One of the things I love about life in Tanzania is that it teaches me to appreciate the little things in life that I take for granted in Canada, things like having a cup of coffee. It's really not as simple as it sounds. First of all I have to buy the coffee (and I'm not talking about the instant kind that is readily available here). Sometimes it's available in the town where I live but usually I stock up when I go to Nairobi. The next step is trying to find a time when the electricity is on in order to use my coffee maker. However if you have a French press and a gas stove you are able to avoid this step by boiling water on the stove when the electricity is off. Finally when I have the coffee and electricity I can make a pot of coffee! It's a very exciting moment and one that hasn't been happening all that often around my house these days with the electricity cuts. However the more rare it becomes the more I appreciate it when I actually have it.
Another thing I have learned to appreciate is the ability to walk into a dark room, flip a switch and see the room fill with light. I never used to think twice about it but now when I return home from work I eye the light switch in my dark house. I wonder what will happen when I switch it, will light come on or will everything remain as it is? I reach out my hand slowly not daring to hope that something might happen when I flip the switch. Then suddenly there is light! It's amazing! One tiny switch and you can light an entire room. No running around lighting 20 candles to be able to see where I am walking, although to be honest I know my way around my house in pitch black. It's just one of those skills you pick up out here. Although it can be frustrating when flipping the switch doesn't result in light, it makes me appreciate and marvel when it does. I get excited to hear my fan blowing at night and when I hear the fridge go on. All these are things I used to take for granted but not anymore.
Chocolate is another one of life's treasures that I assumed would always be around. I have learned though, that chocolate, especially good chocolate is a treasure you have search out. It is not readily available where I live although once in a while I happen to stumble upon it. The first thing I do when I pick up a bar of chocolate is to flip it over to see where it was made. Although I am not a real chocolate snob (I will eat Hershey's) I have discovered different countries have different ideas of what chocolate is, and some are not really that close to my definition of chocolate. So I have a mental list ranking chocolate depending on where it's from. I'm talking about different African countries here, not Europe or North America in case you're getting the wrong idea. When I find chocolate from an acceptable source I buy several, put them in my freezer and keep them for those moments when I just need a little bit of chocolate.
Coffee, light and chocolate are only a few examples of things I have learned to appreciate. As I have said the learning process is not always fun but it's worth it. The simple things in life bring so much more joy now because they are more rare. I would much rather have them less often but enjoy them more than have them all the time and take them for granted.
