Advertisement
Published: January 13th 2009
Edit Blog Post
Apologies for the slack updates, but things have been super busy here in Dar for the past 2 months! Just a quick update to let everyone know what I've been doing, seeing, and keeping myself busy with!
HALLOWEEN... not really a full blown halloween like last year, but there was a themed party that weekend, hosted by a group of the new teachers. The theme was "Leaders and Lovers," and was totally open to interpretation. I went as Paris Hilton... borrowing one of Kibo's toy squeaky dogs to play Tinkerbell.
OBAMA WINS! Shortly after returning from Kili, came US Election Day! One of the nice things about working in an International School, with only 13% North Americans, is that we were permitted to wear our Obama gear on election day! I had my local tailor make me a super cute dress, and it was a hit at school, and subsequently at the Tanzania for Obama Victory Party that evening. Probably at least 50 people have photos with me from that night, and that's not counting people that I actually know!
ANOTHER BORING FIELD TRIP. Yeah, right! I got to take my class to Mikumi and Udzungwa National Parks
Obama!
These ladies were selling the Kangas that we used to make our dresses. again this year. I have such a great group of kids, that behavior and nighttime sleeping was not an issue at all this year. We did some great game drives, visited the Maharaka village school again, and then hiked in Udzungwa, breaking for lunch and some play time in the waterfall pools. We didn't get to see any lions, but the other animals were out and about and the kids snapped plenty of photos. There was also the amusement of boy and girl interactions at camp, especially around dinner time! I feel so lucky that the school values our surroundings enough to let us take the kids on this 4 day trip each year.
DUBAI. Right when I returned from my field trip, I went to the airport and flew to Dubai for 4.5days. I stayed with Tante Ine and Mom surprised me there as well, so it was a very family oriented trip, which I loved! I went and saw a doctor and had some tests done; it all turned out perfectly so no worries! I also took advantage of the billions of malls in Dubai and shopped my heart, and paycheck out! I am glad I was
So Excited!
We brought as much paraphernalia as we could to support Obama! able to see Tante Ine one more time while she's still nearby, as she is moving to California in January.
BACHELORETTE PARTY! Two of my fellow teachers are getting married over the Christmas Holiday, so we had a bachelorette/hen night for the bride, Jill. It was a hilarious time, starting with Jello shots in my apartment, after which we boarded a BUS that drove us from bar to bar for the night. All good fun, and a great way to see the bars!
CHRISTMAS CRAFTING... yes, that's right. Many of you have already heard me bragging about my new sewing affinity, and a group of us started getting together on Thursday nights to "stich n' bitch." We made Christmas stockings out of African Kanga materials, and I then went on to make wreaths out of the scraps as well. Kibo is getting into the Christmas spirit, and even has a few gifts awaiting her in her stocking!
MAFIA ISLAND AND THE WHALE SHARKS! The day school let out, 19 December, a group of 4 of us hopped on a little plane and took the 30 min. flight to Mafia Island. It is a beautifully green, lush island,
known for its diving and the whale sharks that inhabit the water. So, we arrived Friday evening and enjoyed some sun-downers at the hotel beach before a 4 course dinner and bedtime. The next day, we were up early, and headed off to the other side of the island to go and spot some whale sharks. Within our first 10 min. in the boat we spotted a baby whale shark! We jumped in and swam with it for a few minutes, but those suckers are fast! You have to sprint in the water to keep the sharks in view, much less get a photograph. And they're huge! It was nice to start with a baby, so that I could get used to the upcoming size and looks of the adult sharks. We went on to see 2 more whale sharks, with the last one being super big, and swimming right towards us! We jumped in and the guide said, "look to your right," so I turned my head and there it was! Full body view- awesome! I took some photos with an underwater camera, but it's old fashioned and needs to be developed so I don't have those to post...
yet. But it was an amazing experience, and I here there are even more sharks that surface in Jan-Feb, so I might be going back again!
And now Christmas is approaching, and I'm off to the airport. More to come in 2009- happy holidays everyone!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.074s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 8; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0517s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 2;
; mem: 1.1mb