with all the grimness of what we've been looking at, our director pointed out an interesting observation- the programs to address aids- developing economic oportunities for women, bio-intensive agriculture, examining the male - female power dynamic especially within marriage, protection and education/economic oportunities for at risk children- these are all positive developments for society. she pointed out that aids may give africa another chance to look at gender relations/dynamics, shine light on what has been a source of suffering prior to aids, and maybe force some change that otherwise wouldn't occur.
i'd say more about the delights of living in arusha, hmmm. people greet me like their long lost neice, even if it's a begger i am walking by that i haven't got it together to find my small change to contribute. the other day someone greeted me who had been on the bus i was on in march that got stuck for a day and a half in the mud- . last night i ate dinner with a local friend at an indian barbeque place- tables open to the street- you pick your skewer/ shish-kabob and then choose from an array of about 20 different curry vegetable/pickle dishes, laid out like a salad bar, all you can eat- . some kids accross the street were dancing to bongo-flava, the swahili hip hop- and the scene on the street was so laid back and amenable. i thought i was taking a little bit of a digestive risk, but suffered no back-lash. we usually take taxi's to get around after dark but downtown feels safe.- where we are staying is a bit in the outskirts- accross a bridge notorious for after dark theives. our place is set back in a courtyard. it is a hostel and also a school- run by catholic nuns. after 11 they let out a pack of vicious sounding dogs to guard the grounds, so you don't venture out unless you call the guard on duty to your side first. tonight we plan to venture out as a group onto the local nightlife. i cought a little of it last week- every thurs. night there's live music at a place near by- last week it was supposedly open mike, but dominated by one band that was very together, professional sounding local traditional flavor- no cover at that place, but you pay a dollar fifty rather than a dollar for your beer. arusha is known to be a very expensive place generally for locals. there's also a fancy hotel nearby which i was unaware of when i was here in march. there, for a hefty 2 dollars, you can get an excellent expresso/cappucino- feels obscene to pay more than what could give a couple of people a decent dinner, but every so often-