Arrival in Iringa

Wednesday, 15.08.2018

3.30am Departure by tuk tuk to the bus station

6.00am Total overwhelm at the bus station: daily at 6.30am local buses leave from Daressallam to all cities in Tanzania. About 100 buses were ready, practically 1 million African people and 4 white women in the middle of it all. Sadly, this is where our paths separated.

We would never have found it on our own, it was pure chaos and absolutely nothing was labeled or signposted. But that's Africa! Once on the bus, I tried to get comfortable as I had an 11-hour journey ahead of me.

Of course, I was the only white person on this bus and attracted a lot of attention. When I smiled back, the people were filled with so much joy - it didn't hurt us but it brought them so much happiness, I felt.

'A smile that you give out returns to you as luck' Indian proverb

The time passed relatively well, the further we drove, the more rural it became and I enjoyed the wonderful scenery. And then it happened: I had dozed off for a moment and was awakened by a violent jolt: an absolute bumpy road, I looked out the window in a half-sleep and saw zebras and gazelles standing there. I was immediately wide awake! A few minutes later giraffes, zebras again, later monkeys! It was so impressive! I wanted to shout, 'Look, at those amazing animals!' But then I realized that the Africans had seen these animals a thousand times. 😅 So, I just smiled to myself and enjoyed the moment!

By 5pm, I was welcomed and whisked away by two of my future roommates to a friend's place. She is a midwife and always lives here with her boyfriend for a few months. She invited us to cook and watch a movie. Of course, I was tired but it was great to be welcomed like that and to exchange experiences! Everything here is still very basic and especially the kitchen & bathroom in the houses, but we get creative and learn to appreciate the little things. Is the bowl broken on top? No problem, as long as it is still watertight on the bottom. Only 2 forks and 4 people? No problem, we eat a lot with our hands anyway (with the right hand, the left is considered unclean)...

Hakuna Matata!

I already feel much more settled! 😊