God Bless Peace Corps Tanzania! I have learned more in the past three days than in the past 28 years of my life. I have been in Dar es Salaam since Wednesday evening (6.16.10) and I love it here. The food is delicious. This is a typical lunch here at the hostel.
We spend a lot of time eating!
I have my own room with a private toilet and shower. My room is nice and very clean.
I must say the flights from America were INSANELY long but well worth it.
Tanzanians are very friendly and very funny! My language and culture training started yesterday. It is intense but I have the best teacher, Vivian! He explained that many people think Vivian is a womans name, but this is not true. He also told us that his AKA is “Big Boy.” Some of the lessons include spelling words while he dictates… Unfortunately, my lack of spelling skills have transferred to Kiswahili and this is my weakest skill. Everything else is NZURI SANA! (very good)
We all will learn how to grow and maintain our own permagardens while we are with our host families in Muheza. I found out today that I will be in the village of Kilulu for home stay, this area is predominantly Muslim. There are four other PCT’s staying in Kilulu. I learned my family has a cell phone but I will need to ask them permission to give it out. We travel to home stay families as a group on Wednesday, June 23, 2010. I am very excited!
(Map of all the villages around Muheza)
I miss everyone very much but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world. I have not read any of the letters that my mom collected yet but I did tear up when I looked through the bag. I was overwhelmed with LOVE when I saw how many people are supporting me. I will waiting until I need some extra encouragement, right now I am Nzuri Sana. *This is ALWAYS the Tanzania’s answer.
(Alli with here Malaria prophylaxis.)
I may have left an Alli and Anna in Livonia but I gained two more-> Alli and Anna PCTs! & many other new friends! Shots, Shots, Shots I am no longer afraid of needles. We have one American and one Tanzanian doctor, together they make an outstanding team!
Check out the beautiful Katanga I bought at the store with in the hostel compound. (TZ COLORS!) Some things never change --> I'm shopping for clothing…Shocking. Appearance is very important in Tanzanian culture. I have to be well dressed and clean to be accepted. I am looking forward to going to the tailor to make this fabric into a dress!
This beautiful stool represents the three steps to success: Observe, Do, Teach.
(Asante Peter – I love visual examples!)
Kwaheri! (good bye)
I’m off to dinner and rest.
Oh PS I will need to give art lesson to John AKA" THE MAN"- This is the flip day 1.
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