Noticing Differences

So far, two countries into our trip, it's interesting to note the differences between Kenya and Tanzania. Here are just some of the things I've noticed so far.

National Languages
- Tanzania's national language is Swahili, whereas Kenya's national languages are English and Swahili. As such, people in Tanzania didn't necessarily learn English in school (whereas in Kenya they do), so it has been a little harder when communicating with local people since their English is limited.

Dress
- Most Kenyans that we saw dressed in what we would consider "western world" clothes (aka Jeans, t-shirts, dresses, etc.), with the exception of people in the Masai tribe, who tend to wear more traditional clothing, including long scarf-like cloaks over themselves at all times (which are made of a surprisingly heavy material given the Kenyan heat!) In contrast, while many Tanzanians also dress in western clothing, there are many more people wearing traditional, brightly colored clothing (mostly women wearing dresses and skirts) than we had seen in Kenya.

Technology
- Everyone in Tanzania seems to be in possession of a cell phone, including Masai tribesmen! I saw several making phone calls while we were around their villages in the mountains. In contrast, when Jon traded his watch with a Masai tribesman in Kenya, it was the first time I'd seen any of them with any piece of technology!

Tribes
- Kenya is home to about 30-40 different tribes, whereas Tanzania is home to about 140! Each of the tribes in both countries have their own language and things they are known for (agriculture/farming, business, accounting, etc.). One difference is that tribes in Kenya still seem to be separated according to the region they originate from, whereas this isn't the case in Tanzania, where everyone has spread out everywhere. Additionally, in Kenya, people are more apt to specifically marry within their own tribe, while in Tanzania people will intermarry more frequently.

I love learning about different places :).