Mzungus on Safari!

Hello to you all,

Thanks so much for the comments, I love to get them, they made my day. And I hate to tell you it's not raining or cold here, it's gorgeous, but it did spit a little bit yesterday, no big deal. So I have to say today is awesome -the internet is working at the house and my kids had a wonderful day. Everyone was behaved for the most part- no one got bit, and Godi (actually named Goodlisten which is very ironic) and I bonded over beads and string. Richard didn't attack everyone. We played football, go go go stop, and what time is it bwana simba (aka mr. lion). It burned off energy in a productive way. So today was officially my first good day at my placement, and I don't go back until next monday since it is a muslim holiday and schools are closed for 2 days and on friday the teachers told us we shouldn't come since they are doing a private home visit, so Mama Fatuma will arrange for me and Ellie to go elsewhere.

Tomorrow we are going to have a Chagga day. Chagga is one of the local tribes, and we are going to have a "cultural day". It should be good, the other volunteers said it was cool, caves and a market. I still haven't bought much but I have time.

This weekend though was amazing. 20 of us left friday at 1pm to go on Safari. It was an incredible experiene and words don't do it justice. We went to Ngorongoro crater which was amazing. A crater that formed from a volcano keeps the animals in there, it is a protected site so they'll always be there. We say a female lion very close, rhinos very far away, hippos, tons of zebra and wildebeast, water buffalo, ostrichs, cranes, dik diks, other antelope type things, lots of birds, elephants, monkeys, baboons. INCREDIBLE! We went to a masaii village too, they danced and sang, we toured their houses made of cow dung, and we saw them grazing their cattle in the crater. (Read up on it on wiki). The next day we went to Tarangire National Park -it's like the serengeti but a lot closer. We saw lots of the same plus giraffes, male lions, female lions and the rare but gorgeous cheetahs. It was so wonderful!! I wish you all could have been there. We had our roof down on our 4x4 and hung out the top all day. The most amazing experience to acutally see these animals in the wild.

Anyways, people are waiting for the internet so I'll make it quick. Today I helped Molly and Jill make potoato latkes since it is the jewish new year and they are jewish. It really is a cross of cultures. They smell good. It's almost dinner so I'm off, but I'll update when I get a chance. And you all have to sit through my slide show of pictures when I get back. Prepare to look interested! Love you all.

Laura the mzungu.

written by

Laura Collins on September 30, 2008 from Moshi, Tanzania

from the travel blog: My Adventure in Tanzania

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Wow, what a weekend. You brought back a lot of wonderful memories of my trip. Mom, will be very jealous. Maybe we should plan to volunteer. Glad you are having such a great time. I had a good day at school-no biting either. Will send email.

Love,
Dad

written by Russell Collins on September 30, 2008

Sounds like your having a great time - looking forward to seeing the photos, if you don't get to load any up we'll have to have an 'at home evening' to see them all when you get back to the UK. We had a good time in Spain and it was HOT although possibly not as hot as where you are ! We got even closer to you last Tuesday when we made a day trip to Morocco - could you feel the closeness ? Bye for now Ron

written by Ron laver on September 30, 2008

Thats freaky - your Dad and I posted messages at the same time ! Russell, don't volunteer - it's a Young persons game !

written by Ron Laver on September 30, 2008

Hi from Mom,
Safari sounds very exciting. Hard to believe that you are now experiencing in real life the stuff you used to play with Playmobil! Can't wait to see those photos when you get back. We'll call you on Thursday.
Love you.

written by Linda Collins on September 30, 2008

Well you're not missing anything around here doll. Safari!!! That is inexplicably cool! Glad you had a good day at you placement. And now you have a couple of days to do fun stuff. Talk about a culture shock eh? Can't wait for the next update. Will email you too. Take care!

XOXO,

Gill

written by Gillian Hobbs on September 30, 2008

Ngorongoro Crater + Tarangire = the most beautiful equation of all times. I'm glad to hear you had such a great time there - did you get to leave the car for a bit and climb the tree next to the hippo pool at Ngorongoro? :) And how did you like the experience of driving up the narrow path on the way back? When we did that stunt our car rolled backwards for about a minute at some point, which was the scariest memory I have of that trip. Anyway, long story short, you sound like you're having an amazing time, and I'm super stoked for reading about your future adventures!! Have fun with the Chagga, dearie! The Chagga I met were the most hospitable people I have met...

written by Sandra B on October 1, 2008

The Crater was one of the few touristy places I wanted to visit and didn't.

I find the games you mention amusing; they were all played in Kisoro, except that one of them still had the British title of "What's the time, Mr. Wolf?" I wonder what a wolf meant to them; a lion is more suitable, except in Kisoro it would not have made sense either.

Keep enjoying your time!

written by Michael on October 2, 2008

I like the swahili word-dropping! It has caused me to look up words in an on-line translator, and feel like I'm learning a tiny bit more about Africa in the process.

written by Amy on October 2, 2008

You friends and family of mine are wonderful. I will keep up with the swahili word dropping to keep you on your toes. I love all your comments, I feel loved. I and Sandra, the chagga people are wonderful!

written by Laura! on October 4, 2008

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