Sorry I have been MIA for the last few days. The internet was down on Thurs before I left and then I obviously didn't use internet while I have been away because I have been busy.
I am back safe and sound in Arusha after spending the last 3 days in Mwanza. My flight there went very smoothly. We left a 1/2 hour early, I had a nice little piece of a poundcake-like snack, and a fanta pineapple baridi (cold). When we landed, we were the only flight and the Mwanza airport is tiny so we got our luggage right away. Daud was there to pick me up with his 2 friends, Zenais and Arnold. Arnold has a car so it was nice of him to come and pick me up. Daud looks much older I told him!
We drove through the city of Mwanza and on to St. Augustine University and then finally stopping at Daud's house. University life in Tanzania is eerily similar to home and therefore the student housing is relative to that. Daud is not your typical university boy, he keeps his room very clean and tidy. After setting in, we headed out to the rock that looked out over lake Victoria. We then went and had a drink at a restaurant right on the water's edge. We walked around campus and past students playing basketball and futbol, and I told Daud he really needs to get some exercise and join them at some point. I met tons of friends... Daud seems to be quite popular!
At night we went out to a bar and Arnold, Damas (Zenais' roommate), and I all had beer, while Zenais and Daud had this disgusting non-alcoholic drink called Malta. Its so nasty tasting that I theorize that is way they mix it with soda. We ate chips (french fries), koo-koo (chicken), ugali, and wali (rice).
I think if the medicine thing doesn't work out for me and I don't match, I should start a new company in international professional matchmaking. I have proven to be successful with this in the Philippines and now I have done it again in Tanzania. Zenais has liked this girl (she lives in Dar), Joyce, for a very long time. They have been friends for years. He is very shy, and was going to be a priest until he changed his mind, so he does not have much experience with women. Lucky for him, I am not shy at all. I took his phone and called her up and said the two of them had waited long enough and they needed to stop being shy and that Zenais really liked her. Well turns out she feels the same way and now everyone is happy and they are dating!
The next day we (Daudi, Zenais, Abel, and Daniel) took a walk down to the beach at lake victoria. They are building this beautiful complex where there is going to be a restaurant/bar and there is all this grass and flowers. They let us go walk around the construction to the beach and it was beautiful. Unfortunately, unlike my Tanzanian friends, my skin tends to burn, so now I have very weird tan lines almost like a farmers tan. And it HURTS!!
We then went and met one of Daud's Professors (he is a reverend) and he signed a copy of his book for me. It turns out I recognized him from the day before bc he was on my same airplane. We also met the ex-head of admissions at his house and had some chai.
Speaking of chai.... the breakfast there was unbelievable!! We had chai masala and chapati in the mornings and I was in heaven! Daud is a bit like your typical university student in that he doesn't cook. Instead he pays the nice ladies next door to cook for him! They have this nice set-up outside and provide hot meals for the university students living off campus in the area. Such a typical male!
At night we went to the Talapia hotel- me, Daud, Zenais and Katie (the first girl we hung out with the whole time). It is a very expensive hotel right on the water.
Next door to Daud is a little girl named Eleezi (Elizabeth) who is about 3 years old and so cute! She hung out with us all the time and I took lots of pictures of her so you will see those later.
Today I headed back home to Arusha. Again the flight left early, I got right on the airport shuttle and asked the driver to let me off as we passed Sekei and it was all and all a very easy travel experience.
Now back to work tomorrow... and D-Day (Match day). I'll let you all know I promise!
No comments:
Post a Comment