November 19th

My beautiful roommate Idda, and me... I taught her the art of good picture-taking, can you tell?

My entire world here has been turned upside down and backwards. Last week on Monday, the students at the University began a strike. They were protesting because about 20% of them hadn't received their loans which are promised to all students by the government. The loan system works differently here, and basically the students get a lump sum at the beginning of the semester to use at their own discretion towards food and books. Thus, these students who hadn't received their loans were in a tight spot.

So, on Monday morning I woke up for my 7am class (yikes, I know) and I heard lots of chanting and cheering. I decided to go back to sleep. They demonstrated by marching around campus with a sign, singing and cheering, and that was about it. No classes were held.

The same went for Tuesday as well. On Tuesday night, I was in my room with my roommate and her boyfriend when we heard lots of people cheering and coming closer. We all ran up to the roof to watch. Seeing this demonstration and hearing the passion and excitement was so invigorating. I can definitely see how people get swept up in it.

On Wednesday morning I was working on an assignment with a friend when she stopped to listen to what some girls were talking about outside. She said they were saying that the University was closed. I asked if it was true, and she didn't know. She left to investigate, and came back and said it was true. The administration had given a press release saying that all undergraduate students (with the exception of foreign/temporary students) had three hours to pack their things and leave, and that there were police waiting to force students out if need be.



I couldn't believe it. I sat there on my bed silently. Honestly I was fighting tears. I had become so fond of my roommate and her boyfriend, and I loved having so many people around; it was a nice change from St. Olaf. I didn't want to go back to how things were in August.

Almost instantly, the area around the dorms was full of people hauling luggage, returning mattresses, and loading cars. I helped Ida move her things and waited with her until her ride came. I had told her that if classes were canceled, I would go to her house with her, so now I planned to go with her. She was going to stay with her sister for a couple days, and then I would go with her on Friday.

As we were waiting, a land rover passed with a huge microphone on the roof saying in Kiswahili that everyone needed to leave, and there were riot police on the back with gigantic guns. It was then that I decided to leave campus after Ida left, and I spent the majority of the next two days with a friend off campus.

So, Friday through Tuesday I spent with my roommate and her family in Mbeya, which was one of the stops on my travel period oh so long ago. It was exactly what I needed, and it was so good to be able to spend more time with her. She sent me a text while I was on the bus home saying that she was crying.

Now, it's pretty much like it was in August. We are continuing with most classes, without the Tanzanians, so we're basically doing almost an entire semester's worth of class in three weeks. Campus feels like a ghost town and I hate it. I'm still glad I'm here, which is more than I can say for a lot of other people, but I miss all my friends, and just having people everywhere.

I wish I had more time to go into detail about stuff, but I don't, so you'll just have to talk to me when I get back in less than a month