Monday, January 24, 2005
Monday.
Coming and staying in Dar es Salaam has always been a bit of an ordeal. The hotel where we typically stay is not air conditioned, comforable enough but spartan, and tucked away in the middle of an appaling alley in dusty, dirty, confused downtown Dar.
This trip I've been staying with Dr. Lori Peters and her 4 mo. old baby Izzy - originally because she wanted to watch my vital signs, and then just because I was there so why not stay. It has been a totally different experience. Staying on the peninsula with all the landscaped, fancy, walled large homes. Parquet tile floors throughout, cook, housekeeper and security guard, comfortable furniture and amenities, private car. This is how the ex-pats live, and you could live here very comfortably and never have to come into contact with the gritty side of Dar or Tanzania at all. And many people do.
I'm glad for this insight and it has felt wonderful to luxuriate in a hot shower every morning, but it is also a bit disorienting. I'll be glad to return to the "real" Tanzania back in Mwanza.
I don't have much to do today, except wait for Lori's final, confirming blood tests to confirm that I am completely fit, and then work with the office to secure a place on the late afternoon flight back to Mwanza. Nice guilt-free vacation.
Meanwhile, I have arranged a lunch meeting with TechnoServe. Atiba's last email indicated that they WILL help underwrite the cost of shipping 12 instructors to Iringa for training in how to present the Small Business Program. He also provided dates, finally. Looks like February 21-25. I definitely want to be there, but since the course will be given in Kiswahili, I hope I can use the opportunity to also visit some of the other PCV sites in Southern Tanzania. It may be my only chance to see the southern part of the country.
Coming and staying in Dar es Salaam has always been a bit of an ordeal. The hotel where we typically stay is not air conditioned, comforable enough but spartan, and tucked away in the middle of an appaling alley in dusty, dirty, confused downtown Dar.
This trip I've been staying with Dr. Lori Peters and her 4 mo. old baby Izzy - originally because she wanted to watch my vital signs, and then just because I was there so why not stay. It has been a totally different experience. Staying on the peninsula with all the landscaped, fancy, walled large homes. Parquet tile floors throughout, cook, housekeeper and security guard, comfortable furniture and amenities, private car. This is how the ex-pats live, and you could live here very comfortably and never have to come into contact with the gritty side of Dar or Tanzania at all. And many people do.
I'm glad for this insight and it has felt wonderful to luxuriate in a hot shower every morning, but it is also a bit disorienting. I'll be glad to return to the "real" Tanzania back in Mwanza.
I don't have much to do today, except wait for Lori's final, confirming blood tests to confirm that I am completely fit, and then work with the office to secure a place on the late afternoon flight back to Mwanza. Nice guilt-free vacation.
Meanwhile, I have arranged a lunch meeting with TechnoServe. Atiba's last email indicated that they WILL help underwrite the cost of shipping 12 instructors to Iringa for training in how to present the Small Business Program. He also provided dates, finally. Looks like February 21-25. I definitely want to be there, but since the course will be given in Kiswahili, I hope I can use the opportunity to also visit some of the other PCV sites in Southern Tanzania. It may be my only chance to see the southern part of the country.
