i like tea

Yes, it's true: I like tea, and this is the sentence that I can say the best in Kiswahili ("Ninapenda Chai.") My language skills are progressing slowly ("pole pole"), but at least I'm moving forward. Tony can remember more words than I can, so it sometimes feels competitive when we study together. Every single conversation in Tanzania MUST begin with an exchange of greetings (in Kiswahili), and this is an example of conversations I have every day:

"I respect you, older person."-- or-- "Problems with your life?"
"I accept your respect and I'm delighted." --or--"No problems."
"How have you slept?"
"Peacefully."
"How did you wake up?"
"Peacefully."
"How is your morning/afternoon/early evening/evening?"
"Good."
"How is your work?"
"Good."
"How is your home?"
"Good."
"How is your family?"
"Good."
"See you later."
"Thank you, see you later."

I'm not kidding--if I want to buy some of my beloved tea, the transaction must begin with the above conversation first. Tony and I are spending about 8 hours a day in class, learning Kiswahili, and we study every night and practice talking with our family. We love our family and are predicting many tears when we leave. Next week is our mid-term language test, and after that we're going on safari to Mikumi National Park--we can't wait!! We have moments of extreme frustration, mainly because we can't say exactly what we want to; we also have moments of great satisfaction when we CAN say what we want to. We cooked "Pasta American" two nights ago, and it was a big hit--I had three Tanzanian women hovering around me as I prepared it. My next project is to bake some form of cookies or cake without baking powder or baking soda--wish me luck. Tanzanians LOVE sugar, and our mama can't wait for the baking lesson. Ok, so it's time to go back home and study--keep those letters coming, because you can't imagine how good it feels to get one.