on a lighter note...

last couple of entries have been fairly heavy.
now something...not.
there are many cultural differences between America and Tanzania. Some of them are easier to get used to, others more difficult.
one which has been a real pleasure to adapt to is like this:

Tanzanians pick their noses. anywhere. anytime. in front of anyone.

it took me all of, i'd say, 1 day to get use to this and decide to jump right in and do it myself. and can i say, how fantastic it is?!!

i mean, i've thought about it a lot as I teach various groups about the immune system (usually in relation to HIV/AIDS). snot (mucous) is part of the immune system, designed to capture particles that enter and remove them through coughing or sneezing or the like. what does this mean? it means boogers are SUPPOSED to come out, i think something we were all aware of.

now the question is, why should i sit there uncomfortably while there's a big booger in my nose, just so i dont make other people uncomfortable watching me pick it out?!

i say pick, it has been a fabulous liberation while i've been here, and will be a hard habit to break when i return to the states - which is why i've decided not to break it. watch out folks, upon my return i'll be a lean mean nose-pickin machine....