On the road

STUART: After staying up late for a send-off dance party, we rose bright and early to begin our 10-hour trek across Tanzania to Dar es Salaam. Breakfast began at 6:00 sharp and our goal was to be loaded and ready to go at 6:30. However after a long night of dancing to the music of a local band, there were some stragglers. But hey, no problem man, we’re on African time! After getting everyone and their baggage situated in the right vehicle we left at about 7:00. The drive through the countryside was amazing. I have never seen such beautiful, green scenery in my entire life. The ILA students rode in the two Toyota Land Cruisers, while the Maymester students got to spread out on the bus. Our luggage was strapped to the roofs of the Land Cruisers. I started off the trip in the middle of the bench seat between Dr. Osman and Jennifer. Dr. Dale was riding shotgun and Alex and Bailey were in the back with our backpacks. I was told I served as a good pillow for Dr. Osman as he nodded off due to his lack of “beauty sleep” because he was showing off on the dance floor. Several times when we hit a big enough bump he would wake up and apologize for being in my space and then the whole process would repeat itself. After four hours of driving and a little drool later, we stopped at a filling station for a coke and a bathroom break. We played musical chairs when we loaded up, and I was now riding shotgun, Bailey was in the middle row and Dr. D opted to sit in the back with Alex. We went on for about an hour until we came to a small Islamic town where we all got out to observe a large roost of straw-colored fruit bats. They had very large eyes because they rest during the day to avoid the heat and then feed at night. We hit the road again to make lunch at around 12:30. We had a wonderful buffet lunch under the cool shade of a large hut restaurant. We shuffled seats one more time for the last leg of the journey. I moved to the back with Dr. Dale and stretched out, while Alex took Shotgun, and Bailey stayed in the middle. Although the drive was beautiful it begin to get a little tiring getting bounced back and forth in the car. Eventually, everyone nodded off to sleep until we stopped for our last bathroom break. Dr. D had spent enough time in the back, so he reacquired shotgun, bumping Alex to the middle row, and demoting Bailey to the back. We rode for about two more hours before reaching Dar. We hit the city right at rush hour so I figured traffic was going to be terrible. Boy was I wrong. Never underestimate Dr. Moshi. She made one phone call, and then we had the VIP treatment as we were zipped through town avoiding red lights and traffic by a police escort. We pulled up to a very nice hotel and were greeted by the staff with fresh coconut milk. As we slurped from our coconuts, Dr. Moshi introduced us to her friend the police chief of Dar and told us how he was responsible for our quick trip through the city. We thanked him and then dispersed to our rooms to unpack before dinner. Will and I and few of the other students caught the tail end of the finals for the English FA Cup. It was a great game to watch. Chelsea beat Manchester United on a goal in the second half of overtime. After the game we had another buffet dinner outside on the patio of the hotel courtyard. All of us (ILA students) sat at the same table so we could discuss the project we have over dinner. After finishing dinner, there was a lot of talk about catching up on the journals, but most of us chatted around the pool for a while and then passed out after a long day of travel.