By Mohamed Matope
Have you been to a place far away from home, in the new land and feel so much at home? I mean home! like Kibaigwa,Kisarawe or Tarime. My last week visit to the Tanzanian embassy in Washington DC put it all in perspective. We all know embassy is the representative of our nation abroad, but I will argue its function is more than giving passports and carrying out diplomatic missions. The embassy is also a symbol of proudness and patriotism. That, if any Tanzanian happen to drive by 22nd street and see the flag standing tall, one should brag to a friend …”that’s my embassy, that’s my country”
Last week, my wife and I had a privilege of getting invited to the embassy by Ambassador Maajar. It was quite a striking moment for both of us. The building is magnificent. The atmosphere and embassy employees were quite different from what I had experienced in the past. The employees were regular peoples; peoples I could relate to.
The reason I brought this point home is....years back, I would stop by at the embassy with all excitement, and the first person I would face right at the front desk was the receptionist who didn’t speak Swahili. Visiting my embassy and not be able to converse in Swahili with the receptionist was such an awkward bang.
Last week when we were in the embassy, there were also quite few visitors from different nationalities. They were there to meet embassy officials, they were there to apply for visa and get served by professional bilinguals. They don’t work there. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t discriminate; I embrace diversity a great deal and have written in favor of it. But Swahili and Bongo embassy should not be mutually exclusive.
What stoke me the most on my last week visit was; sense of warmness, I felt welcome with open arms; I felt like I was in my house, that I could go to the kitchen, open the refrigerator and fix myself a sandwich. Right from the doorsteps we ware greeted by Tanzanian receptionist, speaking clear cut Swahili. And all the employees in there related to us in a Bantu way, I mean bongo style. Ambassador Maajar was superb as always, charming, simple and fun to talk to.
Coming out of the embassy building, we ware so proud of our county, proud more than ever... If you haven’t visited our new embassy and want to be proud of Tanzania I will strongly suggest for you to just show up… And if you have visited our new embassy, and did not feel proud of Tanzania… then, something is so wrong with you; I would suggest you should check in to KWA BABU LORIONDO.
9 comments:
Matoe thats not fair ,if i don't like the embassy you suggested i need to see Babu,you know how many people died because of Babu's fake medicines?,i haven't been to the embassy ye,t but reading your article i'm planning to visit there next week,i hope i will have good time like you.Thanks for being a good patriot ,viva Tanzania.
I agree completely with you bro.I know the Indian lady at the reception in the old embassy you talking about.It did not make any sense ,she did not speak swahili at all,i'm even wonder if she was Tanzanian.I love your article ,is very insperational,it is always good to hear somebody talk good about our country .thanx Matope.
Mr hapo na wewe nitakuita awkward bang pia, kama unamponda huyu receptionist asieongea swahili mbona na wewe umeshindwa kutumia lugha yako hapa kwenye hii article?
au hujawalenga washwahili wenzio?
Kweli humu tunaona vijimambo kweli kweli.
Talking about bragging hahahahaha why dont you start bragging about your language first use it. and what did the embassy staff speak with you?english or swahili.what a shame!
I think you guys don't get it,Mr matope wrote the article in english so that he can reach broad audiance ,people who speak english and Swahili.Vijimabo is bilingual blog.Ndio maana it publish news in swahili and English.Na watanzania wote waishio hapa they understand English.Writing or reading English in America is not braging.hacheni ushamba.This article is very touching and intanse,lakini sisi wabongo kama kawaida yetu instead talking about the issues we find vitu vya kijinga to talk about.N
Now let me talk about the article;First i agree that Tanzanian embasy should be for Tanzanian workers.second Embassy nzuri inatufanya tujisikie vizuri and itgive a good name to our country.If i'm a tourist ,akuja kuomba visa in your shabby embasssy and neighbouring country embassy is good looking ,i will think twice,kama unashindwa kuwa msafi hapa marekani ,je huko kwenu si ndio kutakuwa kunanuka.Embassador maajar is the very nice lady ,she used to be in our embassy here London ,i don't know anybody who dislike her here.Lastly i disagree with you of sending people with the problems to Babu ,Babu anaua.
what a disaster dong tipical tanzanians
Great article having the pleasure of traveling western world, I am happy that we are getting right in the end..I haven't been at the embassy maybe one day I will, I tend to opt out and get my visa at the Dar Es Salaam Airport instead but will certainly do next time I travel to TZ and needs my visa taken care.
As for Babu Loriondo I understand your sense of humor but tread careful next time as a lot of people died because of desperation when faced with UN treatable disease, other than that kudos to you!!!
Thank you for the informative essay on the embassy visit. Also, that you wrote in English for a non-Swahili speaking person such as myself. Keep us informed of any future visitations so that Tanzanian culture can be embraced and welcomed by American’s. This gives me an additional incentive to learn more about Tanzania, its language and culture. Please continue. Peace and blessings.
Did you say, the attitude of embassy staff's is changed? five years ago, I was very dissappoint with our ambassy staff who were Tanzanians.They were rude,short/arrogant and did have either poor customer service or did have no clue at all.I did swear to God that that day will be my last day at my oun embassy.
This article will make me change my mind, Thank you Embassador Maajar for cleaning the embassy, and thank you Matope for the positive message.
Ali
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