5/8/18 Well a few weeks into the new site, and boy has the learning curve been massive.  First off, I used to think I could cook.  Maybe in America, but with Tanzanian food I am a novice.  Trying hard to expand my knowledge of beans and rice, but it is a real challenge.  Second off, I didn't fully realize how well off we have it in America.  In Tanzania everything is a challenge: cleaning, cooking, fetching buckets of water, boiling water, washing clothes by hand, wow.  It actually takes a lot of forethought and effort to get it all done.  I used to think I was in decent shape, but doing this stuff everyday is kicking my butt.  Western soft I guess.  Third, when you are walking in the dark and hear what sounds like a horse running toward you, watch out, it might be a hyena.  Eerie feeling seeing one of those run by you just at the edge of your flashlight beam.
The first photo is Stanislaus and his family.  He is a retired teacher and my Swahili tutor.  When we agreed to tutoring he had just one request of me: speak English slowly.  I made the same request of him for Swahili - we talk very slowly, but it's coming along.
The second photo is of a community gathering with a group of volunteers that I have joined. The topic of the gathering is the prevention of violence against women and children (The photo is actually of us dancing before the meeting began). The community participants debated back and forth on things like women's rights, the paying of a bride price, and discipline for children.  It actually got pretty heated, and most of the men had a different perspective then the women, but at least they were talking about it.  I actually got a chance to address the crowd and talked about the cycle of violence caused by an abused child growing up to be an abuser, and the courage that it takes for men to break the cycle.  It was well received for the most part.  The debate was followed by a movie projected on a sheet on the wall.  The movie was about the effect that these cultural beliefs have upon an African woman and her family. It was actually very moving, and there must have been over a hundred villagers crowded around to watch it.  Luckily it had English subtitles. Well that's it for now.  Hope everyone is doing well back home, til next time!
Brian