It's All Nzuri

The last couple of days have been action-packed, so I have a lot to talk about in not much time.

To start from where I left off, on Thursday morning we went for a hike outside of Arusha that was about 8 miles long, much of it steep hills. To say it was stunning is an understatement. Our guide, Rogers, has hiked Kilimanjaro 40 times, and is planning to do it in 2 days next year (it takes most people 5-7). He also taught us a song to learn our numbers in Swahili that is stuck in everyone's head. The hike took us to this enormous waterfall, and most of us jumped in the water and climbed up to a place you could stand behind it, and it was phenomenal. And muddy. And a tough hike - I am still sore.

A little sad news from home got to me the evening after the hike - my dog, Casey, had to be put to sleep. I cried a little bit in the internet cafe and a lot of people looked pretty concerned, and all I really could say was that I was "nzuri" (good), mostly because I can't say much else. It was sad but I saw it coming and it sounds like she needed to be put out of her misery.

Yesterday morning we took off to Babati, where we are doing the rest of our orientation. It is a small town with one paved road, and we have classes every day in the school house. Our Swahili teacher, whose name is Kessy, is amazing. We're still not very good, but getting there. We've also had classes about HIV/AIDS, the reproductive system, and culture in Tanzania. Our Tanzanian teaching partners are doing the classes with us (except Swahili), and it is interesting to see their perspective.

Tonight we have a talent show after dinner. Our group is already becoming very close, and everyone is getting along really well. We talk openly about learning how to pee in the "choo" (essentially a hole in the ground), and having dirt on everything we own no matter how often we clean it. But the people in Babati are very friendly, and it's nice in comparison to Arusha, where everyone assumes you're a tourist. Now we're just those mzungus (white people) who use the classroom every day.

I'll try and post more soon!