I was on a conference call with my supervisor in Vancouver and my fellow Dar intern yesterday. I remember my supervisor asking if we were settling in alright; are there any daily life annoyances we want to talk about.
I seriously didn’t have many (or any, to say the truth). As I wrote before, the life I’m having in Dar is luxurious compared to my time in Kampala and Nyandira. I loved both, but it’s different. I was almost over prepared to come here this time.
As I was trying to explain why I didn’t feel uncomfortable, I realised that it’s mostly because I’m quite a different person here. I mean, I’m pretty sure I’ve kept my morals, values, principles etc, etc. I haven’t suddenly started eating kuku (chicken) like everyone else or started thinking I should try out a polygamous relationship (which, by the way, I morally have no problem with as long as it’s gender equal i.e. both women and men can have more than one spouse, and everyone involved agrees – as Trudeau said (slightly modified), nobody has any business concerning what happens in other people’s bedrooms).
But my mind is much calmer here. I have way more patience.
As most of my friends, family, and probably colleagues back home can attest, I am quite an impatient person. I need things on time. I love schedules and timelines and to do lists. I like organization and if things don’t go as planned, I would stay up all night making sure they do (no, I’m not a workaholic). I want things summarized and concise. I get impatient while long-winded people are telling stories, even if I’m planning to spend the whole evening with them.
But here, things just flow. Traffic jams? Whatever. I’ll just look out the window (or at someone else’s armpit if the daladala is crowded – oh, that’s a whole other post). Waiting for meetings to start? Oh, well, people will come when they do. Waiting for food? I’m not that hungry, I’ll just people watch; it’ll come eventually. If I can’t control it, then let it be.
I really don’t know why. It happened to me last time too. I suspect it’s because my brain and body treats it all as a learning experience. Or maybe the energy of this town is just so much more soothing, even in the busiest of intersections.
Of course, bursts of Tiff-in-Vancouver/Hong Kong still come out, especially in strange moments.