Once you experience your first ride in a dala dala, you understand what this borrowed saying means. My first ride was up to Kiboroloni market---about a 10-minute ride from town. The process goes something like this: the dala driver and doorman call out “muzungu!” letting you know that they want you in their van. You examine exactly how full the car is and proceed to climb in assuming that there is a 10”x10” space available for your feet---the chances of getting a seat are slim to none and it doesn’t matter whether or not there is room to “stand”. Typically you’ll be hunched over so far that that several of your body parts are completely mashed into someone else or to the top and/or side of the van. You’re lucky if you have something (like a centimeter of metal siding on the inside or the back of a seat) to hold on to. I think 30-something is the most number of people we've seen in one dala---it’s hard to imagine that’s even possible. That said, there are many awkward moments that can be had in even a short dala ride---I won’t list them, but let’s just say that you get in such close proximity in such strange positions with people that you never thought you would that it’s best to just leave those moments in the dala as it drives away after barely stopping to drop you off.
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