The Boys (and Girls) Are Back in Town

We have returned from our shadow visits and are safe and sound back in our training city. These are the last few days of training until we leave for our specific sites in the various regions of Tanzania.

Which reminds me, my new site is up in the mountains of northern Tanzania (you know I couldn't actually tell you the city). Cold(er) weather here I come! The area is incredibly lush and I will have space for a garden to grow all of the fruits and vegetables available in Tanzania. Frankly, I can't wait.

The house only has two rooms so it will be very manageable to clean and since I won't have running water or electricity I won't have any utility bills! I'm about half a kilometer from the school where I will teach, which is brand new (it was opened in 2004). The downside of being at a new school is that there is only one math teacher and no science teachers (except me). I guess that just means I have my pick of subjects to teach. There are about 200 students (the school is co-ed and not boarding), about 40 to a class. I can't wait to get started teaching, but the school year doesn't begin until January so I have about a month to get situated in my community and meet people.

I know that this update sounds a bit like forced positives to what appear to be negatives (no electricity, etc.), but I actually am very excited and pleased with my site. It is similar to where I went to shadow a current volunteer so I know the views will be breathtaking and the weather will be mild; what more do you need? The biggest downside is that some of my friends will be going very far away from me so I won't be able to see them for months, but we are all definitely used to being separated from our comfort zones!