A Section from my Journal

March 1

I have arrived at Riverside Campsite and Swahili Language School just outside of Iringa. What an adventure that was, as always when I’m traveling! I don’t even know what was the craziest or funniest, so I will start at the beginning of the day. Left Dodoma at 6 am, fell asleep after watching my first African sunrise which was a brilliant pink and orange. I only wish it had lasted longer. I was rudely awakened from my peaceful sleep due to the bus hitting a speed-bump and not really slowing down for it. My head hit the ceiling above me and I still have a sore neck from being tossed around. I am so glad I was not in the last row (which was the row right behind me) as their seats were not secured to the floor of the bus and therefore with every speed bump the drivers  not slow down enough for their seats moved as they went flying. I eventually found my seat belt and put it on. I felt a little more secure after that as this happened numerous times throughout the 9 hour trip.

The  next thing, and this really annoyed me  as the day went on was that the Momma who purchased the seat next to me (I had the window seat and she had the middle seat and a man had the seat on the other side of her- 5 seats across, 2 and 3 with aisle). She had with her not one but two little girls under the age of four I would guess. So she plopped the older girl on the guys lap and held the younger one on her lap. She originally had started to push the girl towards me but I put my purse on my lap and looked out the window. It may have been rude in her cultural context, but there was no way I was spending the next 8 to 9 hours with someone elses' kid on my lap that I can’t even talk to. The trip was uncomfortable enough for me as it was! I know, such a typical, whiny Mzungu J

It was interesting though to watch the parenting/discipline. The kids are not allowed to cry and even though the younger girl was between 1 and 2 with a mouth full of teeth she was still feeding. Although I am not sure if she really was feeding or if the breasts are the African version of the sucky? And there is no hiding or shame of exposing the breasts for a child, which I think is wonderful.

I also now know that I really am in Africa. I saw my first giraffe, long horned impala (or something like that) and some type of monkey. At first I did not even think the giraffe was real as it did not appear to be moving and then I saw its tail switch. There were most likely a dozen impalas, if that is what they were as I am not positive. I saw the monkey or chimp or whatever it was as again, I am not sure, on the top of a tree, looking straight out the window.

I never realized how mountainous Tanzania is. I think I always imagined that the mountains here would be more similar to the foothills back home, but they are not. They really are quite tall (but not like the Rockies) and are very beautiful. So as we were climbing up another steep slope and I was deciding whether to close my eyes and not look so as not to be freaked out by the long drop down I took a quick glance. And wouldn’t you know it, there was a monkey eye level with me! It was kinda cool and took my mind off how uncomfortable I had gotten. 8 hours in the bus by then, no AC and every time we stopped I would get so hot my skin was very wet. I don’t think I have ever been that hot and uncomfortable before. Maybe if I would have a little more room. But with Momma and her 2 kids and a lady sitting on a crate in the aisle there were 6 adults and 2 kids straight across.

Than to top it all off I missed my stop. The bus was supposed to drop me at the entrance to Riverside, but they didn’t. Then when we got to Iringa I did not know that was where we were and so I did not get off. But I knew something wasn’t right so I called Steve and he talked to the lady behind me and we realized I did not get off at the bus station in Iringa. Thankfully we were still in Iringa so the bus let me off at a gas station. The attendant there found me a taxi and I made my way North again and this time arrived at my destination.

March 4

I am staying in Stone Banda 2 and it is lovely. I have 3 beds (even though I only need one lol), a little fridge,  a closet to hang some clothes, a couple small tables and my own bathroom. I have had a couple days of Swahili classes and it is going well. A little bit overwhelming and I feel like I have not had the time to process any of it yet. I would do that over the weekend but I am going on a safari to Ruaha National Park tomorrow morning, back Sunday sometime with the rest of the group that is also here at Riverside.