Welcome to my Africa Travel Blog

Yesterday was the first day at the school. No kids were there, only teachers preparing for the start of the new year. The school year is done differently here, it starts in January and ends in November. I think it’s better for me this way as well, as I will get to start the year with new students and new teachers and be on pace with everything they are doing. Everyone has been so welcoming; showing me around the grounds, teaching me simple Swahili greetings, introducing me to other friends and teachers. I’m hoping to learn a good amount of Swahili whilst here, but languages have never been my thing so we’ll see.

The school grounds are very beautiful. The classrooms run in a square perimeter along a lush, tropically landscaped garden. It reminds me of some of the Southern California designs of open space buildings. I was told there are around 450 students (from ages 3-13) which seems like it will fill up the space quickly. It was very busy around the school grounds, all the teachers were getting last minute meetings and prep work done. But I’m told today will be even more hectic and exciting! After being an unemployed couch surfer for the past few months, it’s really energizing having days full of activity and business. Over the next few days my role is to observe the classes so I can see how teaching is performed (I’m expecting it to be quite different, I’ve heard it’s more lecture centered).

Yesterday was a full experience. It seems that Sundays are a day for chores and shopping. The day started out slow; after waking up with the chickens it was a while until anyone else was moving. For breakfast we had donut like pastries and juice. After breakfast I spent my morning with the boys playing games while the girls did cleaning (laundry, dishes, etc). There are pretty distinct gender roles which is a bit hard for me to accept, but I’m sure as the days go on I’ll get used to the nuances of Tanzanian culture.

After midday passed and we had lunch, it was shopping time. 9 of us packed into a small hatchback—as a guest they gave me the front seat which forced 6 others to cram into the backseat. I will say the driving here is very nerve racking and a bit lawless. First of all, they drive on the left side, so it’s discombobulating to begin with, and then to make it worse no one follows any sort of traffic patterns. Not to mention the motorcycles that swerve and cut their way through the smallest gaps. A lot of the shopping we did was in markets—large outdoor settings with many vendors, either in a dirt lot or along the city streets. Buying something at these markets is a long process; you’re expected to bargain and negotiate to the penny. The markets were beautiful and busy and bright, but if I had to go get everyday essentials at places like this, I would get very overwhelmed. We also went to a mall and supermarket for some other goods. The prices seem to be about as much as one would pay in the US, tending to be cheaper but never more expensive. So it makes me wonder if at the markets people get better prices and deals, only going to supermarkets for necessities you can’t buy elsewhere. After the shopping we went to the barbershop. I didn’t get a haircut, I’m not brave enough yet, but at some point I know I will be due. For dinner we had Ugali, tilapia, and sour milk. I was a bit nervous about the sour milk, but it was pretty much a watery yogurt and very good with the tilapia.

I have arrived! Yesterday’s flights were much better. I was tired enough to fall asleep on both flights and from Dar es Salaam to Kilimanjaro I had the full row to lie down in and sleep soundly. Stepping off of the plane straight down onto the tarmac was when it really hit me that I was here. (Also when I got in the car with Ally and he said “there is no going back now”). It seems that the weather right now is classified as the “short rainy season”. For the month of January it rains for a couple days every couple of days. And then it will dry out for February, and the true rainy season begins in March and lasts through June. Getting through customs was very quick and it seemed like most people were acquiring their visa on arrival (Lucas later told me that the Tanzanian government really appreciates tourism, so they make the process fairly easy).

My living quarters are wonderful. I didn’t have many expectations, but it seems like I’m provided with a lot of privacy. I’m in a detached room outside of the main house, with my own bathroom and shower. One thing I was not expecting was AC!

I was so relieved last night when I was able to sleep in a bed! I was exhausted by the time I went to sleep, I laid my head on the pillow and was out. This morning I woke up around 5:30 to roosters crowing and goats bleating, so it seems I will have a natural alarm clock.