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November 2, 2009
Tanzania: Tales of a traffic light
The last time I was in Tanzania, the town of Arusha had just erected its very first traffic light, solar-powered to harness the energy of the blazing African sun. The people were so happy, so excited—after all, many of them had never seen a traffic light before. I found it interesting to witness a technological advancement in a place like Arusha, because I knew there were wild, untamed plains just a few short miles away.
It reminded me of a conversation I once had with my Maasai friend, Chief Kipuloli (which happens to be part of one of my favorite adventures). Intrigued by our American way of life, the chief wondered whether a Western educational model would benefit Maasai youth. In my opinion, such a shift would be devastating to his culture; a college-bound teen is not likely to return to the plains to tend to his father’s cattle.
In the case of Arusha’s traffic lights, however—I read recently that they’ve installed a second one—I don’t think there’s cause for concern. Improving the city’s infrastructure will make life easier for Arusha’s wonderful people, while the wilderness outside the town remains as unspoiled as ever. Have you ever witnessed positive changes during your travels? Email me your story at
harriet@oattravel.com
I’ll be featuring North Africa and Greece in upcoming updates, but I look forward to all of your stories.
Harriet Lewis