We've arrived!

We have arrived alive and well in Dar es Salaam, after a couple of long, long flights  Peace Corps staff met us (all 47 new education volunteers) at the airport and took us to a conference center where we are staying for a few days.  That first night, we were given malaria medications and told to take them every day.  The next day came rabies and hepatitis B shots; Friday, typhoid.  (That one hurt!)

As well as medical preparations, we've had instructions on food safety and water treatment.  We've also had intros to Tanzanian culture and Swahili--including the use of "choo" (latrines).

The conference center is a calm oasis in the bustling city.  Sunday, for the first time, we were taken in small groups to see some of that city.  We boarded dala-dalas--small buses that are generally overcrowded--and rode downtown.  We walked around and were able to shop for items we will need during the next phase of training when we each stay with a host family.  Most of the women in the group bought kangas--colorful and infinitely useful pieces of cloth that can be a skirt, sarong, towel, shawl, or many other things.  (Photo of me in my kanga to follow at a later date).

Note:  It's good to be an older person on a dala-dala.  People offer you their seat.