Out of Africa with John & Lynn: David and family

Tuesday, January 14

We stayed in Arusha one more day to collect ourselves before moving on to Moshi.

Seeing a few gift shops seemed in order so first we took a cab to Shanga Shop. This is a great shop employing handicapped workers and using recycled glass from wine bottles. Recycling is a real problem here in Africa ~ they don't do it! So this is the first type of recycling program here.

Really funky courtyard with hand made cushions and glass inlay tables ~

Hanging glass wine bottles form the different work areas ~

We even walked on the polished colored glass ~ it was beautiful in the sunlight ~

The cab waited for an hour (without the meter running) and took us to the Market ~ also known as the Maasai Market (only because they sell a lot of Maasai jewelry)
OMG ~ there were hundreds of merchants each with their own little cubical, maybe 5 ft x 8 ft, full of trinkets. Each person beckoning you to come in, "looking is free." You have to haggle for your price, which Dana has become quite good at! One merchant said, "I would charge you more but she knows the language so I will only charge you little." We did find a couple of things and then walked back to the hotel to relax.

We ran into David there ~ he had come to visit and invite us to dinner at his house that evening. It is very rare that we would be invited to their home but because Dana is their good friend (and we had become friends with David on the safari) we were asked to join them. We were excited to meet his wife and twins whom we have heard so much about. David said, "great but now I have to leave you to go home and do some cooking."
One of David's friends is a cab driver so he sent him to pick us up that evening. Thank goodness because I don't know how we would give an address for where he lives ~ down the main paved road and then turn right onto a dirt road (remember they are all dirt roads), up the hill, around the bend, not the first left or the second, maybe the third or fourth.

They have a very humble home ~ to say the least ~ but they were very gracious and welcoming. They were honored that we would come and showed us great respect. It is the custom in Africa to remove your shoes before entering the home (due to all of the dirt roads and walkways) but John and I were expected to leave ours on (out of respect). Dana's part of the family so it's OK for her to take hers off. Regardless we all removed our shoes and as we stepped on the rug we felt wet ~ they had scrubbed (by hand) the rug for us. We were expected to sit and visit ~ no helping for us.

First we were served beer and wine ~ which they never have ~ costs too much. Africans are insulted if you don't eat and drink so ~ down the hatch. On safari John and Dana often had a Killi beer before dinner which David noticed so he made sure there was Kilimanjaro beer on hand. They poured Dana and I wine which I sipped on and then when Dana had almost finished hers we traded glasses when the boys weren't looking. Because I refused a second glass I was served fresh pineapple juice! And of course, bottled water, which they never have.

They cooked and cooked,coming in and out, using the small habatchis outside that most of the cooking is done on. After an hour or so of cooking ~ which David did ~ we all ate. (Remember David was first a cook on safari). First was homemade soup with homemade croutons ~ which was delicious. Then carrots, broccoli and cauliflower (which Dana said African's don't really eat ~ so this was all for us ~ homemade french fries and beef with some homemade vegetable sauce.

There is no table so we all sat in the main room ~ maybe 8ft x 10ft and had a wonderful time.

(Some of these pictures are blurry but I included them anyway)

After dinner David told us to close our eyes and presented each of us with a Maasai shuka (cloth) and a t-shirt with his company logo ~ African Experience Safari as a remembrance of our trip. We couldn't believe it!
Dana gave them the back packs and things we had brought for them and they were also thrilled. In Africa it is customary not to open gifts if front of people so the boys quickly disappeared into their room so they could investigate.
Dana went into their room with them so she could explain some of the items.

Doto in blue ~

Godrich in brown ~

Reading their new books ~

Doto (Geofrey) and Kirwa (Godrich) were quiet at first but with Dana's prodding ~ they warmed up and by the end of the evening, we were all great friends.

Lastly, they had a cake for Dana ~ thanking her for coming to their home.

It is quite obvious how much Dana means to them and how much time Dana has spent on letting these people know that she accepts and respects them and their culture.