What is up with that?

Some strange (well to me) things that people do here that I hope to have an explanation to before I leave:

1) They name the buses. The most excellent example so far is one bus we saw on our way to Kiboroloni Market...this bus was called "Dick Cheney" (I am sure he is proud).

People also have very unique names here as well...see my post entitled, " Hello Bananas!".

2) Winter hats. Yes...it is 35C outside and people, old men, women, and a lot of babies are decked out in knit winter hats. I don't think they are all hip hoppers so there goes that explanation...and I also don't think they are cold. We have even seen people in winter jackets on days that are so hot that even the devil would be ordering iced tea.

Although cold is a relative thing. People here cannot even begin to imagine how people can survive on an icy cold 10C day in Canada...in fact they shiver when we tell them about it. Of course as most travellers do, when we tell them about the snow in Canada, we break out the old winter of 1998 story. The time the snow was up to the top of the roofs and Toronto's mayor called the army in to help shovel the sidewalks. By the time we leave we will have them all convinced we live in igloos, ski to work and eat penguins. YIPPEE!

3) The mullets. What is the deal with the mullets?
For those of you unfamiliar with this hairstyle sometimes referred to as "hockey hair" in Canada. From Wikipedia: A mullet is a hairstyle that is short in the front, top, and sides, but long in the back . The hairstyle was popular during from early 1970s to the early 1990s and many think it has died out. However, I am happy to tell mullet fans everywhere that the mullet is alive and well in Moshi.

There is a small Indian population in Moshi. Most of them are shop owners and judging by the Sikh temple and the Hindu temple and the handful of Indian restaurants, they are very active in the community. However someone needs to make a desperate call to Tanzania and tell the 25-45 year-old Indian male set that mullets are no longer cool. One guy, I think he is one of the owners of a big ex-pat overpriced restaurant in Moshi called Deli Chez, not only has a mullet. He even has the first few buttons of his shirt unbuttoned and gold chains. I think he thinks he's Shah Rukh Khan's twin...


4) The roundabout way of speaking...two prime examples are when we were looking for a bus to go to Arusha. We walked to the bus station and we soon surrounded by a friendly group of people all trying to convince us to try their buses. We had decided on one bus, a coach sized bus, relatively road-worthy, no missing tires which would allow us to travel in relative comfort for the low low price of 2000 Tsch ($2). As we were about to board the bus, someone offered us his bus, which was smaller and MORE EXPENSIVE. Yes...those were the selling points...smaller and more money. Another example of this is a recent ad for Heineken. (Heineken is desperately trying to make inroads into Tanzania...I think they are marketing themselves as the hip, young, poa/cool beer). The ad extols the fact that the new Heineken bottle is not only SMALLER...it's more expensive. I just don't get it...

5) Mob Justice- If someone has a problem here...everyone has a problem apparently. The other day we witnessed the negotiation stage of a car accident. Two cars had apparently collided, the damage was minor and no one was hurt, but judge and jury was being conducted right there on the street. A large crowd had gathered and all were "assisting" the party they had decided was wronged obtain monetary justice from the mazungu (white person/foreigner) who had done the "wronging". This brought to mind something my professor at Humber told us about car accidents in Africa."If you are ever driving and hit a chicken, cow, goat, person...don't EVER stop and get out of the car as your fate/fine/guilt will be decided right then and there by a mob." I don't think anyone here factors in the mental state of the person driving, their bad childhood, or the fact that they were late for work into the sentence.

Note: Of course if you hit a person with your car you should report it immediately to the nearest police station....I don't condone committing hit and run ANYWHERE. Unless you just hit the village chief ;) If you have hit the village chief...here's my advice "JUST GET ON THE PLANE!".

6) The snotty ex-pats: (From Wikipedia- expatriate (in abbreviated form, expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing or legal residence.

Here is my impersonation of an expat in Africa..." Ooooo I am sooooo African. Look at my kanga (traditional east African cloth) that I had made into a dress. Watch and listen as I speak Swahili like a pro. Aren't I clever I am in Africa. I spit on all North Americans/Europeans/People from developed countries. I spit on consumerism. I spit in your general direction. I am an ex-pat in Africa and all those who cross my path who are not African are to be reviled."

Almost all of the ex-pats (aside from the hostel dwelling partiers who conversely want nothing to do with Africans) want nothing to do with ex-pats. They are a unique breed of people, possibly born on the wrong continent to the wrong parents. Perhaps many of the choices they have made in life have been bad ones. Perhaps they are escaping something..but now they have found their home and walk amongst the "poor and unfortunate Africans" (note: my tongue is so firmly in my cheek!). However these same ex-pats are most often spotted in the ex-pat places drinking cappuccinos.

More "What exactly is up with that?" examples will follow in the coming months I am sure :)