So it Aint Sawxtober No-Mah

Half way into October, two months living in the Pare Mountains, with months of training and a large support system to be fueled by what have I done?

Not much.

Well my job at the moment is not to do much. But that shall change soon. My job has lately been to "intergrate into the community." Easy. All I have to do is make my community think that I have been living with them our entire lives and that I know all the local knowledge and customs, generally not being recognized as an outsider or "Mzungu." Easy.

Actually, just this past week I felt that I had achieved this goal. I was not able to fool my villagers, they all know me a little too well (as most people that might know me know I tend to stick out a bit and to act differently). But I think that I fooled an outsider. One of them Mzungus themselves. Well the story went that I was waiting downtown for the local veternarian, in good African fashion almost an hour after our proposed meeting time. Although unnaturely for him, he was over a half hour early and I had missed out. But from the far side of town wandered a Mzungu. Easy to spot: white skin, shorts and a tang top, not passing off any greetings to anybody. No Kohnga (a sheet worn as a dress by almost all Tanzanian ladies, often on market day or for any public appearance found with a matching sheet for a top) not supplying a single greeting (as the enitre village is family I spend the clear majority of my day just saying "whats the news of...?" this passes time quickly and easily as the answers range from good to peacefully and back to good) She appeared to be en route to the market, completely out of any cultural perspective. I was standing in the shade as the sun is Kali (fierce). And thought to help break the ice as a fellow Mzungu (whitey) with a simple: Mambo? (thats the cool greeting and maybe it would make this here out of place mzungu feel comforatable and able to talk). Alas: no response. Just a small blank stare. As If I was just any old villager in a town to be storlled through.
I counted this as a victory for my cultural intergration.

Although I have yet to start any work or perform any great earth saving events. I now pass off as a villager. The first step in living their lives and helping solve their problems.