wageni

Wageni is Swahili for tourists ('cause they come in wagons). Yesterday more guests arrived here. They are family from Oman (and N, our host is Zanzibarian). Mohammed, wife and seven children were in Zanzibar visiting family and then here over night before driving to 650km to Arusha. In Arusha they will visit more family and then take a trip to the Crater for safari.

We had dinner with the family and then lots of talking. Dinner was fish and potato rolls, chicken with coconut milk and spices, noodles that had a dessert-like quality, and chapatis (did you know that a direct translation of chapati is "push bread" - cause you gotta roll them to make them like that). And masala tea. Great for dipping your mendazi.

We heard history of Zanzibar (once a part of Oman and then in the revolution in '64 there was violence and many Arab Zanzibarians were killed). Things are much more settled now but Zanzibar is still the place most likely to get cranky during elections).

Last year the family went to Canada for a visit. The little boy last night was NOT excited about the safari because he thought it would be like the Granby Zoo (apparently he was not impressed). Also, he was told if he studied hard he could go to university in Canada like his uncle. He said if he did that he would have a swimming pool full of maple syrup.

We got to hang out with Babu some more. He is N's father and he is 96. Every morning he eats at 8, walks around the lot at 9 (he has the most gigantic sunglasses in the world - a Hintonburg hipster would ache with jealousy at the sight). Then he sits under the tree in the back near the parrot. Once the sun lets off a bit at 4pm, he heads out to the corner and sits with the shop keeper there until sunset (6:20ish). We're not sure because his accent is kind of hard to follow but we think he introduces us by saying: "these are our wazungu" (white people). Makes it sounds like we're pets which is kind of awesome. I feel like a) the folks here feel responsible for us negotiating life in Dar and b) we're a bit of a novelty act. Or something.

After folks went to bed I snuck out and went to the bar down the street (Mona's) and watched the Euro 2012 football (after African Big Brother was over; you can follow them on twitter). The bar closed up around me and then I scootched back home.

We're invited to Oman for a visit (though pick your spots, right now it's 45-50 degrees). Life is good.