sumama ka

ello little mzungus!

that's what the tanzanians call white people. it is literally the word "white". it's not offensive like "cracker" or "wangsta" because i asked our translator reuben. it's purely descriptive.

the title "sumama ka" is in reference to a children's song that translates into "stand up, sit down." and that's what you do the whole song. oh and also you "ruka, ruka, ruka" or "jump, jump, jump." who be needin' spongebob?

i cannot articulate what my trip to tanzania meant to me. i wish there was a concise way that i could summarize what that place and its people taught me. but i can't. so you'll just have to hang out with me. because it's something i have to vocalize. i have to be able to look you in the eye and gesticulate wildly with my hands - because that's the character of the experience that i had over there.

that and a whole lot of standing up and sitting down and jumping.

and also, anna, i feel the need to make this announcement via the blogosphere because i truly laughed until i thought i might pee when i found this out:

jamba means fart in swahili.

heh. fart juice.