what a weekend!

Well I just had quite a weekend! It was the MPR and we left Dar and went down to Morogoro for a couple of days. It was fantastic to get out of the city because Dar is wonderful but it is go go go all the time and so dusty and busy that a break was warmly welcome. We had Friday at TYC doing the bulk of the sessions for the MPR and as a team we have no real problems except one of the Tanzanians called Nashir who drives everyone a bit crazy. But the day wasn't too heavy and we watched a film called "The decay of the garden of Eden" at about 4 with some TYC members and had a nice chat about development stimulated by the film (TYC do this every other fortnight). We then went home and slept in anticipation of the weekend ahead...
We had been told and told that the bus was leaving at 6.30 the next morning but me and Zai in our wisdom both failed to set alarms and I woke up at 6.25 and a state of panic ensued. I managed to shower/dress/pack and run to TYC in 15 mins, Zai took 25 mins to shower and dress and just made it in time. That definately kick started the day! The journey on the bus was about 3 hours long and we slept/look in wonder and the view from our bus. I hope some of the pictures can do it justice. When we got to morogoro we had another couple of sessions then lunch then team building (making an egg survive being dropped out of a window and acting out the transport we have used - all very fun!) We then set off on a walk as the sun was setting to take some pictures and enjoy the quiet, it was incredibly relaxing and we were staying at the foot of a mountain that looked like it should have been home to dinasaurs.
In the evening after we had eaten we went to meet other VSO volunteers that were on initial training in Morogoro. They were a little old and as a group of people didn't have quite the same level of energy as I am used to at placement, tyc and our gx team. They were nice though and have the potential to be far more useful as they have actual skills. Quite a few were heading to be based in Dar and I wondered how they would find it, as Dar is a great place to be with lots of energy, but it is exhausting with the heat, dust and generally always having to be alert and on your guard.
Anyway! Sunday! We set off at 7.30 on the way to The National Park! It was so exciting! The first thing I saw was a giraffe and some elephants with babies (and this wasn't even in the park) When we got in te park we saw more of both with zebras, baboons (with babies about 2 metres from the bus) about 20 hippos in the hippo pool with crocs. We didn't see lions because we were later on but we saw some beautiful birds and buffalo. In the afternoon we went to a snake park and looked at all the snakes and learnt about them. I also held one! I am sure I have missed out some of what we saw but the whole day was great (even if I have just woken up from a 15 hour sleep!) and very beautiful.
Right I have to dash because I am meeting Lucy to Kanga shop and catch some sun later in the afternoon.
Less than 6 weeks to go! Where did 6 weeks just go? No idea, but I am enjoying Tanzania very much.
Love to you all,
Hattie xxx

Tanzania!

Well I am here and feeling fairly settled in now. The weather is hot stuff! about 30 degrees most days which leaves you always dripping and i am drinking about 5 litres of water a day!
I am working 4 days a week at Friends of Don Bosco, an orphanage for disadvantaged children. It is a nice place but run very much by swahili time! and they could do with a kick up the bum! Also volunteering there is Ash from Canada, Megan (who goes to George town) and lives in Washington, and two German guys one of which has Malaria!!! It's nice because we can all plan improvements together! I am also a teacher of Maths and English. Fun stuff, I find it very rewarding and I like the power of setting homework.
My host home is nice too, their are loads of lodgers so I never know who anyone is but my host Mum and Dad are very nice! We have 2 week old kittens which are soooo cute. Emi you would love them!
I am getting used to showering with a bucket and squatting toilets, even if we all rush to the nearest flushing loo as soon as we can!
Our "base" is TYC Tanzania Youth Coalition, and everyone that works their is under 28 so its just one big party! I went out to "Shake the bone" with them all last night and had a great time, they are teaching me how to roll my hips!
We go to the beach most weekends and some evenings, no one can really swim here and the beach isnt a big locoal attraction so the beaches are very empty even if they are dirty. You can pay 3000 sh (1 pound 50) and go to a really georgeous beach that is cleaned (there are quite a few priviate beaches) and that is the plan for tomorrow!
We are planning to go to Morogoro national park for our MPR, and that is in 3 weeks. I am SO excited!
Right I must dash!
I will write again soon!
Bye Bye!
xxx