Village life in Tanzania

When I always travel to a village in Tanzania, I am mesmerized by how natural life is there. Sure it is not easy but it is away from all the distractions such as phones, tv but people sit around their homes interacting with one another, cooking together, women walking to a river close by to wash clothes, people farming, kids running around “playing” and not locked up with screens in their faces. I am saddned by how life in the city is taken over by technology where people feel social media is the way to interact with people rather than paying attention to the ones around them, the kids who barely have learnt how to walk are hooked up on ipads and iphones. I feel people these days are missing out on the beauty of living life normally, paying attention to the beauty around them. Things have changed in Dar es salaam city over the years, when I was a child I remember as soon as the clock hits 4 all the kids in the neighbourhood would gather around and play, there would be no much cars passing by, no kid is hooked into a show it was the ideal way for any child to grow up and enjoy childhood. Technology is really ripping off kids of their childhood, thus, whenever I get the chance to I always make sure I spend a week or two in the villages of Tanzania my best go to place is Lushoto, It is the most peaceful and beautiful place I have ever been to. It takes me back to my childhood where life is just simple.

How I lost everything

I grew up with my uncle, lots of memories together; we never spent a second apart. He walked me through my roughest days by handing me a piece of paper and encouraged me to draw anything, to let my feelings out. I used to eagerly wait for him each day after lunch for him to get back from work so I can spill my heart out on how my day went at school and sadly who bullied me that day. But he always found a way to give me a reason to be happy again, we spent nights on the terrace under the stars talking about aliens and planets, evenings standing in the balcony talking about chickens ( we have wild chickens on our street back in Tanzania ). When I told him that I wanted to pursue a career in Design, he was the happiest person but sadly before I could walk on that stage knowing he is watching me making him proud, I lost him three days before my graduation. I lost everything I had in my life, I lost myself, and I have never been broken down in life before. I still live with that pain three years after, but I still hold the tears back and always make sure I still keep making him proud and making his dream come true and hope somewhere out there he is looking down on me and watching over me. I was used to him being there guiding me every step of my life in my design program, now I feel directionless sometimes. This time I have no one to guide me, and whenever I feel lost, I take myself back to when I had him, back to that safe place.