First Signs of (home) Sickness

Hello! Ahhh, where to begin? As you may know, I have not been on the internet much. In order to go on, I need to go to the internet cafe in our hotel or use it here at school, but there is pretty much no where in the city where it is not really slow. I have been doing a good job of slowing myself down in general (as is the way here), but when it comes to internet, it is easier to pretend it doesn't exist. I do have a phone, though. It is free for me to receive calls. Although it is really expensive for you to call me, it maybe be cheaper if you use skype. I would really love to hear from anyone! I am 8 hours ahead of the East coast, so the best time to call is probably when it is in the morning where you are. My number is +255 0788403210



Our classes started yesterday. We had Environmental Management in the morning, then Human Rights and Gender, then Kiswahili, and then I had Music. Today the only new class was Society and Economics of Tanzania. I absolutely love the classes. I don't think everyone is as happy as me, but pretty much everything we are taking fits in perfectly with my studies at Goucher.



The music class is one of the optional choices, and there are three of us in it. We have two professors and only three students! One of the professors is from here, and the other is from Washington State. We have the class twice a week, but once a week it will be happening at the class they teach at the university uptown. So every Monday we will take the dala dala (these vans that are used like buses...the capacity is for about 8 people but they pack in about 20 with people sitting on the outside of the windows and stuff) to the class and make music and learn dances with Tanzanian students! The professor from the US was going to pick up his kids from music lessons after class, so we went with him because they also ahve dance and art there. It ends up that this place, Umoja Arts is pretty much a 5 minute walk down the dirt road behind our school! So some of us are going to take contemporary African dance and hip hop. AND I'm probably going to teach free Lindy Hop classes and begin the Lindy revolution of Africa. You know, no big deal.



After going to Umoja our professor was like, "Oh, we are just going to a market if you three want to come and I can show you where to get things cheap." So we went with him and his daughter (who is great...she is 12 and has down syndrome. She speaks Swahili and knew like half the people in the grocery store) to a market and he told us all about places where a lot of expatriates meet up, including a restaurant where he and a band are performing jazz this weekend.



Last night I passed out at 9 and found out why this morning when the first signs of digestive issues arose. I won't go into detail (it's really actually not bad yet), but the toilettes here break pretty much every day so...I think you can imagine.



I feel like I am finally seeing signs of the real Arusha despite our nice hotel and excursions. I already forget what America is like, so a lot of the run down buildings seem normal. I think that most of my learning is going to come from talking with people. I ran into my friend Michael on the way to school today and he walked with me all the way. Apparently two of his brothers died last year within two days of eachother (I don't know if I should be sharing this on a public blog, but I'm thinking you probably won't run into him and I don't think it was confidential) from some kind of fever. I don't know what it was, but I'm sure it was something that could be easily prevented or treated in the States.



My friend Abraham is going to bring me to a store to get a used bike because it will be easier to get it for cheaper if he is with me. I'm pretty psyched about that because I think I will feel a lot freer once I have a bike, know my way around, and can speak Swahili. I am most definitely going to get hit by a car, though. Thank goodness for knowing so many people who walk with me and literally hold my hand because I am still relearning how to look both ways (they drive on the left).



I really miss home, but I have been able to avoid it because I don't go on the internet or talk to anyone much. I absolutely really like the 7 other students I'm with.

Until later, I miss you all :)
Sarah