First entry from Tanzania

Hujambo!

I'm sitting in a small Internet cafe that has about 10 computers and quite fast internet. So much has happened since I got on the plane to staging in DC. However, I don't have enough time to write about everything. The sun is setting so it will be dark soon so we need to get back.

We flew into Dar es Salaam after many hours on the planes. Now we are training in a town. I won't put the name on my blog for security purposes but if you know me you can email me and I'll tell you.

Everyone of the 37 PCTs (Peace Corps Trainees) are doing fine. We are learning greetings and how to say I am from America, etc. Tomorrow we go to our host families. Russ and I will be in the same family. Food is great! Africa is awesome!

We are learning safey, security, and health training everyday. Our schedules are full. We have tea breaks twice a day and yesterday we got to go to town with a native speaker. I witnessed things I had never seen before. You can get everything you could possibly need here. There were many sad sights along the way as well. I saw a man lying down in the dirt with his left foot missing. The Masai tribe is selling their beautiful jewelry. $1 = 1000 Tanzania shillings. A beer costs 850 Tshs. ($0.85). Things are cheap but you have to bargain.

Take care and know that I think about all of you all the time! Sorry if I haven't replied to your emails. I should have more time to use the Internet in the coming weeks.

Staging in DC

So Russ and I made it to DC for staging. We're learning about safety, security, and all that type of good stuff. There are about 37 of us volunteers and we're all getting along great!

The Adventure Begins

So the adventure begins...

I'm nervous, excited, and scared.

I'll be writing in a paper journal everyday (hopefully). I'm guessing that a large part of my blog will be copied from my paper journal.

I'll try to communicate through this blog as often as possible. If you have any specific questions or just wanna send me a personal "jambo" then send me an email and I'll reply as soon as possible.

Uploading pictures may be difficult, costly, and time-consuming but I will do my best to show you Tanzania through my eyes.

Last weekend

So this is Russ and my last weekend in the states for a long time. Catherine, Russ's sister, finally made it to Belfast for her study abroad program after a few problems. She has created a blog to write about her trip. Check it out.

Russ and I are just tying up loose ends here...well, actually I'm doing that while Russ drinks beer and watches MN lose to the Bengals. ;)

We're all packed, camera and headlamp batteries are fully charged, and we're eating some good southern food before we leave on our journey - hopefully we packed everything we need. I'll post our wish list for care packages a little later (when we know what we want).

Heifer International

Just a quick note about one of my favorite organizations...

Heifer International works with many countries around the world to lift people from poverty. In short, using monetary donations that they receive, Heifer International purchases animals for families to help them "obtain a sustainable source of food and income." These gifts are also passed on to other families from the animals' offspring.

Check out this amazing story about Beatrice Biira of Uganda.

So if you ever wonder what to give someone as a Christmas gift, think about buying a family an animal in their name.

Heifer International

FOFEMA

Just saw a snippet of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart where they introduced FOFEMA - the organization for when FEMA is in disaster...

Anyway, if you would like to know how to pronounce the Swahili words that I've posted previously go to the Kamusi Project Internet Living Swahili Dictionary.

ps. I'm starting to get nervous.

hello, please, thank you

hello - jambo
please - tafadhali
thank you - ahsante

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So...while you're waiting to read about our adventures...why not learn some Swahili?

1 - moja
2 - mbili
3 - tatu
4 - nne
5 - tano
6 - sita
7 - saba
8 - nane
9 - tisa
10 - kumi

Kentucky

Thanks so much to Russ for driving the WHOLE way (15 hours) to KY from MN. We drove through what remained of Hurricane Katrina when we got to Indianapolis. Now we're just chilling until we leave later in September for TZ.