Hello fron Iringa!

Hi all,

I made it to Iringa safe and sound on Friday. The 8 hour bus ride from Dar es Salaam was long but the countryside is unbelievably beautiful and there was so much to look at. We drove through a national park and were treated to a free safari from the bus window. We saw a bull elephant with huge tusks, giraffe, antelope, baboon and even wort hog. It was like The Lion King come to life. The baboons were stubborn and unafraid. The bus driver had to honk at them before they would get off the road and out of the way of a speeding bus! The coast (where Dar es Salaam is) is hot and sticky but Iringa is in the highlands and the weather is perfect. The air is sweet like on a cool summer night in the Midwest. The view from my homestay family's garden over looks a mountain range and it breathtaking. My homestay family is very nice. They have almost all the comforts of a western home. Including satellite TV. They also have the most precocious 11 year-old daughter who painted my nails hot pink and climbed up onto the roof of the house in the dark to adjust the satellite so she could watch her favorite soap opera. So far the food is very good. It's mostly beans and rice but there is also a warm spinach dish, tomato, onion and cucumber salad and delicous fresh mango and pinapple. We even found a western restaurant today that has veggie burgers! I was in heaven. They were a little bit more expensive but is was worth every shilingi. We started Swahili training today. We'll have class everyday 6 days a week for the next 3 weeks. It will be great practice before going into the village where almost no one speaks English. It's about to pour rain. So I'll end it here. But I'm having a great time. The people are very nice and the program is great so far. I'll write more soon. Email or comment. I have a cell phone and text messages are cheap. If you would like the number just email me. Until later.

Amanda