Well it has been a quick first week in Tanzania! The airplane ride was solo long and everyone was more than confused and very tired when we got here. Our first stop was in Dar es Salaam, the old capital of the country. It is amazing to compare a big African city to a large U.S. city. VERY VERY different. The sidewalks, if there are any at all, are dirt and not many of the streets are paved.  We stayed in a very nice hostel (with air conditioning!!! It is pretty hot here, and very humid–similar weather to Florida) in the “richer” part of the city. Not what one would expect, but it was interesting to see a different way of life. It is strange being the minority, and travelling in a large group makes us stand out a little.

We have a guide while we are here named Patrick. He is so cool and fun and took us for a walk around the city and beach of Dar. He came with us to Morogoro, where we are now, and is going to be joining us in the national park in Udzungwa for awhile also. He is a big help to us and we ask him so many questions. He is always happy to answer.

Morogoro is a smaller town and from what I have seen is very diverse (in that there a quite a few different religions as well as a mix of Africans and Indians, where as Dar seems more African dominated). The town is at the base of the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen! The first day we were here we played soccer with some of the locals across the street from our hotel, which is very near the beautiful scenery (I can see it out the window as I write this). The town is very interesting and was bustling today when we drove through to go to the Sokoine University of Agriculture where we saw how they grow rice and other food products. I also ate some of a cassava root. Not so much a fan. I do miss American food already and most especially vegetables, well raw vegetables. We can’t eat them here or drink the water because of the potential to get sick from its untreated state. Lots of bottled water for everyone, including locals who also only seem to drink water. Soda is also very popular and comes in glass bottles that they recycle/reuse. Coca-cola is very popular.

We are all getting along well and are getting to know each other and are also learning from eachother. The group will be off to Udzungwa National Park tomorrow where we will start working on our landscape architecture projects that involve the park. I am excited to get started and see some more of the country’s beautiful natural features.

Location: Morogoro, Tanzania