I’ve been back for almost two weeks. The first week–a jet lagged haze–contained moments of stark contrast. Walking to the coffee shop, for example, I was struck by the pavement–glorious pavement–everywhere I looked. A car passed and no dust was kicked up and sprinkled on my face or clothes. Then I noticed the care with which people water, mow and manicure their lawns. In the limited experience I had in Tanzania, people took equal care of their home’s appearance. They may not have had grass or planter boxes or any other adornments but what they did have was neatly arranged–everything in its place.
I was also struck by the garbage cans and recycling bins lining the curb. Quite a large, complicated organization is tasked with running a program where people come directly to our homes and pick up our trash! It’s quite something. They give us containers, too. And designate days so we can plan accordingly. We get literature–copywritten, designed and printed collateral–teaching us about different plastics and paper products, and what can be recycled and what can’t. It’s an enormous effort that goes into our garbage management. Different than the trash pile in the middle of the road that I passed on the way to school in Boma.
Taking deep breaths of morning air, I also considered air quality. After covering my mouth and nose on more than one occasion in Boma–because of dust or black fumes from a truck, which our van was stuck behind–this was refreshing. Again, we have the EPA and other organizations dedicated to sampling and studying and regulating what’s in our air. Whole careers are made for this purpose. I have no idea if anyone in Boma studies air quality. I’m very curious, though, as to what they would find. Except for the few cars and dust, I’m guessing it might be cleaner because there is so much less going on in the way of industrialization, machinery and such.
Lastly, I passed a woman walking three dogs. They were on leashes. They were obedient. I considered the amount of time and money that goes into keeping these dogs fed, watered, active and healthy. Food, beds, toys, vet visits, accessories like leashes and bowls and maybe a bone/treat of sorts. And some owners even pick up their dog’s poo and throw it in the trash. The dogs I saw in Boma ran about of their own will. At night you might hear them terrorizing one of their own kind. We’d hear a few yelps in the middle of the night and then silence. But they didn’t have collars or tags. They didn’t belong to anyone.
Friends have asked what has stayed with me the most. I’m surprised to say the kids—I miss the kids. I knew I would be touched but I find myself actually wondering how they are. There are new friends I miss, as well, that I hope to remain in contact with. What has stayed with me is the importance of keeping an open mind about what is taking place in the world we live in–in our own communities as well as abroad. And gratitude. And humility for there is so much more to learn, more than one person has time to experience in a lifetime. But I’m going to try anyway
.
