Two years and counting…

It’s been two years since I moved to the shores of Lake Victoria, and now I’m finally getting around to write down some of my experiences here. I don’t know how fastidious I will be with this blog, but I figure I owe it to myself (and probably more to friends and family back home) to at least attempt to capture the essence of my life here.

I hope to take more pictures, write down more thoughts, and generally be more reflective in the coming year. The past two years have been too hectic with dissertation writing, starting up a project, and getting settled. I am finally comfortable here and feel that I have somewhat of a home. In fact, just last week, when there was a slight possibility that my landlord might not renew my rental contract for the house, I was a bit sad about the possibility of moving. It was not until the realization that I might have to find another place to live that I thought I am actually really happy where I am now. Sure it is too big for one person, the toilet leaks constantly, and I can’t hang a picture on the wall without requiring a heavy power drill, but it is still home and I’m happy to come home to it everyday after work.

I have two dogs, Goofy (not the name I would have chosen for him, although it fits) and Bella (a latch-key dog who needs a lot of training, but she is lovable), and an occasional cat which comes in the kitchen on the weekend when I’m home and happy licks up the sour milk from my fridge because I had been away in the field. And then I have (or rather, I am housing) some chickens which Salum is raising in my chicken coop in the backyard. These chickens are free range and are fed corn meal, so their eggs are delicious and don’t smell like fish like other eggs. These eggs are some of the most coveted items between me and my friends here (or just mainly R and S).

The night guard lives with his wife and small child in the small house in the back of the yard. She is expecting their second child, it should be any day now. I’m glad they have decided to have the baby here instead of sending her home in the village to have the baby, at least she is near a referral hospital in case she needs it. Ansoni, their 3 year old, hardly speaks a word of Swahili since was born in the village and was brought to Mwanza last year. He makes a perfect conversation partner for me, whose level of Swahili is on par with his.