After leaving Dar es Salaam, we flew to the city of Arusha. Although we didn’t get the chance to go on a tour, we learned a lot about this city by observing what people do in their everyday lives.
The first place we stayed in was the Korona Villa. This is a new building which was finished 5 months ago, and is part of another Homestay called the Korona House. Since the Korona House was pretty popular, more space was needed so the Korona Villa was created. Our room was very clean, the service was excellent, and the food was really great too.
My favourite part of our stay here was when we learned Kiswahili from the staff Gerard and Jeremiah. We know how to say a lot of basic words and more, thanks to our new friends. Learning Kiswahili really enhanced our stay, allowed us to communicate with the locals, and is a fun language to learn. Here are some important words and phrases you can use if you ever find yourselves in Tanzania:
| Hello | Jambo | Thank You | Asante | How are You |
Hujambo |
| Hello |
Chikamo ( to an older person as a sign of respect) |
You’re Welcome | Karibu | I’m Fine | Sijambo |
| Goodbye | Kwaheri | Yes | Ndiyo | Okay | Savva (like savvy) |
| Slowly | Pole Pole (pronounced polay polay) | Hurry up | Haraka | Mom | Mama |
| Let’s Go | Twenday | I’m Sorry/Excuse Me | Samahany | Dad | Baba |
| Sister | Dada | Fire | Moto | Cool Like a Banana | Poa Kacheesee Kamandeesee |
Another thing I love about Arusha are the kids. They love waving to people passing by in their cars. While we were staying at a coffee plantation, Tanzania Ric Lodge, there were kids living near the gate who would come running every time we honked the horn. We gave them Rainbow Loom bracelets we made and pencils. It was really cute to watch one of the smaller children start dancing and waving their pencil in the air. It really shows how appreciative they are of anything they get because they have so little.
Although the kids loved the pencils, what they really want are soccer balls to play with because they are big fans. Seeing all this made me want to buy 100+ soccer balls, inflate them, and hand one out to every kid around. I definitely want to do more for these kids so they have a better life. I have done fundraising for this before, but I feel like it isn’t enough and I can do more to help. Although I know I won’t be able to change what’s happening in this country, making a difference in one child’s life would be a start.
Although we’re different continents, we noticed similarities between Arusha and home which are:
• Schools
• Hotels
• Traffic
• Banks
• Stores
• Adorable kids!
Some differences between the two are:
• There are goats, cows, chickens, and donkeys everywhere. It is quite a sight to see boys who look around 10 years old move a herd of 20-30 goats and cows to graze!
• Crazy driving! Some drivers make their own lanes on the sidewalk, motorcyclists drive in the spaces between two lanes, the dala dalas (the public transport vehicles like minibuses) stop all over the sides of the road, and the “horn symphony” is played. My dad always says he’s glad he isn’t driving!
• Kids are sent to collect drinking water for their homes during school hours. When we were staying on a coffee plantation, the owners had opened a water source for the village people to come get water at all times of the day. They soon changed this because they noticed it was the children who came to get the water. Now water is only allowed to be collected after 4 o’clock and on weekends, so the kids have time to go to school.
• Lovely nature; the stars in the sky look brighter and more clear, there are beautiful colourful birds chirping, and fruit trees all over, which grow things like mangos, bananas, and avocados. I had originally thought Tanzania would be more like a desert, but in reality, it is very lush, green, and beautiful.
• We’ve noticed people who walk around carrying huge baskets on their heads! We marvel at their ability to walk normally with the items perfectly balanced.
• Life goes on at a much slower pace. People take time to talk to each other and get to know their neighbours. They are also very hospitable; everywhere we go, people always say “You are welcome” (or “Karibu” in Kiswahili), which feels like we are being included in their communities.
Visiting Arusha was a great experience and gave us a glance of everyday life in Tanzania.
Comments
13 responses to “Amazing Arusha!”
Reading this blog brought back many happy memories of my visits to South Africa Mikhaila. I too, loved the kids. Put my name on your fundraising list for soccer balls! Will be happy to help out. You are becoming an expert in the language too!
Kwaheri, and hope your dada, mama and baba are all well! Travel safely, Love Teta Doreen xoxox
Chikamo Teta Doreen,
Thank you for your support in my fundraising efforts! I will be looking into this more when we get back and I will definitely contact you when I have more details.
Is “cool like a banana” a common phrase in Tanzania?
Chikamo Teta Colleen,
Yes, we used this phrase a lot, and everyone we said it to knew what we were saying!
Hi Mik,
Thank you for the lovely blog! Most important of all, I was touched by the warmth of your heart towards the children! Children are the most important gift we have in this world! Whatever can be done to help even just one child, is a blessing! Love, Baba
Chikamo Baba (grandma),
I am planning on starting a fundraiser to collect soccer balls and money for soccer balls for the kids in Africa. It will be great to have your support!
Asante, Mikhaila!
I am not the world traveller you are but I have always loved to learn and practice the language of the people around me!!
I think it is wonderful that you want to help change the lives of these children and I totally agree that starting with one even child is a great idea!!
Ginny
Chikamo Ginny,
Learning the language of the places we visit is half the fun! Kiswahili is a great language to learn and it’s great to be able to communicate with people here.
Sounds like you’re having a great time in Tanzania, Mikhaila! And I love the “Cool Like a Banana” expression 🙂
With respect to soccer and kids, you may have already seen this, but if not, this TED talk about “sOccket” would be worth a watch. It’s actually a talk about the use of soccer balls to generate electricity for people to use in areas where electricity can be hard to come by or expensive. The talk actually begins in Tanzania with the speaker noticing the love of soccer/football by kids all around the world.
This blog reminded me of how Baba Mara was always being pulled out of classes to help her parents with farm chores; and, consequently, she was not able to complete her schooling. My dad was very smart, and his teacher was encouraging higher learning for him; however, Grandpa could not afford to send him to school…he also needed Dad to help with chores.
So happy to hear that changes are being made in Tanzania to support childrens’ rights to learning.
Chikamo Aunt Mary,
It’s sad when kids don’t get the opportunity to get a good education, no matter where they live. I think all children should go to school so that they have a good life.
Hi, Mikhaila, I so enjoyed your posting, and all I can say is, that Opa and I don’t know very much and therefore enjoy every little tidbit. When I read “Arusha”, it sounded so melodic and I love saying it, silly isn’t it? I had to smile when I read the Kiswahili words that you posted, it seems an easy language to learn and remember? Are there different dialects? We enjoyed the photos, as always, there is so much contrast to see.
I am so proud of you, because of your wishes to help the children. Lots of hugs to all
Chikamo Oma,
Arusha is a fun word to say, I agree with you! Everywhere we have been in Tanzania has about the same dialect, but I can’t really tell if they’re different. 🙂