so many people told me this trip would change my life. while i did believe them, i honestly wasn't quite sure how or what to expect. after only 3 full days here, i can already tell this is going to be one
of the most interesting, rewarding, and challenging experiences of my
life. you can't come to a city or country like this and not be affected in some way. i'll try my best to briefly recap what i can...
saturday, june 9, 2012
after a dala dala picked a group of us up in dar es salaam on saturday morning, we made the drive to bagamoyo. it's about a 50 mile drive, and took roughly 3.5 hours due to the crazy traffic and road conditions. needless to say it was a very interesting drive full of mostly dirt roads, motorcycles (or "pikipikis") - which you do not have to have a license or insurance to drive here, tuk-tuks, people selling anything you can imagine on the side of the road, many homes (which look like run-down shacks), and TONS of animals grazing on the side of the road in the grass among trash, old tires, cars, and people. as soon as we got into the bagamoyo city limits our bus was pulled over by the police. when white people are visible in a vehicle, the police typically pull the vans over to do a thorough check to see if there is any way they can write a ticket and demand immediate payment. after only 3 days here, it has become very obvious most people in tanzania assume all white people have money.
the dala dala
around lunchtime we finally arrived at our living quarters in bagamoyo. there are about 40 volunteers in total here now, and we are living in 3 different houses that are all within a 5 minute walk. all houses are guarded 24 hours a day, and while i do feel very safe here during the day, we are warned to have men with us if out after sunset. i'm in the main house (where we have all meals and activities), and share a room with 3 other girls. we sleep in bunk beds (with mattresses and pillows that, though i'm definitely NOT complaining, leave much to be desired) with mosquito nets, and share a bathroom with 8 people in total. my house, while EXTREMELY nice for bagamoyo standards, makes me so so so thankful for what i have at home.
our bedroom
we were lucky to have some free time after lunch and many of us made the 15 minute walk to the beach for the afternoon. the beach was quiet, yet still bustling with many of the local children, and of course the goats. it's absolutely beautiful here and i'm so thankful that i can spend what free time i do have at the beach!
paradise!
typical afternoon goats
sunday, june 10, 2012
after introductions and administrative type things this morning, we spent the afternoon visiting 2 historical sites in bagamoyo. the first was an old mosque and grave site with all structures made from dead coral.
some of the staff dancing an african welcome dance for us
a photo of some of the graves
we saw some amazing baobab trees here as well that are over 500 years old, and also some trees housing red ants...
baobab tree
then it was on to the roman catholic museum which also has a room with the history of the east african slave trade. very sobering stuff...
saturday, june 9, 2012
after a dala dala picked a group of us up in dar es salaam on saturday morning, we made the drive to bagamoyo. it's about a 50 mile drive, and took roughly 3.5 hours due to the crazy traffic and road conditions. needless to say it was a very interesting drive full of mostly dirt roads, motorcycles (or "pikipikis") - which you do not have to have a license or insurance to drive here, tuk-tuks, people selling anything you can imagine on the side of the road, many homes (which look like run-down shacks), and TONS of animals grazing on the side of the road in the grass among trash, old tires, cars, and people. as soon as we got into the bagamoyo city limits our bus was pulled over by the police. when white people are visible in a vehicle, the police typically pull the vans over to do a thorough check to see if there is any way they can write a ticket and demand immediate payment. after only 3 days here, it has become very obvious most people in tanzania assume all white people have money.
around lunchtime we finally arrived at our living quarters in bagamoyo. there are about 40 volunteers in total here now, and we are living in 3 different houses that are all within a 5 minute walk. all houses are guarded 24 hours a day, and while i do feel very safe here during the day, we are warned to have men with us if out after sunset. i'm in the main house (where we have all meals and activities), and share a room with 3 other girls. we sleep in bunk beds (with mattresses and pillows that, though i'm definitely NOT complaining, leave much to be desired) with mosquito nets, and share a bathroom with 8 people in total. my house, while EXTREMELY nice for bagamoyo standards, makes me so so so thankful for what i have at home.
we were lucky to have some free time after lunch and many of us made the 15 minute walk to the beach for the afternoon. the beach was quiet, yet still bustling with many of the local children, and of course the goats. it's absolutely beautiful here and i'm so thankful that i can spend what free time i do have at the beach!
sunday, june 10, 2012
after introductions and administrative type things this morning, we spent the afternoon visiting 2 historical sites in bagamoyo. the first was an old mosque and grave site with all structures made from dead coral.
we saw some amazing baobab trees here as well that are over 500 years old, and also some trees housing red ants...
then it was on to the roman catholic museum which also has a room with the history of the east african slave trade. very sobering stuff...
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