Funky Orbits

Here's a picture of Tay, Colin and Britton at Funky Orbits, the Dar es Salaam kid's party hot spot. (I do mean hot, the weather is boiling here, so kids always return home drenched in sweat.) There is a playground, rock climbing wall, miniature golf, party room etc... It opened about a year ago, and now around 50% of the birthday parties around here are celebrated there.

Taylor went to a party there recently where they ran out of time to eat, so they carefully packaged up the food in take home bags. This consisted of half a hamburger, a slice of pizza, french fries (they call them chips here), and a piece of chocolate cake with icing thrown in a brown lunch bag. Personally, I think the icing complimented the half a hamburger patty nicely. My only question was, "why did they forget to squirt some ketchup in there too?"

Dirt is Good

With our move back to America being so close, we're running out of most of the consumables we brought with us. It was a sad day when we saw the last of our laundry detergent. (We haven't smelled the same since.) I've starting trying a variety of different local detergents. After pulling yet another dingy load of laundry out of the washing machine, I decided to read the box of the latest laundry detergent more carefully. It was then that I noticed their slogan, "dirt is good." I guess they really do deliver. I also love the directions of "put a handful in with the clothes." Gotta love it here.

Late Night?

Tay explained to us last night that she should get to stay up extra late. We questioned why, and she responded with "I slept at least an hour during Sacrament Meeting today."

Summer Plans

We're starting to wrap up here. The kids have 9 days of school left, not that I'm counting or anything. (They're bus comes at 6:35 in the morning, and we're all quite ready to make that a distant memory.)

The kids and I leave Tanzania on June 24th. We'll head to my parent's house in Utah. I'll try to set up houses to see with a real estate agent, so that when Tim joins us three weeks later, he and I can leave the kids in Utah, and hopefully buy a house in Washington. Then we'll go back to Utah until late August, then back to Washington in time for school. (You can read later on, I'm sure, how all this worked exactly as we planned it, with no complications this summer.)

We're all getting very excited to be returning to America. (Tim included.) We can't wait to be on the same time zone (or at least a closer time zone) to most of you.

Baby Girl Coming Our Way

Taylor was particularly excited when the latest ultrasound revealed that she would be getting a sister. Her due date is October 10th. We're thrilled.

Banana Bread French Toast

A friend recently recommended this, and we LOVE it.

Just make french toast using banana bread. Sure, it's like feeding your kids batter fried cake for breakfast, but I figure after the kids have their syrup and butter on regular french toast, I should get bonus points for switching to something with fruit in it.

I've been told this is also good with pumpkin bread, carrot bread, etc.

Colin's Time Out

Colin landed himself in timeout today. When I went to his room to release him from his 10 minute sentence, I was met with a tear-stained face. He explained that he had been hungry during his banishment, and had no choice but to eat his Cheerio necklace from playgroup. One longer and improved Cheerio necklace later, the world was right with our 4 year old again.

Maasai

By Taylor

In grade 2 I learned about maasai. The first thing you should know about maasai is they are very religious. They put big holes in there ears by pushing a needle and thread through their ear and then they take a small cork and put it in their earring holes, then they take a bigger cork and push it through. They continue doing this until it is the size they want it. They also put lots of really heavy earrings in, and that makes it bigger too.

A good maasai sheperd should have at least 1,000 cows. The maasai have a very important person called a laibon. A laibon is like a medicine man. He uses an artifact called an enkidong. An enkidong is made from a cow or rhino horn. An enkidong holds different colored stones. Those stones are used to tell the future by the laibon.

Maasai have many wives, especially the laibon. Once I saw a photo of a laibon who had 12 wives. I will give you some facts about maasai.

1. Maasai have a lot of children.

2. Maasai houses are made of mud and cow poo.

3. Maasai houses are called bomas.

4. A maasai village is called an enkang.

5. Maasai warriors are called morani.

6. Maasai take out their 2 bottom teeth

7. When a maasai boy becomes 11, they throw him out of the enkang for 2 months to see if he is strong.

At maasai day I was helping people make clay bomas and giving them name tags.
Taylor








Here's a video of real Maasai jumping with us. The Maasai are known for how high they can jump.

Starting the Blog

Here's our attempt at starting a blog. I went through old emails, and posted those that looked interesting. We'll add pictures and commentary as we get used to this.

Spring Break Adventure

Britt, Colin, Tay and Christy- Swaziland

We were all excited to go to South Africa for the kid's Spring Break, made all the more exciting by Gramma and Aunt Christy's visit. We flew into Johannesburg. We spent two days in Kruger National Park where we were lucky enough to finally see some rhinos close up, as well as wild dogs, lions, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, impala, baboons, and a bunch of other safari animals. We then drove to Swaziland with a short detour to God's Window. That's the spot in "The God's Must be Crazy" where they threw the coke bottle off the end of the earth. Unfortunately, it was so foggy that we couldn't see a thing, but had a fun time anyway. The highlight of Swaziland was riding horses on a safari with zebra, wildebeests, warthogs, and other wildlife. The experience felt very surreal. We enjoyed our breakfast with a resident ostrich who happily gobbled up our leftovers. Our next stop was a really fun resort in the Drakkensburg mountains. They had a pool, trampolines, a playground, a giant chessboard set (Britt loves chess), minigolf, a petting zoo, and horses to ride. The kids were in heaven. We also visited an adventure park nearby with ziplines, a giant trapeze, acrobat harnesses with trampolines, a giant superman type swing, and paintball. Our last stop was Durban where we stayed overnight before catching an early morning flight back to Dar. It wasn't exactly a relaxing vacation, but was action packed, and created some great memories.

Tim's Mt. Kilimanjaro Trip

Day 1: 22 February
Departed Dar es Salaam in the evening with my friend and we flew from Dar to the Kilimanjaro National Airport. It was already dark by the time of our flight, so we could not see Mt. Kili from the air. A driver met us at the airport and drove us to Arusha, where we checked into a cheap, but adequate, hotel. Ate a late dinner and then to bed, excited for the next day.

Day 2: 23 February
After breakfast, we were taken to the tour company’s office, where we paid our money and were given a briefing about the climb and how to recognize symptoms of altitude sickness. We are in shorts and t-shirts and have a camelback (backpack with enclosed water pouch and tube you can drink from while walking) with our lunch and then our big packs with winter clothes, sleeping bag, etc. Everything is loaded in a van and we drive 2.5 hours to the base of Mt. Kili at Marangu Gate. On the way we catch glimpses of the mountain through the clouds. Get to the park and register and sign in and take some pictures, then we get started on our climb. The big saying on the mountain was “pole pole”, which means to go slowly. The advice is that you don’t need to be in great physical shape to conquer the mountain (I’m an example of that), but you need to give your body time to acclimate to the change in altitude. In fact, they say that sometimes the fitter athletes have a harder time because they push themselves and go too fast, and hence have problems at the higher altitudes. This first day we climbed about 1000 meters and walked about 9 kms, and it took us about 5 hours. We stopped for lunch along the trail and passed a lot of beautiful scenery. We were walking through a rainforest vegetation level, so lots of trees, waterfalls, things like that. We even saw blue monkeys and a big mongoose. We got to the first rest camp, the Mandara Camp, in the late afternoon and we were surprised at how cold the weather had changed. No more shorts and t-shirts. The porters carry our big packs and all the food and everything, so it makes the hike quite enjoyable. We never see the mountain peak today during our climb, as we are still low in the jungle. They cook our dinner for us and then to bed around 9pm, sleeping in cabins on bunks.

Day 3: 24 February
Up early and ate breakfast and it was beautiful to see the sunrise over the valley below us and to already be above the low cloud cover. Got our packs all ready and then headed out of the camp. Right away we saw some beautiful black and white Colobus monkeys, with long, bushy white tails. Headed up to Maundi Crater, where we get our first glimpses of the peak of Mt. Kili off in the distance. It was rather awe-inspiring to see and realize we were going to be going all the way up to the top. Also a little daunting since it looked so far off. Continued our hike, and today we went about 12kms in 7 hours. Beautiful scenery as we left the rainforest behind and headed into the moorlands, with much smaller trees and bushes and stuff. Beautiful views of Mt. Kili all day long as we hike closer and closer. Arrive at the Horombo Camp, which is about 3,800 meters up, or approx. 12,500 feet. Much colder now. I put on a jacket over my long-sleeve shirt and huddle in my sleeping bag all night long. I’ve been taking some pills to combat high altitude sickness, and a side effect is that it makes you pee…a lot. So nothing like getting out of your warm sleeping bag in the middle of the night.

Day 4: 25 February
Today was our acclimatization day, so we were staying at Horombo Camp for another day. The purpose of this day was to provide our bodies with the opportunity to get adjusted to the altitude, in order to increase our chances of making it to the summit. We did a 3 hour hike to Zebra Rock, which allowed us to climb another 400 meters before coming back down to Horombo Camp, going about 4 kms. I was happy because except for some small headaches, I really wasn’t feeling any effects of the altitude. Also, while my body was tired had been tired after the 3 days of walking, I wasn’t feeling any major aches or pains, so I was feeling pretty comfortable about my chances. We again had great views of Mt. Kili before clouds came in and covered up the peak for the rest of the day. Spent the afternoon lounging around the camp and getting ready for the big day tomorrow.

Day 5: 26 February
Today is the big day, leading up to the attempt at the summit. We leave Horombo Camp in the morning and head off for our hike to the last camp. Weather grows steadily colder as we get higher, and I’m wishing I had worn my gloves today. We hike 10 kms to the last camp before the summit, Kibo Camp. Kibo is located at about 4,700 meters, or approx. 15,500 feet, so we are almost 3 miles up. The vegetation changed from moorland to alpine desert. It reminds me a lot of northern Arizona or southern Utah, with lots of rock and some scrub. We get to Kibo Camp at around 3pm and immediately try to rest for 2 hours. We then eat our last dinner and go back to sleep, trying to get as much sleep as possible. It is difficult though to get a good sleep at higher altitudes, so I have a restless sleep. It is really cold now when they wake us up at 11pm and tell us to get ready. We drink hot chocolate and eat some biscuits, and put on all our cold weather clothing. At midnight we head out to attempt the summit.

Day 6: 27 February
This is a very long day, where we hike 34 kms, which is over 20 miles. We leave Kibo Camp at midnight and start the long hike up the mountain, which is quite steep and covered in scree and shale. The guides keep telling us “pole pole” so we go pretty slow. It is called the Kili shuffle, as we plod up the mountain. Have lots of time to think, as there isn’t much talking going on during this segment. It is freezing cold, but I’m pretty warm in my winter clothes. We continue upwards and leave the dirt trail behind and start a series of switchbacks over the scree. This is quite difficult on my calves, as I hike over this stuff; it is like walking on sand. We keep going up and I find myself scrambling over huge rocks and boulders. I ask out loud if we are lost, when suddenly we are at the top of the mountain at Gilman’s Point. It is now 5:45am and I am elated. Gilman’s Point is on the top of Mt. Kili, but it is not the highest point. Since Kili is a volcano, we now have to hike around the rim for a while longer to get to the highest point. But I take a moment to enjoy the fact that I made it to Gilman’s Point. We continue walking along the rim, and now we are on small paths with rock face on one side and a snowy plummet down on the other side. We watch the sun come up over East Africa and it is incredibly beautiful. Plus I’m grateful to have some warmth and some light. I can’t believe how far off the highest point is still, and I can see why they say that the last part of Kili is more mental than physical, as we see people quitting and turning around. Physically we are tired, but the worst part is behind us, so we continue onward and upward. There is snow on the ground and huge snow/ice glaciers all around. Most of the ice is a very pretty blue, so that is neat..

At 8am, we finally make it to Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mt. Kili and the highest point in Africa. We are at 5,895 meters, or approx. 19,500 feet up. We take tons of pictures at the top, enjoying the view and the fact that we made it. We both carted up American flags, so we take pictures with our flags and I plan on framing it at home. We get to spend 30 minutes at the top and I’m practically giddy. I’m tired, but my body feels good and I have no physical complaints. I get cellphone service, so I call Chelisa and she celebrates with me. It is finally time to head back down the mountain, and it is a pleasant hike back to Gilman’s Point. Then the hike becomes difficult, as we have to go down all that loose scree on the steep slope. This is where my body starts to ache, as my toes ram into my boots and my knees start to get sore. We get back to Kibo Camp at 12:30pm and they let us rest for 2 hours, then we have to hike back to Horombo Camp. My body really doesn’t want to do that, as I’m physically tired and sleepy tired too. But we hike the last 10kms to Horombo, arriving there at 6pm. I’m in bed by 6:30pm and I sleep for 12 hours straight.

Day 7: 28 February
Another tiring day as we walk all the way off the mountain. My body felt great after 12 hours of sleep, but then we had to hike about 21 kms downhill, from Horombo Camp to Mandara Camp and then all the way to Marangu Gate. The weather gets warmer the further down we go and we shed clothing along the way. Going downhill is harder for my body, and I develop my first blisters and get some bruised toenails. My body is finally ready to take a break, so when we get to the Gate at around 3pm, I am very relieved and happy to be down. We get certificates proclaiming that we made it to the top, and then we are driven back to our hotel, 2.5 hours away. My body has stiffened by the time we climb out of the van and I’m sore now. I get to take my first shower in 6 days, and my climbing buddy really appreciates that. Eat dinner and go to bed early.

Day 8: 29 February
Fly home to Dar es Salaam, tired but happy. All in all, we hiked about 80kms (about 50 miles). I’m very glad that I climbed the mountain and I encourage all of you to give it a shot if you ever get the chance. Definitely a trip of a lifetime.

Meeting President Bush

President Bush’s visit to Tanzania was a crazy amount of work for everyone working at the embassy, but it was nice to see that his trip was so positive. Most people here love him, and were very excited that he came to visit. It’s nice to see all the good that America does helping other countries, and to see it be appreciated in return. Tim worked in the airport (only getting a few hours of sleep each day/night for about a week.) He helped with visas and getting everyone cleared here. He was exhausted, but loved watching Air Force One arrive and depart. He took some amazing pictures, and was even able to shake hands with Tanzania’s President Kikwete. President Bush, Mrs. Bush and Ms. Rice all came to the Embassy for a brief meet and greet. The White House press had requested a picture of the President and First Lady with a group of embassy kids. Britton and Taylor were able to be in that group, but Colin was considered too young. However, when they went to take the picture, Mrs. Bush saw Colin watching from the sidelines, and asked if he would like to join them. He marched right up there with President Bush and Laura Bush. It was pretty amazing. We were very lucky as the kids sat very close to them, and Britton was able to shake President Bush’s hand. There were a ton of people at the embassy, but Tim and I were fortunate enough to be able to shake hands with President Bush and Ms. Rice. It was an incredible experience.

Primary in Dar

A friend of mine, Courtney, wanted her primary to learn about primaries in different parts of the world, so she wrote requesting information. I thought I'd post it here in case anyone else is interested. This picture is from our branch's primary Christmas presentation during sacrament meeting.

Primary here is pretty small. We have between 5-16 kids depending on the day. Most of the kids come without their parents. Most people here don't have very much money, so the kids come to church in whatever they have. They try to wear their nicer clothes, but are often in T-shirts and pants. The traditional outfit for women and girls to wear here is called a kanga. Many, many people still wear them. You buy kangas in to matching pieces. They have a pretty design or pattern on them, and a saying in Kiswahili. Often times, friends give one of the matching kangas to each other, then they wear them at the same time. It isn't uncommon to see friends in matching kangas, holding and hands and walking around. Kangas are left as a big piece of fabric, then wrapped around the waist for a shirt, or wrapped around the shoulders, wrapped around the head, used to tie babies on to backs, and any other thing you can imagine.
One thing that makes primary different here is that it is held in English, even though the children all speak Kiswahili. We're hoping someday it's in Kiswahili as it's very difficult for the kids. They're pretty patient though.
Jambo is hello. So our kids like to sing the hello song with Jambo in it. Think of Lion King for Kiswahili. Simba is lion, asante sana is thank you very much, rafiki is friend. Habari is how are you. Nzuri is fine. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 is moja, mbili, tatu, nne, tano, sita, saba, nane, tisa.
Let me know if you want more Kiswahili, or anymore information. There is a lot I could send you. The big thing here is poverty. Most of these kids live in tiny cinder block houses, without private toilets. It's beyond hot in here, so most people don't spend time in their houses during the day.

Tim and Britton - Mafia Island - Whale Sharks

Britton still LOVES sharks, so I arranged to take him with me to Mafia Island, an island off the coast of Tanzania. There are 3 main islands, the biggest is Zanzibar, the next is Pemba, and the third is Mafia. Mafia is the farthest away and the smallest and we had never been there before. The reason that we wanted to go there is that every year, whale sharks migrate past the island during the winter months (well, summer months for us people living below the equator). We flew over in a little 12-seater aircraft and as we approached the island, Britton saw 2 whale sharks from his window seat. The runway was just a dirt strip, so that was really interesting, and there were no paved roads on the island. We went to our hotel and hung out, and then the next day we went on our whale shark expedition. We found them within 10 minutes of being on the boat and it was great. They were really huge, with some being at least 30 feet long. They are very docile creatures and only eat plankton, so one can swim with them and not have to worry about getting eaten by the whale sharks. While they are called whale sharks, they are sharks, and not whales. So, while Britton took pictures from the boat, I put on my snorkeling gear and jumped into the water and swam with the sharks. They were pretty fast swimmers, but I got close enough to touch them. In fact, I grabbed one by its dorsal fin and let it pull me around for a minute. That was fun, but I got chewed out by the locals who told me not to touch them. Haha, it was worth it. A good friend of mine owns an underwater camera and he let me borrow it, so I took a lot of underwater pictures and videos. We ended up going twice and finding the sharks both times. The first time we found 6 sharks and the second time we found 5 sharks. It was a great time. We flew home from Mafia Island very happy.

Christmas Letter 2007

So here we are the day before Christmas Eve, and we still haven’t pulled together a Christmas email. Here’s a quick update on everyone in our family. We are still living in Tanzania, having been here for 16 months now. Tim works for the State Department, and has been posted to the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam working with the political/economic group. He’s in his element living overseas, and makes sure that we cram every last possible experience Tanzania (and surrounding countries) has to offer into our time here.

With Colin in preschool, Chelisa has been able to volunteer more in the kid’s schools. She loves helping out at a local orphanage, and working with the primary children at church.

Britton is now 10, and is in the 5th grade. He loves dinosaurs, dragons, marine biology, reading, learning about outer space, archery, computers, and photography. Britton really enjoyed traveling on a 4 day/ 3 night school field trip to a nearby safari park. His email address is brittontree@yahoo.com. He loves email and will respond if you write to him directly.

Taylor just turned 8 this month. She’s in 2nd grade. Her interests include painting, Ngoma (Tanzanian) dancing, acting, singing, tennis, gymnastics, and writing. She’s so overscheduled, it’s ridiculous, but loves to be busy. Her email address is taylormtree@yahoo.com and she also loves to receive email.

Colin, who is 4, attends preschool. His main interest lies in world domination, though for now he is settling with controlling our family. He also likes puzzles, computers, drawing, and all things super hero.

Please stay in touch with us. We will be moving to Seattle, Washingon next summer as Tim continues his work. We’re all thrilled with the upcoming move back to America (Tim less than the rest of us, but he’s still happy about it.) We don’t have a new address yet, but we’ll get one to you when we do. Until then, our address here is:

2140 Dar es Salaam Place
Dulles, VA 20189

Have a very Merry Christmas, and a wonderful new year!

Love,
Tim, Chelisa, Britton, Taylor and Colin