Habari!! (hello!!) From Tanzania!

Hello Everyone!

So late last night I arrived safe and sound in Tanzania with the two other interns from YCI for Tanzania (who will be staying in Zanzibar for the duration of their internship)! As soon as I walked off the plane and was embraced by the warm, humid, tropical air with hints of smoke in it, I started to feel 'at home' again.. (although, I am trying to remain open minded to the fact that like any new experience we will see how long the at home feeling will last.. I have yet to have experienced culture shock anywhere or anything but a welcoming feeling here but it is truly premature to determine how much I will long to stay here)

We are now staying in Dar Es Salaam for the next few days for an in country orientation and soon we will be heading off to our respective placement regions. I am really looking forward to getting started and to start to learn more about the culture, language, and lifestyle of the Tanzanian community I will soon call home (beyond the exciting learning to take place with my new position of course!)! Today, beyond setting up my phone and spending a bit of time on the internet, we are supposed to get a brief introduction to Swahili and go shopping around town, both of which I look forward to to introduce me better to the surroundings! Tomorrow we have another day of orientation including other orientation activities that I sadly can't remember now, but must admit I am excited at the pre-preparation put into them! Also, I have been extremely impressed with the timeliness of the in country person so far! It was great to be picked up from the airport (not forgotten) and for her to show up on time this morning to meet us for training!

Anyways, for my 'love' of computers I am going to head out early now, so that I can soak up more of the culture and life here, but I hope you are all EXTREMELY well!

Lots of Love