Choose Your Own Adventure!

When reflecting more upon my last blog, it is so funny to realize how culture shock happens on a number of different levels, seen in the way I am adjusting not only to the Tanzanian culture and new college campus culture with all that goes with it but also to living in a big city for the first time. Being raised in the country and attending Luther in quaint Decorah, the extent of my big city visits all fall within separate one-week excursions, whether they be when traveling for a school music trip, family vacation or other event-centered commitment that brings me to cities. And despite the introverted nature to which I bear a claim, I've always dreamed of living in a large city because I think there are certain benefits to bigger settings. Most everything is very accessible just by walking or using public transport; the vast number of people make anonymity even more possible; there is always someplace to go or something to see or do; and every day can be a brand new Choose Your Own Adventure as well as the approaching weekends loaded with potential for fun and excitement.

However, having lived on the skirts of the city now for two months, I now see some of the downfalls that inevitably tag along with the glamor and romanticized prestige of the “big city.” It is never quiet (Dar is the true “city that never sleeps”); there are always people everywhere so no separation from the masses; despite the masses, you do not feel any less lonely; things are dirtier and pollution muscles out fresh air; there are always neighborhood dogs that cannot be controlled by their owners :) ; traffic can be wretched; and spontaneity isn't actually spontaneous but rather requires careful planning. So I am left feeling exhausted, short of breath, short on sleep, lonely and sometimes afraid. One might ask, “How are you still enjoying yourself?” Well, I definitely am and wouldn't change this experience for the world – how so, you ask?

Although these setbacks did just what they say they do – set me back in hesitation as to the safety and likelihood of plans working out in the city – I am adjusting to the idea of not constructing something to do (i.e. camping trip, picnic, bike ride, etc.) but utilizing the opportunities for recreation available to me in the city. It was a difficult switch to make, which sounds silly because how can having more things to do be a hard adjustment? But it was kind of like throwing the brakes on the fun train's momentum because suddenly, I did not have to try so hard to come up with something fun to do. Just “Choose Your Own Adventure” and go with it, making sure to stick to a plan but being prepared with plenty of plan C's, always staying open to deciding on the fly what to do next. If you stay so set to the “agenda,” you will end up moping around, bummed out that plans fell through again.

Earlier in the semester, I made a list of all the things I hoped I could do before leaving so that when the weekend creeps up, I do not mope because “there's nothing to do” but rather have at least a jump-start outline of the weekend's goals to hopefully be accomplished, and we always seem to fin something else to do along the way. Too much time sitting around and just talking about options makes me less motivated to actually do anything at all because if it is such a hard thing to decide, then why even bother? I love just making a decision in advance and going for it when the time comes. Otherwise, I end up in my room all weekend, homesick and bored and calculating yet again how many days until we leave. When I go, I want to feel like we packed every available minute with exploring the unknown and seeing and trying as many things as possible, living every day up to the fullest (with a few breather days for homework, of course) – no regrets, no turning back.

*Picture was taken at an Ethiopian restaurant - Addis in Dar - a few weeks ago. Having never eaten Ethiopian food, it was quite the experience but turned out to be a tasty one indeed (despite the uncertainty plastered all over my face...). :) Next to me is Bryanna from Pacific Lutheran University, also a member of the LCCT program.