No trip in any country is sucessful without at least one couchsurfing experience. I finally convinced my friends that it would be a good idea to go to Dar Es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania and least popular, surprise surprise. Why not try couchsurfing and go out like locals?? We really had no idea what to expect when we waited at the old post office for our Tanzanian host to show up. It soon became apparent that we were in for a crazy night when he introduced us to his French friend, and then Argentian friends who would all be sleeping with us in two small rooms.
Well, at least one of them had a bed. I wanted to learn how to make rice pilau. I ended up over the next few hours spending time with the individual families in our courtyard, talking to the women, watching them cook over coal stoves. One woman even invited me to eat with her family, she was so smiley and had me sit and try everything. Sadly I had to decline since we already had pilau on the way. It took a while but I did eventually meet two ladies who spoke some English, and then we had a proper conversation, or the best we could given the language barrier.
We compared notes about countries, and live choices. As the evening continued I watched and somewhat participated in helping our new friend cook for all of us. As her husband explained everything to us, I quickly realized that the kitchen was definitely not his domain. I can cook riceβ¦sometimesβ¦. The food was wonderful, and I was amazed at how well she prepared everything over such a simple stove outside on the dirt ground.
I am Muslim, and we do not drink or dance. Dancing is a sin. I will see you tomorrow. And so we managed to all squeeze in somewhere, somehow, and sleep a few hours before the children and women woke us up, playing, shouting, washing, cooking. I began to realize that running a household here takes a lot more time. I was sad to say goodbye, but before I left my new friend insisted on meeting this boyfriend of mine.
Fredi shook her hand and spoke a little Swahili before she deemed him appropriate, and gave us her blessing. Africa , culture , Tanzania. Sidetrek Because sometimes it's better to see what's on the other side Previous post Pole Pole! Search Blog. The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.
