as i write this journal entry at 6:45 a.m. at a campsite in arusha, with fingerless gloves on my hands and ahalf cup of fire-brewed coffee at my side, there are a few things i want to quickly mention before i forget them, such as the fact that after finishing our two and a half hours of presentations on our marine biology data collection two days ago, professor clifton informed us of president obama's nobel peace prize award, and i thought to myself that he better have more up his sleeve (although, gigantic hats off to his speech in cairo-- please read the transcript if you haven't experienced brilliance in linguistic diplomacy for a while (sup, George W.)). Enough politics. Other things on my mind are my nostalgic longing for quiet philosophical bathroom time, an event that i naively took for granted for the past couple years of my life. to me, the "choo", as we call it over here, has always been a sacred place of contemplation. i have never felt so rushed, unclean, exposed, and generally awkward while doing the deed, and consequently find myself lacking in the quiet-time-for-thinking department.
we leave for safari in maasai mara the day after next. i am rooming with 5 other people in a 3 person room, but it only costs us about $3.50 per day. more money to go out for meals and do nice things around town.
i hope you're all doing great. much love from tanzania.
Hi Natalie -
ReplyDeleteHave been following semi-regularly and it all sounds so exciting. You write so well and with such descriptions [and humor] I find myself with a picture in my head....well, except for that 'choo' thing! I'm with you [I'm sure Sherman would second that heartily] on the contemplative nature of the quiet time spent 'chooing'...
Hope the sunburn is healing now and you're sleeping much better. I want to hear more about the food!!
Take good care, Love, Aunt Gail, Sherman & Baby (woof!)