Changes are part of life.  Things are changing fast here in Tanzania since the roads have been completed linking major  cities and regions of the country.  The number of buildings  being built here in Singida reminds me of the Fairview Road area of Simpsonville.  I remember when we got the Hardee’s at the intersection with HWY 276 (now I385).  Now there is not any road front space left until you get past Harrison Bridge Road.  I used to ride that road on a bicycle.

Just like so many who resist change in the states it is evident many resist the changes here. Several of the peace corp volunteers have described it as the fatalistic attitude.  The chickens as they lie tied in groups of 20 on the back of a motorcycle or bicycle and just lay there accepting their fate.  To the people who accept things are wrong but that is the way they are.   From a toilet seat being broken in a hotel and no one is expected to fix it to travel in buses where you are overpacked and ordered to move for more people to get in.  It is also a matter of power sometimes.  Most people feel powerless about their lives, they rarely try to affect change other than going to school and hoping for better jobs.  But real change to the day to day living, not saving money to get ahead and not trying to make it better they still seem to have a fatalistic attitude.  Don’t get me wrong, they talk about it non-stop about making better lives, wanting better lives but they seem to be waiting on the government to provide said better life or a Mzungu to do it for them.

broken toilet seat in my hotel room-no plans to fix it unless I would like to go buy one and put it on.

This is the drain pipe also.  Yep that is a clothes dryer exhaust pipe.

So how do you really help them to change their lives positively?  The only thing I can think of is through example.  The doctor lived in our smallest building for over a year and never once thought of making any improvements to the structure.