A significant proportion of my family are from Tanzania. That is in Africa. East Africa. I know many of my readers are supremely intelligent but you have no idea how many people ask dumb ass questions when I say my mum is from Tanzania.
‘Is that in South Africa?’ and ‘Oh. But you’re not black’
To say visiting there when I was 15 was a culture shock is an understatement. Not safe to pee at the airport? Huts on the side of the road? NO McDonald’s? To quote Crissy ‘What kind of bitchery was this?’ Sometimes we couldn’t have a shower because the water pressure wasn’t strong enough to get it up the hill, and you didn’t drink the water. Want a cup of tea? Get your milk straight out of the goat.
But the culture shock wasn’t just material. My cousin was going in a swimming competition at her school. I asked her if she was putting sunscreen on, since it was so hot and sunny. She didn’t know what the hell I was on about – and then cried herself to sleep under a wet sheet that night as the blisters formed.( Slip, slop, slap people – that is all Aussies hear as soon as they are old enough to see sunlight.) The general white populace was gun toting, my family included, those guns having been used on other people to murderous effect.
In Australia we were always told about Stranger Danger and how certain things are inappropriate and what you should do if someone does something to you that they shouldn’t. But when you are in a country when people are starving and a significant proportion of the population have HIV, there are other community service priorities. So amongst the white population, notwithstanding the African population, abuse was rife.
One of my Uncles went back home to Tanzania recently after visiting for my cousin’s wedding. He bemoaned the materialism in Australia. I would have had a go at him, but he is right. I keenly feel, but don’t do anything about, our consumerism. But on the other hand he hates how he can’t drink and drive here, he has to wear a seatbelt, he can’t smoke anywhere and that women are seen and heard. He has his materialism, employing Africans at a wage that takes them years to buy a bicycle. Just because it happens in a beautiful, undeveloped country doesn’t make it any less insidious.
hmm reminds me of how much I don’t remember from my time in Dodoma, and also how much I just didn’t realise . Being 15 is hard enough with out trying to figure out all that stuff too. Wonder what I would think now if I went back…….
I often think the same Katrina! I think I would be simultaneously more shocked and more easy-going although that makes no sense. I think I would be a lot more scared that is for sure!
It is a materialistic world we live in, especially western society. Going back to such a place re-emphasizes that fact. I left Sudan in ‘86, and the stories I hear from people who go back are nothing short of unbelievable.
So recently I find out you’re part Polish. Now I’ve gotta find out you’re part Tanzanian, a fellow African…and find out this way? lol :-p
Do you think you would ever go back? I would love to.
Have I mentioned the part Greek and part English? What a mongrel
U r a mongrel indeed. Far out, how much more mixed could you be?
I don’t think I’d ever go back for the simple reason I don’t have fond memories of being there, not to mention, the dictatorship drove us out, so I guess I’m not patriotic towards my place of birth. It’s a sad state of affairs but I’m being honest.
Well you know how I feel about materialism, especially since popping out a bubba and no longer being able to afford to be materialistic ;o) I remember in primary school we learnt the difference between needs and wants. Now as adults it seems life is so much more about wants. If we all focussed on meeting our needs and just some of our wants the world would be a very different place. I say this as I type away on my wifi laptop while watching Grays on my plasma etc. Ah I digress – I do love the hypocrisy of your uncle’s comments.
You pointed out EXACTLY how I feel. Is it ‘easy’ to think of ourselves as materialistic when we have all we could ever want, let alone need?
My Uncle is a crack up I tell ya.
Things are just things – you can’t take it with you, as the saying goes! Far more important is the way we treat each other, care for our environment, all that ‘worthy’ stuff. But so true.
Hmmm it was so materlialistic here… it may have to do with the fact that he was here for:
1. xmas
2. my wedding
3. my daughter’s b’day
4. There were other family members that had flown here that had never been to Aus & wanted to do some shopping…
I don’t know about any of you, but most people enjoy giving gifts for any of those types of occasions? Materlialistic? or thoughtful? BAH
Business Class anyone?
No way – are you telling me the cheeky bugger went business class? Hypo to the critical!!!
I think I would actually say “I’m not sure where Tanzania is” because I’m pretty bad with geography. My favorite answer in Trivial Pursuit is New Zealand for geography questions. I was right once.
My favourite thing is asking people ‘Well, if there is New Zealand where the hell is ‘old’ Zealand? ‘ FYI – Denmark
There is one thing I do remember that brings back fond memories. The Sudanese people are simple people. You could be stranded somewhere and they will take you in to their house to let you stay till you’re ready to leave, no questions asked and without expecting anything in return. It’s a simple life there. Maybe I might go back oneday, never say never
I’m sure that’s not true! And apparently the easiest way to begin is to just do something small to get the ball rolling – don’t know if it works though…