Ants in Our Pants

So, the story of Tanzania. 20 students (approximately). 2 months. 1 amazing experience.

So they say...

But here's what really happened:

Our bonding nature hike. 8 hours through grueling jungle/forest around Arusha. I swear we passed through three climate zones. The air was so thin none of us could breathe. There was mud, gore, death. But don't worry. None of us volunteers or teaching partners died. We only thought we were going to.

I fell a couple of times. More than. At the end I just decided to slide down on my butt. Got a bit muddy. But it was amazing. Until Ivvette slid into a fire ant home.

They got inside her pants and were eating her alive so she had to strip and get them all out before we could continue. Absolutely insane!!!

But there was a positive outcome for our struggles. We got all the way to the most beautiful waterfall. It had been raining so it sprayed sooo far. We were all soaked. Some of us climbed up behind it. It was definitely worth all the struggle getting up there to see that waterfall. We had to hike through the river for about 30 minutes too. Some of us even got to see some monkeys.

It really was a bonding hike because we all had to help each other. Especially me. Since as Michael said, I was on my ass every time he turned around. ;)

The next day we traveled to Babati, where we will be spending the majority of our time. We are currently in a guest house used mostly for prostitution. The first night, my roommate and I found a blood stain on our sheets. Needless to say, we don't sleep in between the sheets anymore. I brought my own and Jenn has a sleeping bag.

The choos (toilets) are ceramic pits in the ground. The school where we go for our orientation classes, the choos are holes in the ground. You often get bit by unfriendly creatures. No. 2 is a bit difficult. But all part of the experience right?

Orientation is like college, but worse. 8 AM - 5 PM we are in a classroom, learning about everything we will ever need to know. There's no way around it.

We've just been checking out Babatitown. Today we got some kongas (cheap fabric) and katangas (expensive fabric) to turn into skirts for teaching. Kongas are usually used as bathrobes and you just wrap them around you. They are just absolutely beautiful. I am very excited for them. I am also getting a dress made, so hopefully that turns out well. It's always hard to tell.

We move into our homestays next week, Tuesday. I'm nervous and excited to see what it will be like. But the people here are so friendly and we are learning some Swahili. I love it. It's just really amazing to be back in Africa again, and tasting those orange Fantas! :D Just to teach you something I've learned: Sisi tuna fundisha Virusi Vya UKIMWI/UKIMWI. That means we are here to teach about HIV/AIDS. Sweet!!

That's all for now. Definitely keep checking. This is just much easier to update than facebook, since the internet is so sketchy here I can only read about 2 emails in an hour sometimes. There will definitely be a lot more about all the personal stuff we go through once we get teaching and meeting our mamas and babas and siblings in our homestays.

Also, this is OBAMALAND, as they like to say. Someone got a konga with Obama's face on it. Amazing! Alright, check back!!!