Loving my life in Arusha!

**For whatever reason, that last email didn't send properly. Here is what it should have been. :)

Sorry for the long absence in email updates - but unfortunately, emaill access is not going to be very frequent for me while I am at the orphanage. I will send when I can - but that just will not be able to be very often.

So, since my last email, I've spent the night at a hotel in Dar, flew into Kilimanjaro, spent the night at a guest house in Arusha, walked around Arusha for a day, and have spent several days with about 10 of the cutest faces that you could ever imagine. I had some fears before arriving here - but those have all been laid to rest, and I am loving being here. The country definitely has a different look to it than Zambia - way more green and tropical-like. But as for the people, and feel of the cities - it is very much what I am used to in Zambia.

From my last email, you knew that my flight was going to be delayed. It turns out that they also overbooked that flight - which I didn't know until I was about 4 people back from the counter, waiting to check in. Anyways, it wasn't a big deal, and I'm acutally kind of thankful that it worked out that way, as the airline put me up in a nice hotel for the night, and paid for my supper and breakfast. It meant that I could phone home, and arrived in Kilimanjaro during daylight hours. I arrived in Arusha the next day around 4:30, after having flown to Kilimanjaro, and then taking a shuttle bus 40 km to the city. I waited at a hotel before I was picked up by Nelson, Ally and another girl volunteer. I enjoyed supper at a host family's house that night, meeting another volunteer from Canada, Danielle. She is from Victoria - I guess I'm just meant to hang out with a person from Victoria this summer (Kathleen was also from Victoria!) She has been here for about two months now, and is staying out at the orphanage with me right now. She knows her way around town somewhat, and so with her help, we were able to find our way into town this morning, and make our way to an internet cafe. It is nice to have someone to be with - and as she has been here for a while, knows her way around, and has a pretty good grasp on the language, she is a good one to have around.

Anyways, Tuesday I spent the day walking around town with Liz, another volunteer, and Ally. He showed us the Arusha Internation Conference Centre (where we were able to sit in on trials for the Rwandan genocide), the Arusha museum, the curio market, Shoprite, and some other sites around town. Around supper time, I was taken out to the orphanage, and was met by the sweetest 7 faces that I have ever seen. They all ran up to me, and hugged me saying 'muzungu' (white person). They are pretty much the cutest kids that I have ever seen. Wow. I'm pretty glad to be where I am - and I know that it will be hard to leave them.

As it turns out, I am actually the first 'muzungu' volunteer to come to this orphanage, so that is pretty special. I think a room is even being named after me here! The days are pretty routine here. We wake up, help the kids get ready for school, eat breakfast, and walk to school. The kids just go to school in the morning, and I have been helping with the teaching, as there is only one teacher and about 30 students. I take the slightly older kids, and the teacher sticks with the younger ones. It's been good so far - I've enjoyed teaching them, although it can be a struggle with the language barrier at times. We come home after school and eat lunch, and then the kids have a bath, then a nap. After their nap, they do their homework, and then they are free to play for the rest of the afternoon. In the evening, we eat supper, and then soon after supper the kids go to bed, leaving us with time to read or go to bed early as well.

I was the only volunteer for the first couple days, then Danielle joined me on Thursday night, and I believe three more volunteers will be joining us today or tomorrow. It will be squishy with all of us - but we will survive! I'm actually leaving on safari for about 5 days tomorrow with several other volunteers. We'll be going to the Serengeti, Lake Manyara, and N'gorongoro Crater - it should be great! But I'm also sad about leaving the kids for those days - their sweet little faces have won over my heart already, and I'm sad to leave them. I'm also not really wanting to share them with other volunteers - but I don't really have any say in that, so there is not much that I can do.

I'm just bursting at the seams with things to share - but it is always hards when you are typing, and there are no pictures to go along with the words. It will be better to share more once I am home, and can show the pictures to go along with the stories. I haven't taken too many pictures here yet - but I'm sure that I will. I just wish all of you could see their sweet little faces in person!

I'll talk more about the kids later, telling you about each one individually. But for now, their names are: Sada, Salma, Asha and Dola (the girls), Juma, Rama (nickname - Mbonge), Bakari (nickname - Popati), Sai, and a new one that I'm not sure of the name yet (the boys). They are just too cute - I can't get enough of them!

Anyways, I should wrap this up. After me and Danielle are done here at the internet place, we are going to head to the curio market, and just wander around the city some. Tonight we are going to have supper with the group of volunteers that are here to go on safari tomorrow. I'll spend the night at the orphanage tonight, and then will be picked up for the safari tomorrow. I should be back at the orphanage by Friday or Saturday.

I'm not sure when I'll be able to email again - but just know that I am doing well here, loving every moment. I trust that all is well in Canada, and that you are all enjoying your days. Know that you are being thought of way across the ocean, here in Tanzania.

Love,
Jilly