Kijiji living

During our time in the village (kijiji) of Shirazi, our mornings were reserved for Swahili lessons, but our afternoons were variable. On Wednesday, half of us visited a clinic in the nearby village of Bodo. We hiked for almost an hour through desert-like terrain. 

It would have been an enjoyable walk but for my attire:

Trying to blend in with the locals

Not the most breathable hiking gear. Oh well; we learned to deal with these things in Shirazi. After a Q & A session with the clinic’s doctor, we were spared the walk back. We rode back by pikipiki!

Pikipiki in a muumuu?!

Kind of difficult in my dress, but super fun! The sand shifted quite a bit under the tires but overall we felt pretty safe.

On Thursday, we trekked to Funzi Island in a little boat (too little, possibly). We were given a tour of the island before we took off for Paradise Lost. We spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach.

I really enjoyed the evenings at home on both days. My Swahili improved a lot after we began lessons and I was able to communicate more and more each day. I was able to joke with my siblings and my mother. Life in Shirazi was really simple yet extremely enjoyable.

Friday afternoon was a treat: I traveled with my older brother to Msambueni, a large village just a matatu-ride away from Shirazi. We visited family there and then rode by pikipiki down to the beach. I think we trespassed by hiking through a district officer’s yard. I nearly fell down into these rocks trying to pass a barbed-wire fence and take care of the pink sequined frock I donned that day.

The people in Msambueni weren’t accustomed to seeing white girls in prom dresses walking around with young black men. I received a few derisive comments but brushed them off. After the beach we visited more family and friends before heading back to a delicious dinner at home.