Continuation and up-and-coming attractions!

Baobob trees, endless miles of sky, baboons, a bird like no other, and what passes as a traffic jam in Africa...

So being back with the group is amazing, I forgot how much I missed everyone. We're actually on our own in Arusha this week, as a prep week for our independant research projects (which run April 13th to May 9th). Side note: We're currently all staying in a small hostel and not having everything done for us- we were given some money and sent out on our own for the week, and while we all ended up in the same housing its nice to once again be in control of our "destinies". Anyway, Since I missed the first half of this week, I've been using it to play catch-up on the work that I missed while in Nairobi, but have no fear- I will have research to do for the upcoming month! I have been in touch with an organization located on the coast in the city of Dar es Salaam, called the Lawyers Environmental Action Team (LEAT). They work pursuing various litigation surrounding land rights, conservation, urban pollution, misuse of government office, and displacement issues, working specifically with/on the behalf of small communities that could otherwise not get any litigation services. I plan to pursue some type of case study with them... I know, oh so specific... but I'm very excited and will write more when I have more information.

So, Arusha is growing on me. Its about as urban of an area as you get in Tanzania, though its nothing like a city as we'd view it in the states. There is nothing horribly charming about the area- people follow you trying to sell you tourist-trap gifts, children and adults laugh at you and shout "mzungu mzungu" at every corner, and the air "quality" is laughable... but yet, I'm starting to feel at home here. The open market, small groceries, and women selling peanuts on the street... the overflowing dala dala (local transportation, think VW van with 20 people in it), safari cars, and store owners who take time to learn your name and say hello to you daily... the interesting mecca of foreigners, The Patesserie (where I sit right now on wireless on my laptop)... everything has grown on me and I feel at peace here. I don't mind the cultural convention of the locals pointing out at every possible oppertunity that I'm white, and often referring to me as if that was my only defining characteristic... dala dalas are amazing, 20 cents to get anywhere in town.... and the people who I do get a chance to talk to put up with my poorly pronounced kiswahili.

On Sunday we leave again for safari- serengetti, ngorongoro crater, Lake Natron, and maasai homestay. Ngorongoro, being a crater, has one of the highest concentrations of animals to be found anywhere in East Africa, so we are guarenteed to see the last rhino in East Africa (not a good thing that they're the last, a population of 20 individuals can't be viable), lions, and every other big African postcard-worthy creature. Serengetti holds the migration of wildebeest, which should be breathtaking (imagine a line of wildebeest further than the eye can see)... and hopefully, I will make it to Maasai homestay and Lake Natron, a giant soda lake that borders the Mountain of God (a mountain where the Maasai believe that their female god lives). Its still undecided if I will be strong enough for that adventure, as women often walk 10km a day carrying water and firewood... but between you and me, I plan to be 100% by then so that I can laugh at this entire incident and meet God and tell her what I think ;).

Shoutout to my Alaskan counterpart, watch the stars...