From Shell: I have to say the trip to the Serengeti NP and back was one of the best travel experiences I have ever had. It was rough, dirty, tiring, confronting and great fun. I'm still dreaming about it 2 weeks later. Things that stick in my mind are: - how fertile the land was in Western Kenya - answering Marja's call for me to open the window in my campground shower and looking straight in the eyes of a huge bull elephant - the interest and/or excitement from local kids (even the teenages that yelled "piss off" and threw rocks [View Full Entry]

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After two years of study, writing, memorizing, and reading a group of men are about to go forth to preach the saving message of Christ! Seven men have proved their determination by diligence in their studies. I must say that the hours invested in these men at the Andrew Connally School of Preaching has been challenging for them as well as their instructors. Even though instruction has been giving in the English language, English is not the native language for any of these men. Also, there is a wide range of abilities within this group. But it is thrilling indeed to [View Full Entry]

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To go to the Serengeti we had to split up into 4 jeeps and leave the truck behind in Arusha. It was a long enough drive to the Serengeti so we stopped off at the Ngorongoro crater for our lunch and a few photos. Lunch was difficult as there were some black kites in the area that wanted our food just as much as we did. On the way we also had an unexpected break when one of the 4 wheel drives broke down. We found some Masai men to build us a new part for the vehicles suspension out of [View Full Entry]

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The middle of October, 2009 brought the end of my first term of this school year, 2 teacher-in-service days, and Denia! My sister came to visit me for a quick but wonderful 10 days, during my week off from school, and together we terrorized (read: photographed and sang to) the Northern circuit National Parks of Tanzania. Denia arrived on a Thursday evening, and we had a quiet night in together, catching up and letting Kibo get to know another one of her Aunts. After work on Friday, we did a little tour of Dar and that evening we went out for [View Full Entry]

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In the center of Moshi, there are many volunteers and tourists so seeing them on the street is very common. However, when you go into the residential areas, there is sometimes great excitement from the children on seeing a "mzungu" (white foreigner). Most will automatically assume that you are a teacher and many "wazungu" - the plural form of mzungu, are called mwalimu (teacher). Many of the children have had experience with volunteer teachers in Moshi urban, but that quickly drops off when you enter into Moshi rural and once you get outside of Moshi district in the Kilimanjaro region, thei [View Full Entry]

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Four volunteers including myself went on safari to Ngorongoro Crater today, and saw lots of great animals! Elephants, lions, hippos, zebra, hyenas, wildebeests, buffalo, gazelle, ostrich, crowned crane, flamingos, warthogs, jackals, baboons, and a serval cat. Here are a few highlight pics! [View Full Entry]

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Habari Rafiki? Today I will start publishing photos that I have taken from various spots in Tanzania. I will start off with a picture I took while on safari near Lake Eyasi, on a visit to the Hadzabe tribe. I had heard contrasting opinions about visiting the Hadzabe, whether it was in their best interest or not to have outside influences enter into their lives. After visiting, I am not opposed to visits. They are a very friendly people and quite fond of their lifestyle. What is threatening them is loss of habitat for the animals that they depend on for [View Full Entry]

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We schrijven deze blog vanuit een internetcafe in Arusha, het toerisitisch centrum van Tanzania. Het veldwerk in Lushoto zit erop. De laatste week dat we er zaten was vrij mager op het gebied van water en elektriciteit. Door het aanhoudende droge seizoen was er weinig water in de rivieren waardoor ook de nationale watercentrales moeilijkheden hadden. Hierdoor zat het hele land zonder elektriciteit. Maar wonder boven wonder begon het op onze voorlaatse onderzoeksdag plots te regenen en konden we net voor ons vertrek naar arusha het licht terug aansteken en weer genieten van een warme douche. Al [View Full Entry]

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Thirteen of us all packed into the 4x4, driving 45 minutes along winding, bumpy roads, skidding and sliding back and forth in the muddy ruts, the whole way to Karatu. After spending two whole days in bed with stomach pains and achy blah, I finally went to see the doctor yesterday. I brought two other kids from the children's village who were sick as well, and with both of them on my lap, and seven more local villagers packed in for the ride, we set off uncomfortably tight. As the driver stopped to pick up more and more passengers along the [View Full Entry]

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Okay so as a follow up on my boastful "I'm gonna climb Kili" shit I would like to let everyone know that I admit defeat. I started off well, got to 4000 and, whilst looking at the amazing view, hurt my ankle. It's my own fault really, we were walking on basically just rocks and I should know by now that luck doesn't really cling to me.. so anyway, our guide Richard told me I should go down as my ankle would need rest and a top of a mountain really wasnt the best place for that. Totally bummed me out. [View Full Entry]

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