Visiting........

On Friday i took a long awaited day off work and visited to extended family members of my host family. We went to a village around 1 1/2 hours drive away.My host brother (who was visiting form Dar) drove us (me, my host Mum, Mkiale and a girl called Jamilia who used to live with my host family).

We drove down roads that could never pass as roads in the UK, in this Rav4 driving down what could only be described as foot paths! When we arrived an elderly lady, bursting with more energy than me when i discovered i could buy peanut butter here, burst out of the house and towards the car. She grabbed me as if i was her long lost daughter and we made our way inside. We sat for a while and my host family tucked into a bowl of Senaynay (friend grasshopper) i have so far managed to decline this delicacy!:

Senaynay

We all sat and chatted and i realised that i know alot more Swahili and KiHaya (local language) than i thought i did. My family had brought goodies for Granny (mainly a huge parcel of meat) and whilst we were sat looking through the bags i felt a pain on my back, i jumped and Jamilia put her hand up the back of my top and pulled something that had attached itself to my skin! It looked like a cross between a giant fly and a bee, the family immediatly ran to bring kerosene (which is seemingly the solution to all bug related incidents) and after dousing it on my back told me not to mind! Ive still no idea what it was and it was thrown from the house so i didn't get to take a picture but thust far there's been no further developments! Once i had calmed down enough to sit still we had a photo session:

Me, Janet, Granny (host mummys mum), Host Mummy and the helper.

Granny: (she looks really miserable here but i swear I've never met such and happy and energetic older person!)

Mkiale, Me, Janet and my host brother (Muburaka)

Mkiale, Me Janet and Granny:

Granny:

Lunch time:

Host Mummy, Me, The neighbour (Edita) and Granny. We agreed that in a few weeks i'll visit again and they are going to teach me how to cook traditional food and were going to do some Haya dancing (which is the local dancing and looks like great fun!)

Host mummy, me, edita and granny:

This is Grannys Brother (and Jamlia's Dad)

Once we'd finished eating my host mummy told me that we would be taking her mothers house girl back home with us and she would be helping the family until we could find a longer term replacement, We waited for around 1 1/2 hours for her to return with her belongings and then the 6 of us set off for the 1 1/2 hr journey to Granny number 2's (My host Daddys mothers).

Granny number 2 (the names are far to difficult to pronounce never mind type) had even more energy than the first and she is in her 90's! Her first request was that the next time we visited we bring her snuff! I didn't even know that they had that kinda stuff out here! Whilst we were chatting and catching up one of her chickens made the mistake of wandering into the room - school boy error! - before i could blink the chicken was grabbed from the floor and presented to me as a gift! It was kicking off something rotten (probably knew its imminate fate) and without me even having chance to respond, the chicken was carted off to be put in the boot of the car! I felt so guilty about the fact that it was going to be killed for my dinner so i managed to strike a deal with the family that as it was technically my chicken i didn't want for it to be killed and eaten and i requested that we keep it for laying eggs - fortunately my request was accepted - phew! Lucky chicken!

Granny 2:

Granny 2 and Mubaraka:

When we got home me and Mkiale brought in the washing and she showed off by carrying it all on her head!!!