Jina langu ni Jinna. My name is Name.

Absentee voting. Rotarizing. European Film Festival. Classes. Karaoke. Not much has happened since I returned from Zanzibar. But, I suppose, my life in Dar es Salaam as a student, explorer and scholarship recipient began in earnest.

Kris and I attended a meeting of the Rotary club of Dar es Salaam, part of our duties as an Ambassadorial Scholar. We made quick presentations about who we are, where we’re from, and what we’re doing in Tanzania.

We also presented at a Rotaract club sponsored “Career Development Day.” Our mission: inform 300 Tanzanian students of the nuts and bolts of our scholarship.

The European Film Festival started in Dar es Salaam, bringing a month of dozens of award-winning movies with it. Since admission is free, it’s a great way to spend some time in an air-conditioned theater. It started off with an invitation-only, dripping in champagne, rooftop party for diplomats. Frankly, I still don’t know how we got in.

Karaoke is alive and well in Africa. Bronwen and I belted out Elton John’s “Circle of Life” from The Lion King. I realize Rotary International expects me to be an ambassador of goodwill. I apologize for ignoring that mandate while on stage.

Mountains Beyond Mountains

As Julie, Bronwen and I rode for seven hours to Lushoto, we expected to step out to cool air and pretty scenery. But what we got was one of the best weekends in Tanzania.

The clean air and crisp breeze of the Usambara Mountains, cascading through the northeast of Tanzania, was a welcome change from the exhaust burdened thickness of Dar es Salaam’s sticky hot weight.

We met with our guide Amani, whose name quite appropriately means “peace.” He brought just that to our two-day, 25 km hike.

We passed by many homes like this along our hike. They’re made of mud, hardened by fire. The “newer” models have corrugated tin roofs, making a rain storm seem more like a drum solo.

Dozens and dozens of village children would run to greet us, follow our path, and ask us to take their pictures. They seem fascinated by our appearance and curious about our presence. According to our guide, many children want their picture taken so they can see what they look like. Many kids don’t have mirrors, only seeing their reflection in still water.

We passed through rainforests and pine tree plantations. We explored German trenches. We ate and slept at convents. And we got a first hand look at mountain sunsets and starry skies in Tanzania.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was our visit to a traditional healer. The woman invited us into her home to show and explain her various concoctions and methods. She even demonstrated her technique on me! She carefully applied an ointment of tree root ash and lion’s fat on certain parts of my body. Under her breath, she recited a chant or prayer, warding off illness and fatigue. She seemed delighted to have visitors, as fewer locals believe in traditional medicine.

I was sad to leave the breathtaking scenery with such friendly, inviting villagers. But glad to have seen the big wide world outside of Dar es Salaam.

New album here.