Kumi Wazungu (10 Americans)

Our Dorm Building

Colleen and My Dorm Room

Breakfast at the Cafeteria

We this afternoon was an adventure to say the least! After the morning run, we went on a nature hike through the African jungle.  Ok, so I’ll confess, it was just through the forest by the university, but it felt like our own mini safari.  We then went to lunch at the cafeteria – wali na ngejere-as usual (rice and peas) with a side of watermelon.  From there, we took two dala dala’s to get to the U.S. Embassy downtown.  After being thoroughly checked by the security there, we spoke with two American individuals in charge of the embassy on safety abroad.  It was a good lecture and they were able to tell us exactly where NOT to go and what NOT to do while in Tanzania.  For example, pornography, along with homosexuality, and marijuana are extremely illegal.  From there we killed some time at the shopping center which was the most modern building we had been in yet!  They even had a Subway restaurant and an Apple store!  I bought some much needed bread and peanut butter there while the others gathered some goodies from the supermarket as well.  At 6:00 we headed to Addis in Dar, an Ethiopian restaurant downtown.  It was AMAZING.  The restaurant is set out on a deck with candles and small little wicker tables to eat at.  You order a combo meal with the person sitting across from you and it contains 3 or 4 different dishes.  We ordered one of the vegetarian combos and one of the chicken combos as well.  The dishes come on a huge platter (think two feet in diameter) lined with Ethiopian flat bread.  We had lentils, chicken, lamb, chickpea patties, and a variety of other dishes on our platter.  They then give you sourdough bread to dip in the meat and eat.  It was all excellent.  Our ride back to campus was a little hectic as it was dark outside and the dala dala’s were very crowded.  The title for this blog comes from our bus ride, where Brennan attempted to pay for all 10 of us Americans.  We tried and tried to communicate to them that we were paying for all ten of us, and they finally understood once we translated it into Swahili.  We eventually made it back safe and sound and now are all very tired.  Thankfully, the water had come back on at that point and we were able to wash up before bed.  Tomorrow, yet another adventure awaits as we listen to a cultural lecture on Tanzania and then start our first class (research methods).  And Saturday, we get to visit Bongoyo, an island off the coast of Dar where we will get to snorkel, hike, and eat freshly caught fish.  It should be tons of fun!  Anyway, off to lecture.  Adios for now!

Erin