LETTERS FROM MY FATHERLAND: FIRST TEARS IN TANZANIA

While I was in Tanzania last year I visited my old home in Moshi; the home where my siblings and I grew up. For the first time since I had been in Tanzania, I cried. Before my trip to Tanzania, I had imagined that landing at the Kilimanjaro Airport for the first time would bring tears to my eyes. However, even though I was filled with emotions when I landed on Tanzanian soil, I did not cry. Instead I had tears in my eyes for the first time, when I visited my childhood home in Moshi. I cried when I stepped into ‘my’ bedroom as I pictured life before 1998…

The home where I grew up was built by my grandfather, Kachra Bapuji ( Bapuji means grandfather in Gujarati) in 1959. That is the home where my grandparents raised their family, which consisted of my father and his six sisters. Unfortunately, ten years later when my grandfather was in need of financial assistance, he sold the house to a wealthy businessman, Mr. Mengi. The wealthy yet generous Mr. Mengi allowed my grandfather’s family to continue renting the house. In the 1970s, during President Nyerere’s socialist regime, properties such as homes and businesses were nationalized, including my grandfather’s home that was now owned by Mr. Mengi. In a stroke of luck, several years later the home was returned to Mr. Mengi. All this while, my grandfather and his family continued to reside in that home. In the late 1970s, my aunts got married and moved away. However, my father, Ramesh, stayed in Moshi and brought my mother, Jayshree, to the same home after he got married in 1980. Soon after, my siblings and I were born…

I am certain, my grandfather and my father have many fond memories in that home. Similarly, I am sure my mom can provide a beautiful description of her time in that home as a young bride and as she began motherhood. From my perspective, I can describe the lovely memories I have of ‘my’ first home…

As a child, I thought the house was huge. The house had five rooms and a separate living and dining area.  It also had a nice-sized terrace. Some nights, when I was too scared to walk to the other end of the house to use the restroom, my lovely big sister, Sonal, would escort me. My mom loves plants and had decorated our entire house, including the terrace, with healthy green plants. It was a treat for us, when my mom gave us the watering jug to water them. My brother, Sagar, and I took turns watering them and I always eagerly looked forward to my turn! In the center of our house was a huge wooden swing. During our infant years, my mom attached a smaller swing to it so that our small bodies wouldn’t dangle off the large swing. I remember the swing entertained many of our childhood friends, as our home was a gathering spot due to the convenience of its location. I am sure many of our friends have memories in our home as well, especially the swing J

When I visited the house last year, it didn’t seem so huge anymore. I can safely say that Sonal would not need to escort me to the other end of the house anymore! The house is well-kept. The construction and designs have remained the same including all the wooden cabinets. In my opinion, the home is beautiful not only because it is spacious and well-maintained but also because it has a rich history tied to it; a history that involves three generations of our family and a history that is intricate and full of wonderful stories!

It is a blessing that the home is currently occupied by wonderful tenants who allowed me to visit and take so many pictures of it! We have some old pictures of that home and even though the pictures have faded away, I cherish them. Since being in America, those pictures have continued to provide tangible memories of our childhood home. Now I have new pictures of ‘my’ home and more than ever, I am looking forward to sharing them with Sonal and Sagar, so that we can re-live our childhood days again…!