Dar es Salaam -- My first love

Well now I'm here in Dar waiting to pick up Emily, and while I originally didn't want to go, and while the humidity is something awful, it was sooo good to come back. I got to see my roommate and one of the kitchen staff members at the University, as well as a couple other friends. It was so fun to be the one to show others around, as I was with two people from Magulilwa. It felt like going home in a way. I will definitely be ready to get back to the dry, cold Iringa region, though.

Yesterday I bought some soccer shoes (no cleats since most of the pitch is dirt anyway), so hopefully I will be able to play with the students and one of the teachers sometimes. I feel bad for the guys that are with me because I get so much attention, and sometimes I encourage it because I think it's funny by responding to them with something sassy. Like they always yell Mzungu (white person or European)! and sometimes I respond Mwafrika! which just means African! Most of the time it seems like they are testing me to see how much Swahili I know, so I always want to prove myself. Ridiculous, I know.

So, since I last updated you, I've been hanging out with a few of the other teachers a lot more, and finding out how I fit in, so its really starting to feel like home. I'm still speaking lots of Swahili, and one day I went to the soccer field to exercise because i was feeling restless. I was of course the only girl, but I think Im going to persuade some of my girl students to come play with me next time.

Anyway, it will be very interesting how things change when emily gets here, as she doesn't know any swahili for one, and everyone knows me already. I'm sure she will do just great, and she's good at learning languages, so she should be fine. It will be fun to share these things with her. Alright I think that's about all I can think of for now. Take care!