It’s hard to believe I’ve been here for over a week already, but at the same time I feel like I’ve definitely had more than a week’s worth of experiences! This past weekend I went to a performance at the Bagamoyo College of Arts which was absolutely amazing. There was dancing, drumming, mime, modern dance, and a crazy balancing act (I don’t know what to call that…). The cutest little girl, Sabeela, came and sat next to me, and chatted with me throughout the performances. She laughed and smiled SO big at everything... and I have to admit, it felt good to have a “conversation with someone, albeit a toddler, LOL, who I could understand. My Swahili is coming along, but I have a loooog way to go…
So anyway, after the performance a bunch of Bagamoyo College of Arts students and volunteers went to hang out at a “bar” (it was really just a giant circle of chairs outside of a stand that sold drinks) just talking and laughing and celebrating a successful show. There were probably about 35-40 people altogether. A couple of students brought their drums and had some impromptu drumming sessions and tried to teach us to play some simple rhythms…. They make it look so easy!
I was getting tired after that and wanted to walk home, but one of the students told me that I would regret it if I didn’t stay for the “fire”. I wasn’t sure what he meant but he promised it would be an experience I would never forget. He was right… it was SO cool! We walked to the beach (Bagamoyo’s right at the Indian Ocean), made a bonfire, and the students had a CraZy jam session!!: playing the drums, playing the flute, dancing around the fire, singing chants, and singing songs about life in Tanzania and being happy no matter what your situation. Just imagine dancing around a fire on a beach in Africa… the smell of coconut wood burning, hearing the drums, singing with that many people… It was probably the most beautiful experience I have had in a long time… people were just friendly with each other and took the time teach me the dances and chants (in Swahili) so that I and the other volunteers could participate. There was absolutely no arrogance, no selfishness… no one was being left out, and they really treated us like family. Sure, they seemed to be especially proud that I, a Black American, was there, but they welcomed all of us and wanted to teach all of us about their culture. I really felt like I was among old friends… I videotaped some of it because it, but couldn’t even get more than 45 seconds of footage at a time because whenever someone would see me standing by myself they would come over and check on me, LOL. It was just amazing. I’m afraid to post the video clips though, because I think I’ll shut-down this little internet café!
Those in Ithaca and Chicago, please remind me to show you this… it was really amazing. If I figure out away to post the video clips, I will.
(
8
9) 
So anyway, after the performance a bunch of Bagamoyo College of Arts students and volunteers went to hang out at a “bar” (it was really just a giant circle of chairs outside of a stand that sold drinks) just talking and laughing and celebrating a successful show. There were probably about 35-40 people altogether. A couple of students brought their drums and had some impromptu drumming sessions and tried to teach us to play some simple rhythms…. They make it look so easy!
I was getting tired after that and wanted to walk home, but one of the students told me that I would regret it if I didn’t stay for the “fire”. I wasn’t sure what he meant but he promised it would be an experience I would never forget. He was right… it was SO cool! We walked to the beach (Bagamoyo’s right at the Indian Ocean), made a bonfire, and the students had a CraZy jam session!!: playing the drums, playing the flute, dancing around the fire, singing chants, and singing songs about life in Tanzania and being happy no matter what your situation. Just imagine dancing around a fire on a beach in Africa… the smell of coconut wood burning, hearing the drums, singing with that many people… It was probably the most beautiful experience I have had in a long time… people were just friendly with each other and took the time teach me the dances and chants (in Swahili) so that I and the other volunteers could participate. There was absolutely no arrogance, no selfishness… no one was being left out, and they really treated us like family. Sure, they seemed to be especially proud that I, a Black American, was there, but they welcomed all of us and wanted to teach all of us about their culture. I really felt like I was among old friends… I videotaped some of it because it, but couldn’t even get more than 45 seconds of footage at a time because whenever someone would see me standing by myself they would come over and check on me, LOL. It was just amazing. I’m afraid to post the video clips though, because I think I’ll shut-down this little internet café!
Those in Ithaca and Chicago, please remind me to show you this… it was really amazing. If I figure out away to post the video clips, I will.
(
8
9) 
