Well, I have now been in Tanzania for 6 days, and what an adventure I've already have. Getting our visas at the Airport took the better part of an hour, and the power was lost twice in the airport during this time.
The heat is overwhelming, overpowering, and just plain awful. It is usually about 85 degrees with what must be close to 100% humidity. I'm managing, but just barely. I wish I'd packed an entirely different wardrobe, but not much I can do about that now.
We are staying at the Salvation Army Hostel in Dar es Salaam. It is a large compound with a school, kitchen, job training and the like. We stay in a cinder block style bungalow with a bucket shower, rudimentary beds with nets, and a lone fan dangling by a mostly exposed wire. We have red ants, mosquitoes, geckos, cockroaches, beetles, and giant millipede type things. I'll bet most of you wouldn't think I could last a day with this!
Most of our days involve lengthy Swahili lessons. It's a bit much with the grammar, but otherwise is okay. The food has been simple, but good. Here at the compound we drink only bottled water, but once we arrive in Mwanza we have some sort of filtering device in the house.
The biggest crisis so far (besides sweating through all my clothes three times a day) was the bout of heat exhaustion yesterday. We rode the daladala to the center of town. A daladala is a small van/mini-bus that they cram at least 25 people into. I had to crouch down the whole time, all the while fighting off the curious hands of the man sitting across from me. It was easily 90+ degrees, and after 20 minutes, my legs started to shake. By the time we got out, my face was as red as a tomato, and I couldn't decide if I wanted to vomit or pass out.
Thankfully, we cut short our trip to the fruit market ( to practice bargaining) and got me under the shade with a cool bottle of water. It was quite scary actually, and I've decided that even though I want to go "local" , I would also rather pay $3 for a taxi and avoid the whole process.
I have so much more to tell, but our time on the internet here at the compound is quite limited. Once in Mwanza (starting this Saturday, the 9th) I should be able to spend an hour or two at least once a week.
I am hanging in there, trying to stay strong and positive. This is such a big leap for me.
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4 comments:
You make me laugh! Your shower sounds "nice"? I hope that in your packing you didn't forget a good loofa! As for your heat issues... You've always looked good in red! Be safe and do what you need to, to make this trip everything you want it to be- even if that means taking a taxi and buying a bottle of "maji".
Take care,
Tim & the boyz
Dont worry about the dalla dalla's, i know it sounds strange, but you will get used to the sweat and the smells and you will learn where to sit adn the best places to catch a dalla dalla so you aren't the one crouched down. dont let that "adventure" ruin you local experience.
Aubree
Everything you are describing is so very familiar to me. Before my parents built a house in the Philippines we had to use buckets to take a shower and urinate in a toilet with no flusher. You had to pour water into the toilet to flush. One day I should take you with me to the Philippines since you are so open to visit other countries. I would just show you a great time in a different part of the world. The experiences you will have in Africa will be the greatest stories you'll ever tell. Hang in there!
Jovie
You're making our conditions in Romania sound like the Four Seasons! You're a huge trooper!
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