We finally made it to Dar es Salaam on Sunday. We flew from Melbourne via Doha and highly recommend Qatar Airways. We were met at the airport by VSO volunteer leaders (exactly as detailed in the instructions) and our education into Africa has begun!
The VSOTz office is in the Peninsula region of Dar. It is in an old Colonial era two storey house with quaint rooms and various annexes. I am in a group of 8 incoming vols - 2 Brits, 2 Canadians, a Filipina, a Belgian and 2 Aussies. We are all women - quite unusual - and 4 of us are in education, 2 in secure livelihoods and 2 in health.
We have had talks on health, history and development. We have been given more specific information about our placements. We have talked and eaten together so we will become a network to help and support each other. VSOs organisation continues to give us confidence that this placement will be worthwhile.
Tomorrow we have a free day - 7/7 is a public holiday in Tanzania to celebrate farmers (maybe!) and plan to go to the beach for a swim and picnic.
Tanzania is a very poor country - that much is clear as we walk and drive around - but it feels friendly and safe.
I hope to post again before we head for language training at Morogoro. I have a phone - you can get the number from my sister - so send me texts if you can.
Love from Jenny
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Dear Jenny,
ReplyDeleteI am so happy that you arrived safely and that everything seems to be going as planned. I am especially pleased that you have met some more volunteers and that you will have extra people for support while you are away. Am just about to send you an email so talk to you soon. Have fun. Love, Amelia
Dear Jenny,
ReplyDeleteGood to hear that all is well with you so far as you begin your African journey. I'm following your trip with interest. Hope to see some pics soon.
cheers, Kym