Wow! I’m in Dar Es Salaam.  But, let’s back track this story to me leaving Chicago.

It was the saddest thing for me to see my parents lovingly wave good bye to me at the Chicago airport.  N’s dad dropped her off, worried she’d be late.   J’s fiancé, this really sweet thing named Melvin was all smiles as we waved our goodbyes.  We were off!

The first flight passed by uneventful.  The food on the flight was so so.  I got this ‘vegetarian option’ which consisted of steamed veggies with rice and a red tomato based sauce over it.  Over all, Turkish airlines was clean, provided us with individual tvs, kept on schedule, and was fairly spacious. 

At the Istanbul airport, we each purchased bracelets, bookmarks, and lucky charms.  The airport is abuzz with international travelers of all races, ice cream vendors dressed in traditional garb, Hookah shops, Salvatore Ferregamo, and duty free shops.  After our 1 hour we allotted ourselves for shopping, we headed to our gate and were off. 

You know you’re in Dar because the humidity will hit you and smother you into a hot sweaty mess.  You look around eagerly waiting to see your name on a sheet of paper held by a dude that supposed to get you.  It’s 330am, there is a sea of faces and no name.  J freaks out, and decides it’s time to catch a cab!  Suddenly, out of the sea of foreign faces, appears our host, Dr. Kasusu smiling and in a perfect English asking “ did you say al Uruba hotel?” 

10 minutes later, we arrived at our hotel.  Sweaty, sticky, all we wanted was a shower.  Dr. K informs us, there is a situation.  The hotel is booked; there are no more open rooms.  At this point, I headed up, and mentioned that I had a reservation.  The hotel apologize, stated, we usually are not equipped to take you till 9am.  At 9am we can clean and give you your room. 

Thank god, by 5am, we were in our room ready for a shower.  For now, I am thankful, we are in a hotel, showered. 

For today: we need to get situated with cell phones, some TSH (Tanzanian shillings), and be ready to meet Dr. K at 11 for a tour of our school.  Exciting. 

This is Kariakoo market, right by our hotel.