“quickly has no blessing” is the rough translation of a Swahili proverb often used in Tanzania. After two years of taking Swahili in the academic setting and now having spent 5 weeks in the culture, I can say that this saying does Indeed hold true for the people of Tanzania.

I grew up traveling across multiple cultures, including moving from the states to Hong Kong and various places within the states itself. All these moves exposed me to different cultures, but nonetheless I was nervous going to Tanzania. The end result, however, was fantastic. When I first heard that saying I assumed it just meant the general lifestyle but not the general attitude and characteristics of the people. To me the saying is really a representation of the people and not their practices. For example the traffic is terrible and you can’t help but feel anxious during the heavy times of rush hour. Walking is even fast and it seems as if no one follows such a proverb.   But when you get to know the culture an people of Tanzania, it becomes clear that it is more about their views and not about their practices. I would like to give two examples. First, the people of Tanzania were, in my experience, the nicest people of any culture. The general atmosphere of Dar Es Salaam and its population was that of peace and relaxation even through the hectic environment found in the city. As cliche as the saying goes, everyone seemed to be much happier even though they had substantially less. This lesson put many things into perspective and their General attitude about life was one example of them following the proverb.

The second: my fall. During a cave exploration In the northern part of Tanzania, I had an accident and broke two ribs. After an interesting experience with the health care system I only had the two ribs and some cuts and bruises. The thing that struck me the most, however, was the way that everyone treated me throughout the whole process. The doctors were kind and also curious about the event. The people driving me from place to place were always apologizing, even though the fall had obviously nothing to do with them. My tour guide even wanted us to call him after we found out if I was ok- I won’t forget the general care and worry that took over his face when the event happened. Finally, even the taxi drivers wanted to know what happened, also profusely apalogizing for the accident.

To me it was the last example that struck the whole idea of Tanzanian culture home. The people were genuine and had great priorities. To them, people mattered the most and life was simple. Throughout my travels I haven’t met a group of people who were so down to earth, peaceful, and genuinely interested in what was going on with other people. These types of culture definitely exist, but the Tanzanian people exemplify it.

Quickly has no blessing does now mean slow down on the practical side, but more so slow down on the personal side. Enjoy the company of those around you and develop deep personal relationships that matter. With these you will be able to find peace, even if you don’t have much else. This was indeed the biggest culture shock for me and will have lasting implications on my experience in Tanzania and In future countries.

So as the people in Tanzania would say  “haraka haraka haina baraka” and remember to take value in those around you.