Coming Home

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Our first two flights, the one from Spokane and the one from Seattle, both left very late, but we still made it to Amsterdam in time to connect with our flight to Arusha. The only benefit from being a disabled one is that wheelchair transfers always get first rate treatment and usually are taken to the front of every line. That was incredibly true when we finally arrived at Kilimanjaro Airport last night, and for the first time ever in our trips here, I was met by a wheelchair and assistant. While the hundreds of other passengers were sweating in long lines waiting for their visas and immigration checks, the young woman pushing me went right to the front of the line for visas, came back with them in minutes, did the same at the immigration check, helped load all of our luggage on a cart, and had us all out of the airport in record time. Mary Lou was included in our "family," too, so she didn't get the usual sweat lodge experience in the lines. I made sure to tip my chair pusher extra generously.

As always, Ray was there to meet us and there were hugs and back pats all around. Mary Lou even got included in all of that, too. Traffic was minimal, and by 10:00 p.m. we were being greeted, hugged, and back patted by Maso and the staff here at Kundayo. This was by far the earliest time we have even made it home. Our luggage was swiftly carried to our usual apartment, and then, surprise, Mary Lou was upgraded free to the apartment right next door to us instead of the little studio back somewhere else in the compound. We'll see how this goes.

Of course, I had to unpack just a wee bit before taking a shower and climbing into bed. The shower routine had to be reviewed so that I could recall which switch I needed to flip first, second, and third. I  still didn't get any hot water, but at least I felt cleaner in the end. I hadn't slept for even a nap on the entire trip to Arusha, but once snug in bed under the mosquito netting, I fell asleep quickly. Unlike last year, when we slept for almost 20 straight hours, we awoke this morning between 7:30 and 9:00 a.m.--John first and then me. We woke up Mary Lou, and by 10:00 we were on the garden terrace enjoying our free complimentary welcome breakfast: coffee or tea, topical fruit, fresh fruit juice, omelet or scrambled eggs, sausage (modified hot dog), toast, and yogurt.  It felt so luxurious to be served and eat in the garden area.

Since breakfast, the main activity has been doing whatever we can to stay awake. John and Mary Lou went into town to do banking and some small shopping, while I stayed behind to unpack and put things away. That was a time of revelation. John had not packed the pair of slacks for me he had promised to put in his suitcase nor our flashlight. The latter is far more important than the former, of course, but I can't say I'm thrilled at the prospect of wearing only light brown pants every day.  Worse yet, rats chewed into the big box we leave here each time we return to Spokane, and they chewed up my three skirts and two hats as well as some electrical wires and John's umbrella. They even tried to eat my powdered detergent! The funniest thing was that the rats gnawed on John's Bible--or as Maso put it, "They ate the Word of God." [I forgot to take photos!]

Mama Kundayo surprised me by coming over to welcome us back, so there was more hugging and back patting. We had a short visit, hitting all the necessary polite topics of our health, children, and being happy to be together again.  Mary Lou must have been napping and missed the whole event, but there are sure to be many future late afternoon conversations she can join.

While all three of us were on our little terrace having afternoon snacks, Maso came by and stopped to talk. That resulted in more than a half an hour of discussing the current political situation in Tanzania (not good) and comparing it to what's going on in the USA with Trump (also not good). However, while we may have voter suppression and missing ballots, here the ballot tallies are simply changed to assure that the ruling class wins again even when that is not what the actual votes indicate. So, discontent is rising, and people such as Maso worry about younger people and the unemployed eventually becoming violent. That, too, sounds familiar to me.

For our dinner, John and Mary Lou walked to the kuku and chipsie place to get grilled chicken and chips. I stayed behind and set the table. After dinner we tried to stay awake until 9:00, and we did it though I don't remember how.

P.S. John and I have been coming to and living in various places in Africa for over 50 years now and no longer observe life here as so very "different." This year, my friend Mary Lou has come to Arusha with us. She has never been to Africa before and thus observes things I no longer notice. If you want to see the same experiences John and I have through fresh eyes, go to Mary Lou's blog: https://adventuringwithmarylou.blogspot.com/   It's much more interesting than mine this year!