Tulisafiri katika Bongoyo

Bongoyo

On Sunday we went went out to Bongoyo Island, this island that is about a twenty minute boat ride off the peninsula in Dar.  We took taxis and bajaj to get to Slipway. Slipway is a tourist center on the peninsula, with shops and restaurants mostly for rich foreigners.  We first took a small boat that ferried us out to a large boat that took us up to the island.  The end of the island is covered in white sand beaches and little tiki huts to relax under.  There was also a little bar and small restaurant that served seafood and chips.  We went swimming in the warm, salty Indian Ocean and hung out under the warm sun.

Then Mary, Greg, Kash and I went to explore the Shark's Lagoon.  On the way there we saw some eels and a starfish in a tide pool.  We walked through the jungle-like growth on the island until we came to the Lagoon.  The lagoon was only about 6 inches deep at first.  We saw crabs along the wall skittering along.  There was a giant rat eating one of them even!  As we waded out we found some sea anemone and  more starfish.  Then along the rock wall emerged a cave that we also explored.  Inside there were some strange pre-historic looking creatures.   Down past the cave, the waves were breaking beautifully and there were large ships on the horizon waiting to get in the harbor.

We walked back to the beach and headed back to shore.  On the way back a giant yacht went past our boat.  As they went past their wake pushed our boat sideways.  I screamed and clung to the highside of the boat.  I thought for a second our boat would tip over with all 50 or so people on board.  Luckily we didn't and steadied ourselves.  On the way back we stopped at the parked yacht, and our captains yelled at them for a bit.  No port authority here it seems to carry out the laws.
Afterward we enjoyed pizza at a restaurant on the Slipway and watched the sunset over the harbor.  The evening was quite beautiful.

Mwenge

Dalla Dalla!

There is a market near campus called Mwenge that we have been frequenting.  To get there we took the Dalla Dalla which is a small bus. (I know..."Dalla, Dalla bill y'all")  This is all of us crowding into the Dalla Dalla.  To ride the bus it costs 300 shillings that equals $0.19

 Mwenge

Mwenge is a bustling market with several different sections.  There is the craft market, and then some second hand clothes markets, people doing pedicures, selling food, and lots of other things.  At mwenge it is essential that you barter, especially if you are a mzungu (or a white person), because they assume all white people have lots of money.  I went to this one stand and found some giraffe salad tongs.  I started bartering with the lady.  I went about half the price she said they were.  "Dada" she went or "sister" and hit me on the bum a little bit.  She started laughing.  I eventually got her down a few thousand shillings.  Dada was a lively one!

Ninasema Kiswahili Kidogo

"I speak a little Swahili"

I practiced my Swahili quite a bit down at the market which was fun.  Someone asked me where I was from and what not, all in Swahili and said that my Swahili was pretty good.  Always a boost to the self-esteem. 

Chuo Changu!

Karibu Chuo kikuu cha Dar es Salaam!

We arrived at the University on Monday after leaving our beach resort.  Our bed is equipped with sheets and a mosquito net.  The showers are cold and you have to supply your own toilet paper.  The room is large however, with a balcony and everything.   

The University is filled with big, beautiful trees and lots of different buildings.  We are in classroom 15 for all of our classes.  Our Swahili teacher's name is Asia (a-see-ah).  She is a very voluptuous women, who on the first day of class illustrated how a mother lion feels when she is away from her young.  "It is like someone is cutting a razor blade through the inside of your stomach," then she grabbed her breasts, "or someone pulling you."  Asia is a very good instructor though, later in the week she taught us the past tense and Swahili time.

At the University we mostly eat at the cafeteria.  Here are the options of food:
first choose:  rice or potatoes
then choose:  beans or chicken or goat
or CHIPSI MAYAI - ha which is just potatoes and eggs.
For breakfast I have been eating lots of fresh fruit and hard boiled eggs.  There is also mango and avocado juice.