Petroli Tafadahli

I never thought the big even of my day would be putting gas in the car! Yes, you read right in between the ministry activities there lies life. I have been working on driving and it does not seem quite the daunting task it did when I first arrived. First of all, I had to learn to drive a stick shift which I now can do without giving myself whiplash. There is also driving on the wrong side of the rode but that hasn't seem to throw me off as much as I thought. The roads here are like the moon one giant crater after another. Of course there is also the freedom that no here really knows how to drive so you don't feel alone. But, then that is also the danger cause no one here knows how to drive! Everyone has whatever lane feels good for that moment avoiding pot holes and other cars. I have gotten to the point where I don't panic when I another car is heading straight on till it reaches a certain amount of inches!! DalaDalas are also a joy here in Africa which are scary narrow vans that have about a billion people in them at a time taking them to their destination. In drivers ed no where in the manual do I remember be careful of those donkeys they have a mind of their own you know! This in no way paints the picture of what a car might be up against but the set-up is there for why my homework to get gas in the car is quite a venture!

I had language practice and I needed to get gas in the car so I could take my language tutor home. I knew I needed to tackle the task but I had not done this by myself. I really haven't driven much by myself other than practicing on the center road. But, I was determined! There is a new gas station which set out to be my goal and when I arrived there was gas which is always a plus. I was able to carry on a conversation with the dude who was stationed to fill up the car. They pump the gas for you here so not a bad deal if you know what you are talking about! Task was complete and I pulled out of the gas station without being killed~ all in all I would say a successful trip.

I don't remember the first time I got gas in the car learning to drive in the States. It seems weird for this to be such a task of great merit but forging through these things in a vastly different culture can be difficult! They also are moments of great learning and discovery. Today was market day as well and the colors of Shukas waved in the wind as people were coming to bring their goods to sell. It has been almost four months and every time I come down this road I discover something new about my new host culture.