i know, it's been awhile...

...so, i've decided to backtrack and just keep going even after I get back until i have a good account of at least the highlights of the experience here.

The Parks
When last I left you, I was about to embark on a trip to the Serengeti for safari. Well, it turns out that we went to several other game reserves/national parks/world heritage sites. We were picked up in two landrovers and set off on our trip with significant amounts of bug spray, sunscreen, memory cards, and advice from everyone we met.
We first went to Lake Manyara, where there were copious amounts of pink flamingoes. We spent the night atop a hill at a hotel called, appropriately enough, the Highview Hotel. We had an amazing view and after dinner watched a show of music and dance from the southern regions of the country. The show was cool, but it definitely was a hotel version. Next we spent a day at Ngorongoro Crater, which is the world's largest cauldera, and supports a tremendous amount of wildlife. we were lucky and were there during the wildebeest and zebra annual migration. SOme of the pictures are from here. The one of the smiling hippo, and the black rhino are. I have an absurd amount of pictures from this trip, but i'll put them on in doses. This crater was unbelievable, and i will finish the post another day, as it is very late here (Zanzibar) and we fly back to Arusha tomorrow.
Usiku nwema
sasha

Slow Computers Make Me Confused

Since the computer is really slow here (I know stop complaining, you are on the internet almost daily in Tanzania), I often multitask whilst uploading pictures and I didn't remember which ones I posted first. So, this is the set that has our shot at the base of Kili and a pretty good shot of the mountain from our ride back to Arusha. The other pictures are from our ride in and around the foothills going back to Moshi. The grass is cut from the side of the road to feed the cows. I think the women carrying things to and fro on the road are so colorful and beautiful, so I have many pictures of them. I think there is also a picture of the secondary school (shule secondari) it is the one I will be teaching at on the 20th.


Tomorrow we will leave early in the morning for our trip to several parks. First, we are going to Oldvai Gorge, which is part of the Great Rift Valley. Monday we head to Ngorongoro, the site of the oldest human fossils, and then on Tuesday we will go to Serengeti National Park for 3 days. I hope to have lots of pictures to upload when we return.

Pictures I Like...

Over the last few days, we have visited several more schools and have been at times enlightened and encouraged. One of the schools is located near the foothills of Kilimanjaro, near base camp, so we took a detour. On our way home I snapped this shot of a Maasai woman by the side of the road.

Kwaheri,
Sasha

to market, to market...

The colors, and some of the sights of the market, but unfortunately not the sounds.

Furahia (Enjoy),
Sasha

mosquito nets

One would not normally think that going to Africa in June would be a relief from the Georgia heat and humidity, however that is exactly what I have been experiencing. The temperatures have ranged from 65 at night to 80 during the day with absolutely no humidity. I know, I couldn't believe it either. I knew it was their winter, but I didn't think that meant much this close to the equator. Along with this surprise came the revelation that June, July, and August have very few mosquitos. I have had one bite so far (of course, one of the women in my group was swarmed by venomous ants in her sleep-underneath of her mosquito netting and quilt!) Despite this wonderful timing for me, mosquitos are a real problem here and Malaria is pandemic. Yesterday, we visited the A to Z mosquito net manufacturing plant, which was much more interesting than you would imagine. It is an Indian company with a joint venture with Japan using capital from the US (Bush's money-they like him here)to manufacture a net with the insecticide built in and garuanteed for 5 years. they have built a small town for their workers (most workers in tanzania get free housing) and they give hiring priority to women, particularly single mothers. THey have built a school and although the nets are relatively expensive for the local people, they have several rebate opportunities for mothers and are funded by NGO's to give all children under five one for free.
I will report tomorrow on today(downloading pictures takes forever)-our most amazing day yet.

Tutaonana (see you later),
Sasha

Pictures!!!

I know, I know, i left on friday and still no pictures. The thing is, the internet is very slow at night here, and I just can't bring myself to spend a bunch of time in the lab here during the day. so, here are a few of the last couple of days. no worries, i have taken oodles more. they will trickle in as i find the time.

yesterday, we visited our first school (the main reason for our trip). It was a primary school which goes to grade 7, and is the only public English speaking school in the country. Most of the classes had about 40 students and they were wonderfully behaved. We had several intensive classes of Kiswahili (that's what was making my head hurt), and today we were given 1000 shillings (about 1 dollar) to buy produce at the local open market using only swahili, and getting the best bargain. it was difficult but in the most wonderful way.

i exchanged 100 USD for 1334 thousand Tanzanian Shillings (Tsh) down in the town of Arusha. Today we also visited a mosquito net factory, but more on that later. Tomorrow we are off to the town of Moshi to visit a community school, which is different in funding than a government school.

The people have been warm, friendly, and very forgiving of our ignorance of their language. i can not really describe the vast array of colors here; from the foliage and birds to the clothing and food, it is indescribable. well, that's all for now, but i will put more pictures on in the next few days.
lala salama,
Sasha

Arrival

I made it!! I'm staying just outside of the beautiful town of Arusha at the MS-Traning Center for Development Cooperation. We took two 8 hour flights on KML (Royal Dutch Airlines). Sounds long (and it was), but they fed us non stop and we had dozens of movie choices on an individual screen at our seats to pass the time. The most amazing part was flying over the mediterranean sea where it meets Libya. It was truly breathtaking to see the deep blue green of the sea bordering the endless expanse of the Sahara (Libyian)desert. My studious ambition of learning more Swahili, remained unrealized however. That did start by necessity today.
There are 8 teachers from various places travelling together with the program and we each have our own small apartment amidst beautiful foliage and rolling hills. I fell asleep to the sounds of the bush babies and woke up to monkeys on my window. We went to town today to exchange money and do some light shopping at a bead and carvers market. Not being much of a barterer, I just left with some anxiety and two pairs of earrings. On our way back from town we passed several military installations arresting agitators upset at outside development of their land. now that's my kind of action!
I miss my sweet girls, but otherwise I am very happy to be here. We have 24 hour access to the computer lab while we are here, so i will upload pictures soon.
Kwaheri,
Sasha