Tuma

Guards carry guns, wear uniforms, and are typically a bit intimidating.  Tuma isn’t any of the above but he’s my favorite guard on the compound.  He has one of those personalities that draws people in...everyone loves him, he’s easy to talk to, funny, genuine, and very approachable.  If any one of the volunteers needs help buying bananas so that we don’t get ripped off with a muzungo price we take Tuma, when Lauren can’t sleep (which is frequently) she goes out and hangs out with Tuma, when we have a question about town or how to get somewhere we ask Tuma, he is the perfect kaka mkubwa (big brother).

He also has a pretty amazing story as well.  Born in Kilimanjaro Tanzania, the eldest of three brothers Tuma has been expected to take care of his family since the age of 12 when his father died.  At 12 I was still going to summer camp and trying to figure out which counselors were dating each other not trying to figure out the best source of employment to find to support my family.  But now at the age of 23 Tuma has a good job (although it is one where he has to work 7 days a week, there are no holidays, and days off are only granted if you’re sick...like you have malaria, not like you have a chest cold and just don’t feel like going to work/class) he’s been able to make enough to send his two younger brothers to school, send himself to school part time and send money to his mother who still lives in Kilimanjaro.  Hearing him talk about how much he misses his family is probably the hardest part of listening to Tuma’s story.  He hasn’t seen his mother in a long time and since Kilimanjaro is over a 10 hour bus ride to Bagamoyo unless she’s able to come here it is almost impossible for him to see her.  Even seeing his brother who is only a few hours away in Dar is difficult.  The only time he can get there is when he’s on the night shift and a visit to his brother means not sleeping that day in preparation for work so that he can make his way there and back.

 There are so many people who have a Tuma like story, and it’s amazing how none of them believe that someone or something out there owes them anything for the hardships they’ve suffered.  Tuma’s story is the perfect example of the self made man and his also one of the happiest, most easy going people I’ve ever met as well.  It’s hard  to think about all the complaining I’ve done in my life when my story doesn’t even begin to compare to the people I’ve met here.  It seems like everyday I find a new reason to be thankful for what I have and the people in my life...so thanks everyone I am very grateful for everything in my life including all of you!