Tour of our House

So here is the stove. The only gas stove in the place. which is good because when the power goes out, we can still cook! So we invite over the other 5 houses of people and take turns cooking our meat before it goes bad! Ahh...the adventures of power outages. This is the other side of our kitchen. in the corner is our water filtration system. basically you have a hose on the counter and pour water into the top bucket. It has a filter in it and the water drains to the second where we get it from. Have to keep an eye on it that it doesn't run out cuz it takes a while to filter.

Don't laugh...its really really bright outside!! That is why i'm making that funny face. our bonda on top of the house. Its kinda falling apart because of all the termite damage. but still good. Hence why all houses are built out of cement here.

This is our great dining room. It faces the gate so everyone comes up to this window and chats with us when they come into the compound. we have had 20 minute conversations through the window. Its quite funny. We always invite them in...but for some reason...its just easier to talk through the window.
This hard to imagine, but its looking from the ground up the center of the staircases to the ceiling. My "artist" ability is coming out! haha
This random corner was kind hard to decorate. the sink is for the bathroom around the corner, but the sink in in the dining room...humm. I have been told is so that you can offer a sink to your guests to wash before you eat, but still...in the living room.

I know you are excited about this....Here is my beautiful bathroom. haha. Now I have to tell you that I got a new roommate, so not all the junk in there is mine!! But its PURPLE YEAH!!
Here is our really open breezy living room. We got to pick the colors and make it look more like home. The two mattress are going to (at some point) be cut to new cushions for the couches...when we get around to it :-)
This is Delicia hanging in her room! We like to call it a princess room with all her fancy things. Its not really fancy, but she did a nice job of pulling it all together.
These are the winding stairs that head up to the roof. Our entire house has the winding staircases. it really is a chore to go from downstairs to the roof. You are sweating before you finish! haha

So here is tour around my room...

First I have my bed...the net around the outside is mosquito net. At first it kinda felt like a jail, but its not bad now. Please note the lamp next to my bed....definitaly giraffe print!!!!

Then are my gorgeous...huge windows. most windows are big here to let in as MUCH breeze as possible. Also tends to let it a lot of dirt..but whatever. when you are really hot...it doesn't matter how much dirt comes into the house. haha

This is my door....I included it so that Grandmom can see her HOPE doll has made it to Africa.

so that is my house! Hope you enjoyed the tour. Everyone is welcome to come see in person!!! haha :-)

Here is my desk. covered in the usual junk, but whatever. It has a great view of some of the Papya trees that surround our house. Unfortunately I HATE papya!! haha

I also have some nice closets...thankfully. most houses here have NO built in closests. so we were very lucky to get the ONE house that has them in a few room. It definitely shows how different it is here. Tanzanians don't think to have closets because they don't buy extra stuff they need to store...just in case....as Americans tend to. Plus...no winter clothes to store. haha