February 4, 2013

Feb 3-5, 2013

After nearly two days of travel we have finally arrived in Tanzania! Standing in the terminal, I was unexpectedly befriended by a sparrow-sized flying insect, which was a great welcome into the country. We were overly excited at the sight of a cat, which we assumed was some rare African creature, until we realized it was simply a feral cat.

The first thing I noticed upon exiting the airport and driving to the hotel, was the array of smells. There was the initial “Africa” smell, which I cannot describe in words, but it was awesome. This was followed by the hay and manure scent of numerous cattle farm. When we reached the outskirts of town we were awarded with the smell of rich earth, like freshly overturned dirt and sprouting flowers. I gazed out the window at the most brilliant sky full of stars I have ever seen, and knowing that out in the darkness was the wildlife that I have come here to research, it finally hit me that I am spending the semester in Africa.

Today we traveled three hours to Moyo Hill, where we will be staying for the semester. The drive was incredible, passing Mount Kilimanjaro and the most amazing variety of vegetation I've ever seen, along with dozens of Massai villages and “urban” areas of Tanzania. We briefly stopped at a market, bustling with locals and pickpockets (fortunately no one became a victim of the pickpockets). When we arrived at the camp we were warmly welcomed by the staff that will be ensuring our safety, comfort, and education for the next three and a half months. We took some time to move into our bandas (sleeping quarters). I am in the Chui Banda, which I found fitting because chui is the Swahili word for cheetah, one of my favorite species. Tomorrow morning we will get the opportunity to adventure around the surrounding town where we will spend a lot of time bartering with locals and playing soccer with the school children. In the afternoon, we begin class; despite our jetlag! I can honestly say that I have never been this excited to start classes. I will try to post more tomorrow, just a quick update for right now. Asante (thank you)!

-Molly