Blogs from Zanzibar City, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa - page 10

It started to get a little embarrassing, I’ve been in Tanzania for 4½ months and I hadn’t been to Zanzibar yet - at least it felt like it, as whenever it came up in conversation, I had to say no. It is not like that it is difficult or expensive (at least as a Tanzanian resident) to get there and I hadn’t just been anywhere in Tanzania, but on the gateway to the island. Dar is connected with several ferries and flights a day, but somehow there just hadn’t been time yet. Now there was no excuse, as the ‘Sauti za Busara’ festival (in English ‘Sounds of Wisdom’) was on in Stonetown, the capital of Zanzibar. It’s a big five-day open-air music festival in the Old Fort in the heart of the historic town centre attracting ... read more

Well, how do I put my life into words.... wow. Maybe first, a quick Swahili lesson. Hujambo! Vipi! Jina langu ni Yussuf. Ninatoka Mericani, jimbo la Maryland, mti wa Silver Spring. Ninasema Kiswahili polepole lakini jana nilijifunza kidogo na leo ninajifunza kidogo na kesho nitajifunza kidogo pia! Upesi, nitajau kiswahili vizuri. Ninatumaini kurudi Mericani, utasahau kwa mimi. Sisahau kwa wewe na nimefiriki kwa wawa siku zote. Nimefurahi lakini ninakosa kwa ninyi. Tutonana baadage. Salama! Hello! What's up. My name is Yussuf.* I am from America, in the state of Maryland, in the city of Silver Spring. I talk Swahili slowly but yesterday I learned a little bit and today I learned a little bit and tomorrow I will learn a little bit more too! Soon, I will know Swahili well. I hope that when I return ... read more

Ok I'm flying out tonight. Woah, now its real. I bought this week's Newsweek for my homestay family. Unsurprisingly, it has Prezy Obama's face on it. I figured he's popular over there and bringing a magazine with a couple pictures of him is the least I can do to represent America. I also purchased a colorful throw rug for them and art supplies for the kids, just some small gifts I can bring over there with me to give out. I'm 8 hours ahead of yall on the east coast, so if I ever get on skype, it'll probably be the morning/early afternoon for you. I have orientation for a week then go right to my first homestay in Stone Town at the beginning of feburary so I'll have a ton of stuff going on right ... read more

ZANZIBAR.... it's ok, say it again- this time with a little more flare.... at the same time the name rolls off your tongue a certain mystique and wonder is aroused in the imagination. There has always been something alluring about Zanzibar- but no one can articulate it, you just have to be there to absorb the wonders it holds. It is easy to get lost in the narrow streets of Stone Town - Not only because it is like a maze with no order, but also behind every corner and bend is another hidden treasure. A beautiful 18th century door amongst crumbling buildings, shops full of spices and art, Muslim women in traditional scarves huddling together to gossip and laugh, children playing with kites and rolling tires... it is one place I don't mind getting 'lost' ... read more

Lamminta vuotta 2009! Luin asken Suomen uutisia ja huomasin, etta siella on talvimyrskyja, pakkanen kiristymassa ja sahkokatkoja. Meilla on edelleen tasainen +30 astetta paivittain, nyt ei ole trooppisia sadekuurojakaan ollut muutamaan paivaan ja merivesi edelleen lamminta kuin linnunmaito. Jos en olisi Suomessa elanyt, niin ei taalta kasin kylla sita pimeytta ja talvipakkasia tosiaan osaisi kuvitella, niin kaukaisilta ne tuntuvat nytkin, vaikka vain vaivainen kuukausi ollaan oltu poissa. Olemme viettaneet uutta vuotta Sansibarilla, Saharan etelanpuolisen Afrikan turistikeskuksessa Stone Townissa. Saari on kieltamatta varsin miellyttava, hieman omituiselta vain tuntuu turistien runsas maara alkutaipaleen ja etenkin Mafian jalkeen. Mutta taas on ruokapaikoissa vara valita, hinnat pompsahtaneet ja meininki varsin lomakohdemaista. Tieda nyt sitten onko se lopulta niin hyva asia... Toiss... read more