Starting my journey to Arusha, Tanzania 7, May 2023 & 8, May 2023 (Sunday/Monday)

Today I go to Africa. I woke up an hour before my alarm and my brain would not stop. I also didn’t want to move because Nate was snuggling me. I think the animals know. They are all upstairs with us too. We make it to the airport before the rest of the group, which is so unlike me. I’m always running behind. Getting through wasn’t bad, even as the group. Our flight is delayed though. An hour and a half later, we get on the plane. The flight to Amsterdam was LONG. Eight hours that felt like half an eternity. I read, watched “A Man Called Otto,” which was a great movie. I napped for a short bit. We got to Amsterdam with only 25 minutes to get to our connecting flight. We made it, but it was tight. Then for another 8 hours and 25 minutes on a plane.

The food…I have never eaten so much food. They fed us dinner (chicken vindaloo, spring barley salad, and a strawberry fluff), then breakfast- a gross egg and cheese sandwich, then lunch on the next plane- spinach ravioli, collard greens, stuffed tomato, and bread. Then they gave us a “snack” of cheese and tomato pizza. I did have a rum and coke and the first plane. It’s included with an international flight, so I thought, “why not?” I read and slept a lot on the last fight. Getting off the plane at Kilimanjaro airport, you exit the plane outside (on some pusher shaky stairs). The humidity was intense. 

Going through customs is a lot with a group. But people were super friendly. I even used “asante sana” (thank you very much) correctly. The immigration officer smiled and told me good job. He also grilled me about what we are doing as a group. I explained Arusha, observed and learn culturally practices, ngorogoro, & some museums. Tourists :) 

The visa process is complicated. Show paperwork and passport, get picture taken, go get passport back at next window (don’t get it mixed up with another person), next window you pay, and then you take all paperwork & passport to a final window for the actual stamp. Whew! Be sure to ask for receipt at that time because a reprint is lengthy. Our luggage did not make the plane transfer. So we are without our stuff until Thursday. On the first flight a student got air sick, so I have a little puke backsplash. I’ll wash my clothes in the skin. I will also be wearing the same things fro the next several days. 

We go out of the airport and meet Daudi (David) who is our host. He brought Jadaleena, a graduate from Empowered Girls’, and the driver Seyidi. The students were hungry, so we stopped at a roadside vender and mart. They usually have a buffet, but we were late. They made BBQ chicken and fries. It was good. Cats were walking around, begging for food. They were skittish until the food came out. We took the main road to Centre House Hostel. A nun met us and put us in our room. They are nice accommodations. Like a cabin up north. Along the way we saw a mix of shanty towns and development. Neon lights are a favorite here. Because this area was British Colonies, we drive on the left side of the road. It’s a trip! It was night when we landed, so I haven’t seen much of the area. We are by Mount Meru. It’s daylight 0600-1800 here and the largest meal is at 2100. 

I got in the shower and I didn’t work it well. I took a cool shower. I need to take to the students about the net above the bed & the showers. 

Something I noted- Rob and Beth are a cute team. Rob is very type A, lists, get going, move, move, move and Beth is rather laid back. Rob switched seats with me on the plane so he could sit next to Beth. They discuss things and bounce them off each other. 

I wish Nate could travel with me like Rob and Beth do. It would be nice to have my partner & love with me on these journeys. I look forward to Jamaica with him. 

I’m pretty tired now, so that’s all for now. Up early tomorrow.  _J_