Karibuni!

“Karibuni”, as they say here in Tanzania, “You are most welcome” to my blog and to share in some of my experiences during my time here in Arusha. This blog is an attempt to capture some moments of my experience here to give you a better idea of the “Beautiful Struggle” that is Arusha, Tanzania. I will try to update it weekly so that those who are interested and have the time can keep up with my TIA experiences (This is Africa!)
Our first 2 weeks here have been a mix of new and exciting occurrences combined with one unexpected occurrence. Upon arrival we were greeted by our new house mother and owner of our guest house, “Mama Lydia”. She has taken us in and made me feel comfortable and at home. Our accommodations consist of a small room with 2 twin beds and a small bathroom (water gets everywhere when you take a shower).
The house is within walking distance to the center where we will be studying and the UN-ICTR (International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda) where we are doing our internship. Our walk to work is about a mile and mostly pleasant. We pass a small creek and waterfall (although we have been told to be very careful on the bridge b/c thieves hide under it), the clock tower in the center of Arusha, bats, a mini zoo that has a strange bird that looks like an old man and turtles, and a cultural center.
Our time working with the UN so far has been interesting to say the least. We have met many people from various backgrounds and have had a taste of UN bureaucracy at its finest. We have 2 supervisors that are great to work with and have great personalities. The projects we are working on include the Legacy Project which deals with residual functions that need to continue once the tribunal closes and some capacity building projects which look at training Rwandan lawyers and judges and outreach programs in Rwanda to keep people informed on the progress of the tribunal. Here is a sample of some of the ins and outs of our internship so far:
Day 1- Met our supervisor and got our ID badges J
Day 4- We got our offices (mine is in the hallway and I think it used to be a storage closet- needless to say, it’s a little chilly out there)
Day 5- We got our computers and internet access.
Day 6- We got email addresses, learned that there was a UN shuttle that could take us home (would have been helpful to know before)
Day 7- Went on a mini tour of the building and sat in on a court session
Day 8- Met some other interns and learned that there is a gym that we can use
We never officially got an orientation so we are learning to just piece things together here and there and learn as we go. Hopefully we will not miss out on some things that we could have taken advantage of. Oh, we also learned that there are UN flights to Kigali that we may be able to get on. The only problem is that you are not guaranteed a seat on the flight back b/c they may be bringing witnesses back to Arusha.
Since we have been here, we have met many interesting, delightful and helpful people (both locals and internationals). We met an older guy from the UK that is volunteering here and has some very funny stories about his adjustment to TZ life. We met an Indian guy who grew up in TZ and knows all of the ins and outs of Arusha. We also met a lady from Rwanda what is working for the EAC (East African Community) and her office is located in the center where we will be studying. We meet many locals on the streets that are trying to sell things but are eventually becoming our friends as they learn we will be here for a while and do not want to buy anything right now. It is a good way for us to practice Kiswahili and for them to practice English. Apparently some people here think I am Spanish though. I have also been called “half cast” meaning mixed. We met a great guy through a connection of a former student here that has been helping us look for another place to stay and another guy at church that has been very kind and helping us out.
On the other side, we did have an incident the other night that scared us and showed us another side of Arusha we had not seen. We were in a restaurant with a group of interns and 2 guys came in shooting and robbed the people there. Thankfully me and my crew did not lose much (a little $ and cell phones) but some of the people with us had credit cards, ids, keys, jackets, etc. stolen. We hid under the table, praying that everyone would be safe, as we waited for the men to leave. Thankfully they did after a few minutes (although it seemed like forever) and we were all ok (expect the parrot in the restaurant who was shot- not sure if it was on purpose or accident.)
This incident was such a stark contrast to the rest of Arusha that I have experienced so far that it still seems unreal to me. I could not help thinking though of other people who have been in far worse situations such as during the genocide in Rwanda or with other things that are currently happening in Darfur and Burma that it manages to put it all in perspective for me. Many people have to face this kind of danger on a daily basis and deal with the consequences for much more that a few days, often for a lifetime. In talking to people about our experience the other night there is genuine concern in people’s comments and a sincere apologetic tone. Despite this incident, I continue to be optimistic about my time here and look forward to making the most of this experience. Please continue to keep myself and friends in your prayers and until next time, “Amani” (peace)!