Sunday, 3 February 2008
Misunderstood Run
The other day Andrew met our gardener Duncan walking Castor the dog. Andrew told Duncan that he need not go too far with Castor, as in the evening he planned to go for a run with him, gesturing with his arms according. Poor Duncan's English however was not so strong, and his understanding was that Andrew asked him to run. And so he did setting off in the mid day heat! Only at home we could clarify the misunderstanding and had a good laugh!
Misunderstood Run
The other day Andrew met our gardener Duncan walking Castor the dog. Andrew told Duncan that he need not go too far with Castor, as in the evening he planned to go for a run with him, gesturing with his arms according. Poor Duncan's English however was not so strong, and his understanding was that Andrew asked him to run. And so he did setting off in the mid day heat! Only at home we could clarify the misunderstanding and had a good laugh!
Friday, 10 August 2007
Diplomatic status to take a picture of a monkey
On Zanzibar, there is only one little forest remaining, however, its main attraction, some Colobus monkeys, attract a lot of tourists; Obviously the government of Zanzibar recognized this potential soon, and now charges tourists for entering the forest as well as taking pictures. We were biking across the forest on the main road linking the East with the West coast, and stopped at a group of monkeys in a tree. When I had my camera out, it did not take long until a guard appeared trying to charge me money for the photos. While I refused to pay, arguing to stand on a public road where he could not charge me for taking any photos, he called over his colleague with a gun flung over the shoulders, and both then had a hand on my bicycle. Not a comfortable position for myself. I was persuaded about my right and determined not to pay a single shilling – finally it was however only my diplomatic status that made the guards give up and let me catch up with my fellow cyclists again!
On Zanzibar, there is only one little forest remaining, however, its main attraction, some Colobus monkeys, attract a lot of tourists; Obviously the government of Zanzibar recognized this potential soon, and now charges tourists for entering the forest as well as taking pictures. We were biking across the forest on the main road linking the East with the West coast, and stopped at a group of monkeys in a tree. When I had my camera out, it did not take long until a guard appeared trying to charge me money for the photos. While I refused to pay, arguing to stand on a public road where he could not charge me for taking any photos, he called over his colleague with a gun flung over the shoulders, and both then had a hand on my bicycle. Not a comfortable position for myself. I was persuaded about my right and determined not to pay a single shilling – finally it was however only my diplomatic status that made the guards give up and let me catch up with my fellow cyclists again!
Day and Night
Our neighbour in Switzerland was interested in Tanzania. As a farmer, he naturally was particularly interested in crops and the weather and climate down there. I told him that in Tanzania, so close to the Equator, seasons would be little developed, and it would be hot and humid all year round. He looked at me sceptically, and then asked, if at least there would be such a thing as day and night in Tanzania?!
Our neighbour in Switzerland was interested in Tanzania. As a farmer, he naturally was particularly interested in crops and the weather and climate down there. I told him that in Tanzania, so close to the Equator, seasons would be little developed, and it would be hot and humid all year round. He looked at me sceptically, and then asked, if at least there would be such a thing as day and night in Tanzania?!
Wednesday, 25 July 2007
Rules and Rules in the Airport Security Zone
We finally had overcome all the obstacles and barriers to send our dog from Dar es Salaam to Switzerland. The day when phisically he had to be brought to the airport, locked into a sky kennel and transferred through customs had come. My husband accompanying the dog, the dog itself and his kennel were thoroughly inspected for arms, illegal drugs or dangerous illnesses, before finally allowed into the airport's security zone. Big was however their surprise, when all of a sudden exaclty into this security zone two big lorries over and over packed with dozens of mourning people, and a coffin entered, descended from their vehicles, surrounding the dog's cage. Obviously none of them had been security checked - but accompanying a deceased friend on his last journey back to his home town of Mwanza at the other end of Tanzania obivously requested the application of different rules.
We finally had overcome all the obstacles and barriers to send our dog from Dar es Salaam to Switzerland. The day when phisically he had to be brought to the airport, locked into a sky kennel and transferred through customs had come. My husband accompanying the dog, the dog itself and his kennel were thoroughly inspected for arms, illegal drugs or dangerous illnesses, before finally allowed into the airport's security zone. Big was however their surprise, when all of a sudden exaclty into this security zone two big lorries over and over packed with dozens of mourning people, and a coffin entered, descended from their vehicles, surrounding the dog's cage. Obviously none of them had been security checked - but accompanying a deceased friend on his last journey back to his home town of Mwanza at the other end of Tanzania obivously requested the application of different rules.
Monday, 7 May 2007
Dark Skin and flat Noses
The skin of the artist we met had become lighter during the 30 years he had spent in London. When he returned to his native Zanzibar as an internationally recognized designer, his fellow Zanzibari told him not to go into the sun and to carry an umbrella when walking in the streets to continuously keep his skin light. There is a saying, that the darker your skin is, the more difficult it is to make a career in Tanzania. Not surprisingly, there are adverts for a cream that should make your skin lighter all over the place.
The same artist got arrested in the weeks before the 2005 elections in turbulent Zanzibar when during a curfew he wanted to bring some food to an elderly single lady. When police asked for his tribe, he answered to be an African. However, the policemen got pretty angry at him and told him that he could not be an African, as all Africans would have flat noses, and dark skin!
Descendants of Arabic origin, which traveled centuries ago in their boats along the East African cost, still live in Zanzibar, and have mixed with the local African population manifold. Many however fled during the revolution in 1963 when the Sultan was dethroned.
The skin of the artist we met had become lighter during the 30 years he had spent in London. When he returned to his native Zanzibar as an internationally recognized designer, his fellow Zanzibari told him not to go into the sun and to carry an umbrella when walking in the streets to continuously keep his skin light. There is a saying, that the darker your skin is, the more difficult it is to make a career in Tanzania. Not surprisingly, there are adverts for a cream that should make your skin lighter all over the place.
The same artist got arrested in the weeks before the 2005 elections in turbulent Zanzibar when during a curfew he wanted to bring some food to an elderly single lady. When police asked for his tribe, he answered to be an African. However, the policemen got pretty angry at him and told him that he could not be an African, as all Africans would have flat noses, and dark skin!
Descendants of Arabic origin, which traveled centuries ago in their boats along the East African cost, still live in Zanzibar, and have mixed with the local African population manifold. Many however fled during the revolution in 1963 when the Sultan was dethroned.
Only the Bible
A colleague of mine stayed in Morogoro for some months, and was desperate for a book to read. She visited each and every shop in the town counting no less than 240’000 souls, but could not find any other book than English beginners’ school booklets*. Then she changed her strategy, and asked all the Tanzanians she knew for a book. Finally, she asked her landlady for the only book in the house: a bible. So from this day on every evening she read a chapter from the bible. When she returned to Dar, what she was most interested in was to consult my book shelf!
*English is, beside Kiswahili, the second state language of Tanzania.
A colleague of mine stayed in Morogoro for some months, and was desperate for a book to read. She visited each and every shop in the town counting no less than 240’000 souls, but could not find any other book than English beginners’ school booklets*. Then she changed her strategy, and asked all the Tanzanians she knew for a book. Finally, she asked her landlady for the only book in the house: a bible. So from this day on every evening she read a chapter from the bible. When she returned to Dar, what she was most interested in was to consult my book shelf!
*English is, beside Kiswahili, the second state language of Tanzania.
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