Maji Moto

10 October 2009

It is a torrential downpour right now. When it rains here, it really rains. I can’t believe the power hasn’t gone out yet. Electricity here is touch and go, but it works often enough to get your phone and computer charged up to last a while. The flashlights that you bought for us, Grandma, have come in really handy!

Today we went to Maji Moto, which means “hot water” in Swahili, but it was actually just a natural spring. The water was not warm at all, but more like the temperature of a swimming pool in the states. We drove on dirt roads for miles through really dry desert, and then we all of a sudden came up on this tropical lagoon. It was literally a desert oasis. It was absolutely beautiful. On the road (Arusha to Moshi Road) there we also saw our first glimpse of Kili. It is pretty amazing the first time you see it, so that was fun. It was pretty cloudy and covered up quickly, but it is nice to be able to see we have seen it now! We also saw a new view of Mt. Meru, which was also really cool. I am excited to drive the road all the way to Moshi to see more of the Tanzanian countryside.

Yesterday was our last day of orientation with Basecamp. We had our last language lesson and started the “Amazing Race”. This is our final test to check how comfortable we are in town. It started with an Ugali eating contest at lunch (no, Zach didn’t win, but came in at a very close second), and then we headed into town to complete some tasks. We were 5,000 Tsh each and had to send an e-mail from an internet café, buy a Maasai souvenir and some various fruits. A bonus would also be given to anyone who brought back a pineapple also. Zach and I ended up tying for 2^nd place, but he ended up winning in a tie-breaker quiz about geography of Tanzania. He won a t-shirt that says Mzungu on it J

Tonight I think the group is going to Maasai Camp to dance and hang out with the locals. Zach and I are probably going to go, but we are still not quite sure how we feel about the whole party scene here. We’ll see.