my first week down. it feels like its already been a month. all that I've seen and learned already! people in town are beginning to recognize us GSC people, and we get bothered less now. but that still didn't stop people from trying to steal from me! we were walking through one of the town markets, and there were a ton of people around, I felt my backpack getting moved around a little, but stupidly didn't think about it. I started getting a little nervous because the hoard of people wasn't passing, I kind of glanced to my side and saw a guy pull something black from what seemed like my bag. I immediately turned around to face him, thinking he took my umbrella, and I started talking really fast to him in English about how he shouldn't take things that aren't his, and I asked him to give it back, pointing to the hand that I knew it was in. shamefully he handed it back, and I ran away to catch up with the other girls who hadn't seen me stop. I told them what happened, and they noticed my backpack was unzipped too. luckily nothing was missing. it kind of shook me up a little, and now whenever we walk thorugh markets, I put my backpack on my front. I'm a muzungu anyway I might as well look ridiculous!

sundays are so boring here. barely anything in town is open because everyone goes to church. Tanzania has personal tailors just like vietnam did, so last Wed. I bought some african fabric and went to a tailor to have a dress made. it was supposed to be done today, but when I went back his shop was closed, and he was in church. one of the counterparts (our translators for day camp) said she'd pick it up later today when he was back and bring it to day camp tomorrow. I'm excited to see what it looks like! it seems like sundays are only for church, and getting your hair done (its surprising I found and internet place that was open!). when I came out of my room this morning, mama was deep cleaning all the kitchen stuff, and then she prepared immt's (the little girl in the house) hair to be rebraided by rubbing it down with coconut oil. I wanted to document the process because I thought my mama was going to re-braid her hair, but mama was only preparing it, to send her off with the neighbor. I wasn't invited, so I didn't ask to go.
sunday is the day of afros. I think everyone gets their hair rebraided every sunday, so everyone's hair is down in an afro before its done again. I like it, Its beautiful and natural.

we went to an indian restaurant last night for one of the girl's birthdays. it was amazing. not that the food here isn't delicious, but you can't beat indian food. the menu was so funny it was half hindi and half swahili, I had no idea what I was getting, but it was great. I would so much rather eat at home than go out to a tanzanian restaurant though. my mama is such a good cook. most of the food here is rice and beans. beef is expensive, but available on special occasions. mama makes beef about twice a week. she also includes various vegetables doused in vinegar and various fruits (wild mango, pinneapple, oranges that look like lemons and bananas). most of the calories come from seriously refined carbs. always white rice or ugali. ugali is like a mold of corn meal. its not fluid by any means, and its not cooked. its just a mold. it kind of tastes like glue. its supposed to absorb the falvors surrounding it. mama knows I don't really like it. they use a lot of white corn here too. there are basically 2 colors for food (unless you eat fruit or vegetables) white and brown. I like it though. I can feel myself losing a little weight.

I live the closest to twon (40 minute walk to the edge of town). so I rarely take dalla dallas (beat up mini vans that act as mass transport fitting 25-30 people in 10 available seats). usually in the dallas, you have lots of people standing over you with their armpits in your face, which is most pleasant since they don't have deoderant here. I enjoy walking. but the dallas are fun to watch because the attendants act as recruiters. you will litterally get coralled into a dalla if you don't stand your ground and say "hapana!" no I'm walking! they're relatively cheap though about 25 cents to go anywhere around town.

enough rambling for now. I'll write next week and tell you about day camp. I'm excited to start. I've already had several conversations with young people about AIDS here. the education is definitely lacking, and it becomes a game to stump the muzungu about a rumor why condoms don't actually work at all.