Did I mention DUST?

I won't be able to write much tonight as it is late and I want to be well rested for my class tomorrow.

I had trouble sleeping last night. I woke up at 3 and struggled to get back to sleep. When I did fall back to sleep I had disturbing dreams that I had forgotten that I was supposed to go to Dubai after Tanzania and I hadn't gotten a visa and I was struggling to figure out how I was going to pull this off.

Breakfast was a little different today, instead of the cold pork sausage was baked beans and the omelet had a few more ingredients in the cut pieces. Their coffee is very good and they have warm milk to go in it.

As I approached the dining area I saw Johannes was eating so I joined him. I tried to look up whether the airport would, indeed, be closed tomorrow for Obama and the internet wouldn't finish displaying the page before he had to go so he took his chances and took the bus to Dar Es Salaam and was going to call the airline from there.

I listened to some podcasts that I had downloaded before I left and around 8:30 the driver came to get me and drive me back to Morogoro. It certainly was luxurious in contrast to the bus ride to Mikumi! The driver spoke very little English, but we managed. We drove the road that cuts through Mikumi Park and we saw many of the animals from the road. Each time we saw an animal the driver would tell me the Swahili word.

Twiga = Giraffe (it sounded like trea)

Punda = Zebra

Nyani = Baboon

Nyati = buffalo

Simba = Lion
Shwali = All good
Safi = Good

While we were driving the radio was on. Everything was in Swahili except for their tag line (in a deep, echoing voice) "Sounds BEYOND Cool!"

After a while I heard what sounded like a teacher talking to a class. The teacher would ask a question, the student would recite the answer. The teacher would either correct the student or the class would chant some kind of congratulations to the student who answered. Every once in a while the student's answer would make the driver and his companion chuckle, but I had no idea why.

Later I asked Paul what that was about and he said that this is from lack of programming on the station. He told me that a popular show in the area is when they broadcast parts of people's weddings -- not edited or narrated, just the wedding. He said he even heard of show where they show people sleeping.

It took about 90 minutes and things started to look a little more familiar. I was reminded that someone in Tan Swiss said that he had heard that Arnold Schwarzenegger had bought a big plot of land at the base of the mountain and was building a resort with golfing. It's a beautiful place. I can imagine that it's true.

I also noticed that drivers were flashing their headlights a lot and then I realized that it was a signal that there are speed cops with radars ahead. Works just like home.

Eventually the driver dropped me off at Dennis's hotel where we had all arranged to meet. I took my obligatory picture of the Tanzanian flag for David Aranow. Here you go, bro!

By about 11 AM we were back on the road bound for Dodoma. In addition to our driver we have Paul, Cassie, Dennis, James and myself. So the only way to fit would be for someone to sit in the "jump" seat -- the folding seat in the very back.

Since I had had the luxury of the front seat on the way to Morogoro, I volunteered to take the jump seat. It wasn't really so bad except we had so much luggage that it was hard to move my feet. Eventually I had worked my right leg out so that I was using the luggage as an ottoman and I was fine. We talked of books that we liked and movies that were adapted from books to great or disastrous results. We also noticed the Facebook Pub and Cassie told us of a place called Twitter Dot Com in Morogoro.

At one point I asked what I should expect in Dodoma, I was told DUST and good Chinese food, and an iconic chicken place and, oh did I mention DUST.

We passed several beautiful baobab trees and Paul told us that it is the world's source of cream of tartar. (Who knew?)

We finally reached Dodoma and went quickly to get some food. We ate at a cafe called City Garden Food 4 U. I was surprised that the food arrived quickly! I had a spicy rice and fish. It cost 4,000 Tanzanian shillings. That's like $2.50. Dinner was one of the most expensive meals I've had here and it was like $9. It was the Chinese food that we had been promised.

In between we worked for a while but I felt a bit as though I was thinking through molasses. I guess sitting in a car for two days is more tiring that I realized. 

The hotel is really beautiful even though we are, indeed surrounded by dust. 

One interesting thing about Dodoma though is that they have a lot of sidewalks. This is actually a bit unusual. Apparently they even have a pedestrian mall that is shut off to cars. 

While we were working a bridal party came in to the courtyard with their photographer. They were so sweet and so lovely.

It's a lovely place for a wedding. 

It's also great for wifi!  It's strong in the courtyard and my room!