Starting from Scratch

        As of November 24th Michael and I officially became Peace Corps Volunteers, after 2 months of training. We were sworn-in at the U.S. Embassy by the U.S. Ambassador Lenheardt (and I even gave a speech!) and had a wonderful Turkey day meal later at the Ambassador's home. It was definitley a treat to gorge on food we haven't had in a while such stuffing, gravy, BROCCOLI, and corn pudding, followed by brownies, apple and pumkin pie, and icecream. Of course, we both suffered afterwards but we would eat more if given another chance.  : ) I was also able to talk to all of my family that coagulated in Cinncinati, OH. The next day, our new Mkuu (headmaster), Michael and I boarded a 10 hr bus ride (that was actually very uneventful in comparison to our last) to arrive at our new home for the next two years.
       Our home is actually very big with 4 bedrooms, a courtyard, and a bathroom and two more rooms outside in the courtyard. However, since we are only two people (with absolutely no use for 4 rooms) the house was split down the middle. So, another teacher and her family use the front door to get to the first two rooms while we use the door to the courtyard to get to other two rooms and sitting room. Their is a thin wall that was placed to divide the living spaces but since our fellow teacher has an infant, Mike and I feel as though we have also inhereted the sounds of a crying baby through all hours of the day. We have no complaints, though, because the family is extremely helpful and kind and I have a huge soft spot for Tanzanian children.  The view of our house is AMAZING. We are on a hill so we can see the town below and the random mountain/hills that pop out of the savannah in the distance. The scenary so so typical africa and I love it. Our town is also full of Masai and members of other tribes. The inside of our house is completely baren except for a bed, two chairs, and a plastic table. It will take a lot of time and money to make our house into a home, but that is part of the fun. Tonight and last night, we cooked and ate our experimental dinners on the floor.
        We have also met up with another volunteer, Kieth, who lives about an hour away, and with a German anthropologist who studies a small tribe outside our area. According to him (he lives with the tribe about 30 Km away) large African animals can be found right outside of our town. We will most likely never see an animal walking around but it is still neat to think that they are so close.  As of right now, we have nothing to do but explore and meet our new neighbors. School does not start until the middle of January so we have ample time to fully adapt into the Tanzanian lifestyle. We do have electrcity and internet (a portable modem) so I should be able to write more interesting blogs about culture and lifestyles instead of our daily activities. Miss you love you.

Our First trip out of Morogoro

       We only have about 2 more weeks left of training and on Thanksgiving day we will actually be shipped off to our site. For all who is anxious to know, Mike and I just found out that will be living in Kibaya, Tanzania for the next two years! This is a beautiful area with traditional African or "Lion King" landscapes, which includes sporadic trees, red sand, and big boulders. It is in the middle of the Masai steppe where most of the Masai tribe live.. so we definitely look forward to a tribal cultural exchange. We haven't actually seen it yet (or our house) but we are definitely looking forward to it. Since we are moving on Thanksgiving day that does mean that we will not be able to celebrate it but we will have a feast the day before at the US Ambassador's house. We are all looking forward to that although it will most likely be a mix of emotion with excitement for finally move to our sites and loneliness because we all have become very close and will be soon scattered across this huge country.
        We did just return from our shadow assignment in Njombe. This is when they ship a group of us out to live with a volunteer that is already out doing their work. We actually had our first interesting Tanzanian bus experience to get down there. The distance from Morogoro to Njombe is slightly more than the distance from State College, Pa to Washington D.C. (I might be wrong). However, the bus ride going there took over 13 hours! When I was driving to CA two years ago this amount of time got us from Philadelphia to Arkansas. It took this long because our bus broke down about 6 times and had a hit and run with a parked truck. To make up time, our driver also went at warp speeds around cliffs (no guard rails) and cut of other trucks and buses on blind turns. After hours of patience, a full barf bag, and a soiled shirt later (with Michael laughing at me the whole time) we finally made it to Njombe. . in one piece. Seeing everything in writing makes it sound horrible, and it was, but the whole time we maintained a positive attitude and made jokes about the situation. We try to take everything as an experience, and this is certainly one to remember. We were told that this is not usual for bus rides in Tanzania, so we will just have to see what the future brings ;). Also the tons of monkeys along the road and beautiful mountains were definitely worth it. We (there was 5 of us) had a lot of fun the rest of the week and cooked awesome food from scratch. Michael and Ezra also roasted some termite queens for dessert (their choice). Njombe is actually an area full of pine trees and forests and the variety of trees here amazes me. The return trip was safe (except around the cliffs) and uneventful.
            We are completely done teaching for now until we are at our own sites and in our new schools. Even though we arrive to our new home after Thanksgiving, we do not start teaching until January. That gives us plenty of time to make lesson plans, to make our first new house together our 'home', and to get to know our villagers. Pictures will be coming shortly : )
       

My first blog :)

Hellooooooo!

Michael and I have been here in Morogoro Tanzania for a little over a month. Pole sana (very sorry) for the lonnngg delay in keeping all of you updated. We have been busy busy and I just haven't had time to sit down and write. So far, Tanzania has filled our eyes with beauty. Everyday I walk to class and am amazed by the site of the mountains. Mike and I were walking to a fundi to get clothes made and came face to face with about 7 cute black faced, long tailed monkeys. Sorry Penn state, but these wondering monkeys put the friendly squirrels to shame. We miss you all. . as well as broccoli, soup, ice cubes, and Layla. I will try to continue to update this more regularly.

We are teachers . . .kind of. Only interning, but the students are wonderful and come to class even though the teachers probably won't show up. This hits the nail of appreciation hard core. You never realize how lucky we are in the states with 'forced' education and multiple oppurtunities to screw up. If you screw up here. . minimal future. Screw up in the states. . the government or family will take care of you. Sorry to leave at that note but my internet will be cut of in one minute.

Byebye!