Sweating in Dar

Well, I've arrived in sticky, sweaty Dar Es Salaam - and in typical African fashion, my flight is delayed by two hours, and their computer systerms are down. So, I have some time to kill before I am able to check-in - and decided to use the opportunity to grab something to eat, and send an email. An airport guy was helping me out, by directing me to the places I needed to go. It was kind of awkward - he didn't speak much English, and I know about two words of Swahili. But we kind of communicated, and he was attempting to teach me a few Swahili words - like 'welcome' and 'thank-you'. It is slightly (okay, maybe a bit more than slightly) overwhelming to be here right now. I came from familiar faces in Zambia - to a place where I know no one. I trust that things will continue to go well though - and that I will be looked after here.

It was hard to leave Zambia. I loved being back there so much, and part of me wishes that I was still there right now, instead of in this unfamiliar place where I don't know a soul. Ruhtt, Shepherd and I drove to Lusaka on Saturday, and we were able to run some errands around the city. Lusaka was crazy busy. I LOVE Africa - but I love the rural parts of Africa because the cities kind of scare me. Anyways, I survived alright, and enjoyed staying with the Mbumwaes friends, the Thomas'. Last night, we went and watched Pirates 3 at the theatre, which was a nice treat. This morning, Ruhtt and Shepherd, along with Oscar, said goodbye to me at the airport. It was nice to have familiar faces waving goodbye to me - but I was so sad to be leaving as well. Oh well. I'm sure I will love it here in Tanzania as well - it will just take some adjusting to.

Time is ticking down on my internet, and there are a few other things I want to do before I'm done on here. Then, I think I will try phoning the country coordinator for my project in Tanzania, and let him know that my flight will be late, so that he can let the people who will be picking me up know. Hopefully, somebody will be there to meet me. If not, I'll check into the hotel for the night, and figure it out in the morning. I'm not going to worry about it though - I'm just going to trust. I've been taken care of so far this trip - and I'm sure that isn't going to change.

Thinking of you all from Tanzania (I'm in a new country!),

Jilly