Clothes and other Sengerema, Tanzania Local Custom Tips

Please consider that Sengerema is a rural town, so dress conservatively. No naked shoulders, tummies, knees and what have you. It's absolute no-go-area. You stand out because you are white, so no reason to make yourself stand out even more. They will treat you with a lot more respect if you follow these rules, and you don't risk being the talk of the town. They are not used to women wearing pants either, so they might stare at you if you do so, but it is not frowned upon, because you are an mzungo. If you don't want anyone to greet you "good morning sir!" if you are in fact a woman, consider wearing skirts at all times!

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Try learning a bit of swahili. It's amazing the kind of good-will that follows from a few frases. You do have to learn the greetings, though. No way about it. ALL elders should be greeted with a bow (!) and a "shikamoo" (Literally I hold your feet). If children or young women say shikamoo to you, you have to reply with "marahaba or marahaba-hujambo" as a kind of acceptance of this. It would be extremely impolite not to do so. Others should be greeted with a simple "habari" (how are you) to which the reply is "nzuri" (fine) even if your whole world is falling apart. Young people will say "jambo" or "mambo", to which you say "poa, safi, freshi or nzuri".

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