Yes! after a long adventurous travel, at last we are there; this is the Maine I have been dreaming about for a couple of weeks. "Maine is a rural place, even the University is situated in rural area" These are the words I registered in my memory since early days of my application for attending this course. As a Tanzanian coming from rural setting, Iringa in, to me whenever I hear the word 'rural' I associated it with features like 'an area with few cars, houses with no reliable electricity, poor buildings, unsafe water, just to mention a few.
Unfortunately, my hypothesis made before boarding a plane at JK Nyerere International airport (if it is international by the way) has failed the test; In fact, this n has has taught me a great lesson that every expressions should be put into proper context, otherwise one can find him or herself falling victim of fallacy of generalization. Maine has given me a new understanding that "a rural area in one place might be totally the opposite in another area, and vice versa.
How comes the rural area looks splendid far better than my big City Dar es Salaam!? If we are comfortable to ascribe this land of black bears as rural area, what then should we call our cities in Tanzania?! I think even our rural areas deserve another good name that can best express them!
In addition to that, I was surprised to see that people are so kind and generous, just like my uncles and aunts in Tanzania. Ooh! I will probably put in my CV that I am the man who ever tested almost all types of pizzas! This is because of what happened at the 'pizzas courts!' the prof was busy for us 'manufacturing a lot of pizzas' for the lucky Nyerere descendants! Thanks prof and the organizers.
Another good lesson that needs to be on record is the definition of 'Night' again the issue of context comes in again here! " Why cars put on lights at full blown sunshine?" that was question to one of colleagues who shortly enlightened me by saying " Its already night now simon!" Can't that be a misuse of resources! Any way, I don't know but the experience was real an eye opener. In Tanzania it needs darkness to put on the light (Because lights chases darkness).
The driving side is real horrific! in Tanzania we keep left, so it needs some times to me confident that drivers are doing it in a right way! Likewise it was good to know that men do barbecue! they are good chefs.
Before I conclude is better to bering into my readers attention that Yes, Black bear is attached to the lives of Maine people (though I was hinted by a source who pledged anonymity that to eat the bear's meat is a taboo, but some reports say there some few people who eat the meat of this hero bear!).
Despite that,I was however happy to be assured that at Maine there no cannibals. Guys, there is a lot to document in respect to the impression over Maine, but conclusively, the place is very inviting, full of nice people, where life becomes difficult if you dont observe time, follow time tables with high discipline in using the meals cards!
I am happy to be part and parcel of Maine life, and I promise to keep the spirit of black bear alive. Kazi njema
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