My new Apartment

Studying by candle-light
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Well, I broke my promise to myself on the very first weekend! But staying in Bagamoyo isn't so bad this time around. I think that's partly because I was expecting it (mental preparation) and partly because I had planned out "activities" to do.  Very exciting things like laundry, studying football, and interacting more with my housemates. Last night I stayed at work until about 6 so didn't have to give up the internet and I could talk to my parents. After that I had dinner with the other American and we just hung out and chatted. By about noon (saturday) I had at least partially accomplished all the goals on my to-do list... so I watched the first presidential debate and then I took a walk.

Kermit - although I later found at least 4 of his friends (Kermy the II, III and IV)
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It is also my first night in my new apartment with my new "roommates," Jiminy and Kermit. Kermit prefers to spend his nights in the bathroom but I had to throw Jiminy out when he decided to jump in bed with me. There's no mosquito net which is ironic because the reason I hadn't moved there for the past 2 weeks was because there was no mosquito net... also ironic because I live with a doctor and both of us are working at a health institute whose main focus is malaria interventions... I'm not particularly worried about malaria -I'm taking prophylaxis (awesome dreams!) and it's pretty treatable... I know people; but I HATE bug bites! I tried spraying the room but it seems I'll just have to rely on the power of Deet and hiding underneath the sheet.  I decided to try out the shower but that cracked me up! There's a handheld nozzle about waist high and when you turn the knob cold water comes out of course water also comes out of every other hole in the bathroom - both "hot" and cold faucets in the sink, the "hot" and cold nozzles of the shower and a random pipe sticking out of the wall. I considered showering at the pipe because it's not only over my head but there was at least as much water pressure coming from it as the shower head. Unfortunately the toilet is in the way. Did I mention there's no furniture except for the bed? Oh and there's no electricity right now either. That has nothing to do with the apartment, it's out everywhere. Luckily I had just enough battery left in my laptop to watch Shrek the Third with Karisa and Juma, the seemingly random guy who lives here while going to school.

My "spa-like" shower/bathroom
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As I've mentioned before you only ever get snippets of a story and I'm still trying to piece together this eclectic household. Here's what I've come up with so far; Nahya - the pediatrician, her husband - an engineer with the UN and is currently stationed somewhere in Uganda (I've never met him), Karisa - the 5 year old daughter, Bahati - the nanny?, Maida - she cooks and cleans, Mwene - goes to school most days but also seems to be responsible for cooking and cleaning, Juma - not sure why he lives here but he goes to school, Mohamed - I don't think he actually lives here but he clearly works at the house every day and is often at dinner, random guy - also works here every day and also at dinner fairly frequently I had thought he was the guard but now we have a new guard who sleeps by the gate... I think that's everyone.

The new apartment
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Now that the movie's over I have nothing left to do but read and write by candlelight. Getting to know everyone in the house better has the added benefit that they are trying to "teach" me Swahili. That pretty much means they point at things and say the Swahili word for it, unfortunately it often leads to them saying things to me that I clearly don't understand, they then repeat the sentence more slowly (as if that's the problem) and then they laugh at me... but I'm getting used to it and it's a step up from the awkward silence. All in all it was a pretty good day and I'm looking forward to tomorrow because I was promised coffee! Real coffee... not this instant stuff.