Happy Birthday Dad! / Random Observations

I dont think I will ever go back to jeans again. These pants I have dry in half an hour with no sun and no wind. Incredible. I have never been so terrified of mosquitos in my life. Each one seems to represent Malaria. Their buzz just sounds like "dizzzzzeazzzze". Im that girl who runs from anything smaller than the tip of her little finger. How obnoxious. Since Obama is Kenyan, a popular topic of conversation between me and a Kenyan or Tanzanian is who I am voting for. THey seem to like my answer. Those of you who dont already know, I shaved my head into a mohawk. THe David Beckham comment is now up to 17, but I did get Judd Nelson from Breakfast Club (hi Thomas the German), Mr T, and some Brazilian soccer player called ROnaldo. DOnt know him. Mohammed the Saudi from my tour group, whose english is a bit dodgy, called me "man chicken" (he was going for rooster, which of course I now know how to say Arabic and Swahili). Because of my new skull, I have to put sunscreen on the sides. Its cold up there without any hair. In the supermarket the other day, I saw a sign describing general items in the asile. "Haberdashery" was on that list, along with "Manchester" Very confusing. In Zanzibar, a muslim girl asked if I wanted to take her picture, then asked me for a dollar. Start em young, eh? THey also tend to ask for pens. Dont get that one yet. You know how the French are obsessed with dogs, and are so allowed in fancy restaurants? Well, in EAst Africa, cats wind around your feet in restaurants. I kinda like it. Cant say as much for some other people in my group. Kat (ironic) the Brit claims they all have rabies. Isnt it ironic that only like 13% of Americans have a passport, but we have all of these roots all over the world that we have no interest in seeing? Meanwhile, other countries whose inhabitants are not mutts like most Americans (ok, maybe just myself) are fascinated by other peoples cultures. Dont get it. I loove sharing random moments with strangers. After I talked to my dad on his birthday, I told a man in line at the post office. He wasnt as excited as I had hoped. Its the backpackers that are fantastic at feigning interest. They know what its like not to discuss tiny moments of excitement. The more I travel, the more I write and the less pictures I take. Rugby is so hard core and American Football seems so foolish now that Ive been exposed. I mean, rugby players wear nothing but a little pathetic foam hat, and football players wear all that padding! Plus, when a rugby player is at the bottom of a five men pile up, there is no time out. Hes gotta suck it up. Its my new favorite sport. Why is it that street food is supposed to be so dangerous, but its the best cheapest true food to be found when you travel? Needless to say, Ive dabbled. Ok, Im in Moshi now, left the group this morning, (hi guys!) and am off to Mt Kili the day after tommorow. Dont worry, I got a beanie and a nice coat. We saw the tip of it yesterday, and sure enough, the thing is covered in snow. Natalie gave me her minging sleeping bag, so I should be pretty set. Missing the Olympics, which is sad. It on TV in my hotel room in Hindu, so, that will have to do. I probably wont get to write until I get back off the mountain, and even then, I fly out for Joburg that day. The next morning, I leave for Mumbai, India, so you wont hear from me in a while. Wish me luck!