Beds on Bicycles and a warm Tanzanian Welcome!

Pokeo salam toka Tanzania! We are all enjoying Tanzania and our time staying with Huruma, Joyce, Kenneth, Jimmy, Joan and Marion. They are looking after us so well! Louisa is notably enjoying the African food, loving the rice, beans and chicken and her first ugali! Amisadai is particularly enjoying the outdoor life and is running about barefoot, getting very sweaty in the mid-thirties temperatures! She is hard to scrub clean at the end of the day! The girls are continually being covered in suncream and topped up with water!

On Thursday we went to an interesting place – where we could see (and explore) many traditional Tanzanian houses built as examples from the numerous tribes. It was fascinating to see how the different tribes build according to local materials and community living styles. We saw many examples of the three-stone fires in the houses, which in some tribal houses, were next to the sleeping area.

Dar-es-Salaam is a bustling and busy city – rather a shock after quiet little Tadley! And with the amazing views looking out over the Indian Ocean, it is very different! The ocean views are incredibly beautiful! We are enjoying the African city life … travelling in taxis with doors that don’t open, watching beds go by on bicycles, and then tucking up under our mosquito nets each night!

We enjoyed our first Sunday with the church yesterday! Tim preached at two of the four services. I managed to speak and greet the church, giving greetings from Tadley all in Swahili! I had been practicing! And speaking of Swahili, it certainly doesn’t seem easy at the moment although we are trying! Amisadai is speaking with quite a strong African accent already though! It was great to be with the church and we were very warmly welcomed! In typical African style, there was lots of noise and dancing, and even an engaged couple being carried in on shoulders for excited celebrations!

We will be staying here in Dar-es-Salaam for one more week! Our many bags have been very kindly taken to Iringa by Andy Sharpe - who now calls us the “Humongers”!