Tanzanian Vacation

Hey Everybody,

Hope all is well in the States. Things here have been really exciting lately. I just returned from a 10 day trip to Tanzania, which included visits to Dar es Salaam and the Island of Zanzibar. We took the train from Kasama, which took about 2 days of being jostled and crammed. However, the train runs through some very scenic parts of Zambia and Tanzania, and even a game park towards the end of the ride. It was very interesting to see other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa outside of Zambia. The development and standard of living (including houses, roads, transport, etc.) were considerably improved as we moved away from Zambia and into mainland Tanzania. After traveling a bit it has become evident that Zambia is probably the most ‘bush’ (least developed) country that Peace Corps sends volunteers. This is exactly what I signed on for, and I wouldn’t change it. However, it was interesting to gain some perspective about the development neighboring countries and see how much easier life for PC Volunteers elsewhere is in comparison to Zambian volunteers.

After arriving in Dar, we traveled to the beach for a few days, and then went to the Island of Zanzibar for a music festival. The festival was incredible – lots of local African music with a really cool vibe and an interesting scene. The city of Stonetown (where the festival is held) is very beautiful. It is an incredible mix of Muslim and Indigenous Tanzania culture, which blend peacefully – resulting in a very interesting atmosphere with some outstanding architecture (I’ll post pictures later). Some of my favorite moments in the trip were just wandering around the city, getting lost and just observing people.

After the festival we headed to the secluded beaches of Northern Zanzibar – one of the most picturesque places I have ever seen. I was told the clear, blue-green waters with white, sandy beaches were similar to those of the Caribbean. Regardless, it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. The scene there was much more relaxed, but we still managed to party a little.

On the train home, we saw Elephants, Zebras, Monkeys, and lots of Gazelles while traveling through the game park. We even saw a herd of Wildebeests attacked by 3 Lions! It was a very exciting thing to see, and also extremely unlikely, since the train was moving about 40 MPH throughout the whole park. It was a great end to a perfect trip.

Now that I’m back in Kasama, I’m really looking forward to getting back in the Village for a few months of solid work. The rains are about to subside, and that means that the cold season is about to start. This is an ideal time to dig fish ponds and motivate the community of Chibo.

The adjustment back to village life is always a little bit difficult – mostly because of the lack of satisfying social interaction. Traveling and meeting lots and lots of new people is something I really enjoy. It will take a few days of decompression before I am once again used to the slow pace of the village life. However, I’m looking forward to spending time with my Zambian family, and really getting some headway on my Peace Corps objectives.

I hope everyone is coping with the Recession in America. If things get too bad – you all have a place to stay in Zambia, where you can live for about $.50 a day! Haha.
My best to everyone, and please write/email if you get a chance. I love hearing from everyone since you are all in my thoughts.

- Hos