T.I.A.

 TIA stands for "This is Africa" and if you have been here, you understand what it is all about. In America, when you agree to meet someone at 2pm, you will be there at 1:55pm- unless your my roommate or Ellen ;] Here, if the time to meet is 2, it may be 3, 4, 5 or 6 before the other person comes. To us, we would be furious for the time that person wasted. But for them, they completed everything they needed to do that day and are now with you and happy to meet. TIA. Our Australian friend, Darren, says "The only thing that is consistent, is inconsistency." For us as students, we have been experiencing this. My mother, for example, has probably been reading along with the syllabus I left her in the states, seeing what we are doing from day to day. Mom, most of that is probably wrong. It differs from day to day which teacher will be there. Dr. Yoder is, of course, every day, so Core 350 and African History are always possible. But if Mama Tesha shows up for swahili or Moses for Religion... it changes from day to day. TIA. In our first few days here class, which starts at 9am, normally didnt get going until 10 or 11. Ten minute breaks are more like 20 and lunches are well over an hour. TIA. Our Spring Break plans are different from what they were a few weeks ago, and we have moved our visit to the courts to March. Our trip to the EAC was unplanned and same with the coffee farm. T-I-A. In America, I would probably  be freaking out about the lack of structure. Even when we walk down the streets I find that we're constantly passing Tanzanians walking.
Really, it's all paradoxical to the way they drive: swerving around each other, honking, chaos and crowding, no speed limits and hardly any restrictions or enforcement. But, despite the new driving techniques I've learned, I am also learning how to be more relaxed. All over the streets people just sit. Just sit. Though I understand that our different life styles allow them to just sit and keep me hustling and bustling, it still speaks to me about the time I do take to just be. Or lack of. Mostly, my time with the Lord. In the times that I have felt disconnected and far from home the most, God is reminding me, and I am trying to truly wrap my head around it, that He is here. God of me in America and Africa. I have alot to learn still. And my internet cafe time is running out, so I will cut off here. But, already I have struggled and been blessed and I have been here almost four weeks alone.
Next stop is Zanzibar. I am so excited to see the coast and have a new adventure.