Leo ni tarehe kumi na nne mwezi wa saba mwaka elfu mbili na tano.

There are a number of similarities between Kenya and Tanzania such as the dala dalas (matatu in Kenya--15 passenger van), dress, and food. But there are also a number of differences between the two countries, language being one of the largest. Although English and Swahili are widely spoken in both countries, there is a noticable difference. Whereas nearly everyone speaks English and only a handful speak Kiswahili in Nairobi, the opposite is true here in Dar es Salaam.

Finding an English speaker is not a problem, finding one who can understand everything you hope to communicate can be. Communicating time, oddly enough, can be one of the most challenging aspects. Kiswahili speakers use a clock that is 6 hours behind the clock the rest of the world uses. For example, when we say 10 o'clock in the morning it is only 4 o-clock in the morning to a Kiswahili speaker. Let's just say that not knowing that can make for a l-o-n-g wait at a bus stop.

We are in language class all this week. The basics in Kiswahili are easy enough, but someone, somewhere, decided it would be fun to tack on as many syllables to everything as possible. Case in point: the title of this posting. The title translates as "Today is 14 July, 2005." Nothing more, nothing less. Even something as simple as saying "no" is a 3-syllable mouthful ("hapana"). Even so, I am enjoying it and will miss it when we wrap up the class this coming Tuesday.

This Saturday (16th) we are off to Bagamoya for a day trip to the beach. Rough life.