Life in Africa

Hey all. Life is good. Worked every day since I have been here, but don't mind (since that is why I am here). Hope to get SUCBA certified (PADDY) by the time i am out of here. Things are different that back home. Things go alot slower than Americans (probably everyone else) would like, but that is life here. You either join or fight fighting does not help. If you come for vacation, remember YOU are on vacation. There is alot of garbage laying around and what sticks out in mind is the streams and beaches. Garbage everywhere. This place is almost, to me at least, like America in the begining. Kind of like before we knew better - aka the 70's. The first night/day was an eye opener. I arrived at night and when we drove to my hotel I was wondering what I got myself into and if i was going to get out. The next day it was similar, but saw the scaryness drop and saw the poverty. That afternoon, I started to see the beauty of this place. Very simple life style. Hard but simple. I was told alot of people could own a car, but the expense is not worth it. Almost everyone knows English, but Kishahili is the national lingo.

Went to the fish market - well actually, just a small section of it due to time constrants. Very cool, i was on gruard the whole time and next time I will be more open minded. First time and was looking after our friends wife with her $$$ camera she had on her. It was cool but different for me. Everyone knows you're a tourist (beinging a tall white redhead) and wants you to buy from them. The couple I went with (S. African and Canadian) were awesome people. They taught me that you have to bargin hard there and i failed. everything is still cheap to us, but you have to remember you're not in America and can screw things up for future tourist. If they know you will pay, they will ask that. Being from a culture that does not bargin, we just pay. DON'T!!!!! (The picture is not of the fish market, but of the city streets of Dar)

I have a driver. Mr. James (no one goes by there surname) who used to be a guide for hunting. He has traveled through out Africa which, as I was told, is very rare. He is great. He has taught me some Kishahili and has taken me to a local joint to eat for lunch during work. I have eaten the African way, no silverware. The food is good. I think/know I keep screwing up what he has taught me, but am trying. I miss home, but this is worth it. You can never get into the heart of it within a tour bus. With that said, I would not want to try to drive around here. There is no rule, well there is, but everyone does what they can to get where they want to go. I am use to it now, so I think (think is the right word) I can get around. Oh, no street signs for street names, if there is it is like 1-2 meters past the road intersection. (get used to the metric system - I have too)

Cheers