Piga Piche!

Indian Ocean in Dar es Saalam

Cloee and I

At the Mozumbai Forest Reserve

My friends Isaya and Innocent

Me, Doreen and Heidi

Enjoy the Pictures!!!

Quick update

I had a meeting with the Director of TCRS (Tanzanian Christian Relief Services) to talk about my independent study project I will be doing the month of November. I was really nervous because this was my only shot on persuading him to work with me to build up my report. I came specifically to Dar Es Salaam (remind you 9-hour bus ride) to speak with him. And the interview couldn't have gone any better!!!! We are setting up the logistics right now, but it looks like I will be speaking with refugees that have escaped their camp and are living illegaly in Dar Es Salaam first, then I will fly to Kigoma and actually go inside the camps. After Kigoma I will head to Burindi Refugee camps in Tabora. I'm leaning my study to cover the social aspects of the Refugees life. I want to collect their life story, specifically their journey over to Tanzania. I want to record their most vivid memory of the journey and talk to them about life in Tanzania now. Have they lost their identitiy? How they are treated? If they could go home would they? Questions along those lines. This was a total God thing too. My Academic Director explained to me how no one has ever done a study with refugees because it is logistically very difficult. It is hard to obtain the permits to go into the camps and most of the time the refugees don't want to talk because they are illegal. But this organization is going to handle all of the logistics of it. I am so stoked for this project, pray that everything works out these next couple of days, it's going to be stressful to get all of the bugs worked out!

Back from the Rainforest!

We just got back from the Rainforest Reserve in the Usambara Mountains. It was so amazing. There were trees, animals, rivers, waterfalls, everything. We went hiking and did out classes in the middle of the Rainforest, it was great. I went on this really long hike up a mountain, and like I said in a previous blog Tanzanians don't mess around with switchback they are straight up, haha. At the very top it was so beautiful. It had just stopped raining, and the top of this mountain was above the clouds, it was great. Our schedule in the Rainforest was basically breakfast, classes in the rainforest for 3 hours, free time which was spent mostly in the rainforest for me, bootcamp (exercise with our academic director) and dinner. It was so relaxed, but at the same time I learned so much! The last day we all departed in different directions, its the prep week for our research. Basically this week everyone flies, drives or buses all over Tanzania to where they want to do their research. I went to Dar es Salaam, it's basically the New York of TZ. I'm hoping to work with this organization called TCRS ( Tanzania Christian Relief Services). I'll be here until Friday, and then I have to make my way back to Arusha (10 hours bus ride!!!!). The city is great, very differnent from the rest of the country. I just had my first meal here, and man o man was it good. It was a buffet with chicken, rice, chipate, soup, chocolate cake, fruit, pizza everything. It took quite a while to find a hotel, but I ended up finding one that is pretty cheap. I miss you all of you A LOT. I can't believe that it has almost been 2 months already. I'll keep you updated!