now after a few days I talked to Ron (the head of Starehe) and he told me that it was more likely a doctor who preforms special operations on little boys (decaping their captains) and then it made sense to me why when the little boys see me smile and wave at them they run away, they most think that if a guy with a white face did that to them, then whats the guy whos completely white going to do :P.
They have a word for all white people here, its Mazongo which means European, however thats its new meaning, it use to mean "One who holds their farts" no word of a lie. So seeing as how it means European and I am not one, I've started teaching all the little ones the word Canadain, to which they still responed MAZONGO, to which I have now started responeding with KENYIAN! (I live in Tanzania) after this they start responding with Canadian :) so all is right in the world now.
Anyways that was my story till I can find time to write another one for all you people out there, btw you all get little updates on my life, how about giving me some on yours? you all have my email or facebook so get to it! God bless :D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)