Thursday was finally another day of Swahili courses. The language learning is a bit rockier than I had anticipated. This is probably due to the other busyness that is going on. We have little time to simply hang around and speak with people. After talking with some people, I think our semester is a little different. There is much going on that Pastor Hafermann has to attend to. First, there was the death of Solomon. Then there was Luka's wedding. The Kilosa issue exploded. And now Luka's step-mom has passed away. These stressful things are certainly wearing. But we do get the unique opportunity of seeing life as it happens here. To exist with others in the humanity. Really, this has given us the opportunity to not simply see the separated otherness of poverty in an orphanage (still very meaningful but different) but to see poverty on a Wednesday. Poverty of body and spirit. This has made studying hospitality all the more radical as the line between hospitality and justice must be crossed. Hospitality creates a space of freedom where guest and host alike are invited to exist as fully human with each other. A place where they join together to recognize, appreciate and employ their own and the Other's gifts, thus realizing their interdependence in the body. Now, and I believe always, hospitality is imperative. The other here must be welcomed and feel that they can be joined to another, and still respect "otherness" and have their own respected. We all need each other! This is why "discerning the body" is a phrase of hospitality in action. Hospitality is not simply social nicety but firm spiritual and societal necessity. It is an act of justice in that it begins the desire to work for the well being and dignity mutually of both parties in the interaction. For instance, at Kilosa, the specific rituals of hospitality were not able to be employed but we still experienced a deep hospitality as we were welcomed into the other's humanity. Now, hospitality has sparked a search for justice as we are thinking of ways to advocate for the Masai in the Kilosa district. The big issue is that they are being bullied off their land and they need to work their case through the justice system. Unfortunately, there is very little that can be directly done to alleviate the troubles. No school to be built, no simple act of "service" will offer an end to the suffering. Even the food we brought will only last a little while and people will still be hungry and hiding from persecution. We would like to apply for that "Projects for Peace" grant. But this is not something that can truly be helped by a May term building project. It's different than that. We are stuck now but I know that a creative solution will be reached. Now we are simply advocating for their well being and standing in spiritual strength with these displaced people.
Anway, we think this semester is different. Trying for many people around us. Which allows us to offer rest and hospitality to others here. Like when we fill a car with Pr. Hafermann so he can have a small amount of time to simply exist in joy with other people and not be bogged with these many troubles. Even then there is some tragedy in the air. As in Friday when we drove to our teacher Kadeghe's village. We were on the road and saw a man lying down on the side with his legs on the road. Dead. It was a very troubling image. Very. There was no evidence of attack or accident. He was simply dead on the side of the road. I don't know what else to say about it. Just very disturbing.
While it is disturbing and hard there is a different joy here. One that is focused on the other and not on object materials. In Kadeghe's village we experienced just that. The usual music welcomed us into community as did tea on arrival and a walk around with a bunch of kids. But while some hospitality is obviously just a matter of finishing the ritual motions, the hospitality in Kadeghe's village was incredibly heartfelt. It was so natural and a result of a two way interaction. They were more active in welcoming and in really getting to know us and they were allowed to do this because we did not clump together as usual but spent the day apart with the others.
Real quick observations: we've been talking to Omega a lot about Islam. There seems to be a popular attitude that we should and need to live together in peace. Yet there is certainly a distrust portrayed in the refusal to believe that Muslims everywhere don't use magic as some do here.
Also, it is Obama time. Everyone here is ridiculously happy. We are no longer greeted with Habari...but with a simple OBAMA! The newspapers have reported very favorably as Kikwete has congratulated the pres elect and is seeking to work very close with him. There is a little talk about his being black but more talk is focused of working with the United States to end poverty, fix world finances and end the war in Iraq. There is so much joy!
Yesterday we (Peter, Steve and I) went to the rock gardens with Kadeghe, Moreto and Omega. We have grown quite close. It was so interesting to talk about normal things around drinks and not in the context of a learning environment. We had long conversations about relationships, AIDS, booze, Obama and Masai life. They are so eager to learn about relationships in the US and were disappointed to hear that you can't simply go say I love you to a girl in order to pick her up. A little more involved than that. And in Moreto's infinite cool he asked the waitress for her number. Smooth fella. The night was concluded with a giant plate of meat.
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