Relying on the kindness of others in a situation where one is completely powerless is a terrifying yet rewarding experience that one becomes familiar with through using the Dala Dala. Rarely in the states do we ever see a local go out of their way to help a foreign tourist with both translation and transportation. Without the help and generosity of local Tanzanians, we would get extremely lost going to the NGOs we are trying to visit.
Just to give you an idea, the Dala Dala is an overcrowded mini bus that careens down the highways and streets connecting all of Tanzania in a comprehensive yet slow public transportation system. A complete explanation of the adventure filled Dala Dala rides will require a separate post of its own.
Today, we had two steps that were supposed to direct us to the organization, Food Water Shelter. First, “Go to Friends Corner” and second, “take the Dala Dala to Edmund Rice Secondary School.” Trusting that these were in fact known landmarks, we left our apartment two hours before we were expected at the organization and hoped for the best. Though we didn’t know which Dala Dala to take or where to get on, the first person who noticed we were a little lost took us by the hand and walked us a few hundred meters down the road. She then waited with us until she could explain to the Dala Dala driver where we were going before leaving us. While on the first bus, we met another woman who performed the same act of kindness when we were dropped three blocks from “Friends Corner.” Without hesitating, the second woman we met took the time to go out of her way and walked us to our destination.
These acts of kindness are so rare in the US that our instinct is to meet them with amazement and even a bit of suspicion. For whatever reason, it doesn’t seem natural to put complete trust into someone who goes out of their way to help you. When one travels to Tanzania it is easy to concentrate only on what the country lacks. However, it is more productive to focus on what we can learn as opposed to constantly trying to teach and fix.
