It's Monday morning here in Dar es Salaam. Most of my U.S. friends are deep in dreamland and will enjoy a leisurely Labor Day when they awake, filled with barbecues and the last days of summer. Here, it's just another Monday morning, sunny and in the 80s. Today is the 4th day of school for us and so things are beginning to settle into a pattern for us on weekdays:
5:45 a.m. - the alarm goes off. We groan.
6:00 a.m. - we get the kids up. They groan. The sun begins to rise at about 6:30.
6:55 a.m. - we leave for school. So far, everyone has been great at getting ready and we have been early every day.
7:20 a.m. - school begins for the kids and Tim
I use my time during the day to meal plan, get groceries, and attend to the myriad of details and paperwork that are present even in Africa. I am learning to put my Western efficiency notions aside: if we have food and I can do one other thing per day, it's a rousing success! I have met a wonderful group of Christian women that are talking about a weekly Bible study/coffee and there are some opportunities to volunteer at HOPAC. Beyond that, I'm open to God's leading! We have a house worker present Monday, Wednesday and Friday from about 10-4 who cleans and does laundry. Our house isn't very big and so it's a bit awkward to be there while she's trying to work (especially since she doesn't speak English). I'm still trying to sort that out.
2:20 p.m. - school ends! FASA (Fun After-School Activities) begin in a few weeks and will run until 4 p.m. Tim has volunteered to coach Josh's soccer team (the boys U-11...under age 11) which will have practices on Tuesday and Thursday, and a game on Friday. Tim also has a staff meeting on Wednesdays, so he will be very busy this fall! I would like to help out with one of the FASA and we'll need to coordinate all this, having only one car. None of us have yet been in a bjaji (a taxi - it's a tiny, three-wheeled motorized vehicle that drives even more crazily than NYC cabbies)...that is always an option to get to or from HOPAC, at a fairly low cost.
We're also trying to sort out music lessons for the kids. Emily is interested in continuing violin, Josh is eager to take drum lessons (groan!) and Charlotte is undecided. Lessons are held during the school day at an additional cost...just trying to figure out how one obtains musical instruments in Tanzania and how we would practice!
Emily is in "secondary school," and they have had homework already (even on the weekend!) Josh & Charlotte will begin the fun this week. All 3 kids are taking Swahili, and it's great that we have native Swahili speakers on property to practice with. I'm amazed at how much Emily has learned already! I'm trying to keep up with the lessons, too.
5:30 p.m. - we usually have dinner. It gets dark here by 6:30 every night and it feels like the rhythms of life have pushed back a bit. I think we've only been away from home two nights past 8:00 p.m. It's really dark here at night and difficult to see while driving - it's hard enough to navigate the roads, pedestrians, bicyclists, and bjajis with the help of daylight!
7:30 p.m. - kids start getting ready for bed and read in their beds. Tim and I usually play a board game. We haven't seen any TV or movies since arriving 2 1/2 weeks ago. I feel a little disconnected from news and pop culture these days although I am very thankful that our internet has been more consistent.
It feels good to be getting into more of a routine. It is my prayer that I feel more and more confident each day...it takes a lot of mental energy to drive, do errands, and try to communicate! It is also difficult to be an effective parent when your own mental reserves are drained, and so I pray for patience, love and grace in abundance.
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