Blogs from Dar es Salaam, East, Tanzania, Africa - page 44

So, yes, Friday I was so homesick I could hardly stand it. It's the first time it's really hit me since I got here. It didn't help that I spent most of the day alone at the FOGOTA office since Ali was at a workshop and Dorcas was off doing other stuff. One interesting thing though was that it rained -- the first real rain I have seen since I have been here, since this is not the rainy season. It poured down for about five minutes, then cleared up as quickly as it had come. I was really surprised to see it, and I think everybody else was too judging from how people were responding outside the office window. Rainy season starts in December and I think really gets going in the new year. But ... read more

...was very enjoyable and very restorative. Saturday I had entirely to myself, at my request. Well, not actually my request but I made it well known to all and sundry that I was REALLY looking forward to a day to sleep in and just hang out. Which is what I did. I read and listened to music and at one point ventured out to the fruit stand across the road to buy some bananas to go with my peanut butter crackers for dinner. The bananas here taste very banana-y, I think they must lose a lot of their taste by the time they get to us in North America. I was a little lonely by evening but then my next door neighbour came home from her day and we chatted. She had invited me to go ... read more

For the last couple of nights I have written you witty and fascinating (well, in my view) accounts of what's happening here in Africa, both of which refused to post. I have no idea why, except that the internet here is like our worst days of dial up used to be. So before I write anything too much I am going to post this and see if it goes through. Then I will give you an update. I miss you all but I am doing great! Keep those cards and letters coming! (And/or emails). I was thinking as well that if you have questions you're welcome to email them to me, and I will try to answer here. Kwa heri (farewell) for now! Jackie :)... read more

Set off early in the morning on another sunny day & drove down from the relatively cool mountains. We stopped for lunch in Chilinze, a large junction/town seemingly in the middle of nowhere selling just about everything. Along with the usual lads selling biscuits & nuts were some who had made detailed tin replicas of our Dragoman truck. We ate chipsy omelette at one of the roadside restaurants & it was exactly as it sounds, an omelette containing chips served with luminous pink watery ketchup. We got into Dar Es Salaam in the afternoon & were met by the overpowering smell of the fish market as we waited for the ferry to cross to Mikadi beach. Our campsite had a saltwater pool & a bar selling vodka slushies in handpainted enamelled beakers - surprisingly alcoholic but ... read more

Hi Everybody! I have arrived safe and sound in Dar es Salaam, the "Haven of Peace", which may be overstating it a little but so far so good. The flight was absolute madness in the sense that no human being was ever meant to spend sixteen hours in the air, but I survived it. Although it will take three months before I'm ready to board another aircraft, I do think I'll be able to get back on without being drugged and dragged. Which is good news for those of you who were concerned about my never coming home, and bad news for those of you who picked "BA Baracus" in the pool. Sorry if you lost money. That's an A Team reference for those of you who missed it, and I promise the only one I ... read more