CCT

Left the Msimbazi Centre today for Morogoro. We saw more of the squalor but also some of the beautiful countryside. Didn't get to CCt until 14:00 b/c the bus we were supposed to take broke down before getting us. We ended up leaving Dar around chai (morning tea) but we didn't partake and were ravenous by the time we arrived. Luckily they let us eat before going to our rooms and the food was as filling as usual. Perhaps I should mention more about the food. I feel a little like a hobbit w/ all the food we have been served. Not only is there a lot at each meal, there is chai between meals. Basically, we've been eating at 7:00, 10:00, 12:30, & 18:30. The afternoon chai is usually just drinks (tea, soda). Meals here are heavy on the starch (at least so far) and fried foods are common (chicken, fish, dough, bananas, etc.). Although the produce in the area this time of year is good, we haven't had much; I get excited for any vegetables other than starchy ones (a bowl of broccoli would be amazing). Out diet has also been lacking sufficient roughage and I'm curious how much it will affect us and for how long (roughage cleans out your intestines - helps you poop).

Anyway, back to Morogoro. We are staying at CCT (Christian Council Tanzania) where I am binking w/ Lisa, Carolyn, & Geneva. We each have our own room but not running water. To "flush", we pour water from a bucket into the toilet - at least we have a toilet (& electricity!). We are at the bottom of some mountains (called Uluguru for a local tribe) and it is beautiful here, not to mention a little cooler, drier, and windier w/ less mosquitoes than Dar es Salaam.

Since we got here so late, we weren't able to start out language lessons as scheduled. We're chomping at the bit to get started on our formal Kiswahili (language of Swahili) lessons.