Ahadi Lodge Arusha

We woke early, Gabe was first up as always and unable to sleep after he left I wasn't far behind. We began boiling water and putting breakfast out, people trickling out and helping one by one. Gabe made eggs and I made toast for everyone, then it was time to go on a village walk with the Masai people. The Masai dress in long red robes made of light wool, criss ...

... exhibits about the National Park and the animals found within. Running around were some crazy, jumping Rock Hyrax - another relative of the elephant.<br><br>Spotted a leopard up a tree, but didn't hang around for long as there were loads of other vehicles there. On our way back to the campsite we spotted a cheetah eating its kill and just before the campsite I spotted my 4th leopard in 24 hrs jump down from a tree into the long grass - it may or may ...

... you can&#8217;t expect A/C, but as I was heading to the ladies room, I had the feeling I should have brought my camera, and I was right. No electricity and the first stall was an Asian-style hole in the ground. The second stall was Western, and I was relieved to be able to relieve myself there. Note to self: put some of those &#8220;Wet Ones&#8221; you brought in your purse.<br><br>Omari, a driver for the ground supplier Safari ...

... town about 30min drive from Arusha, which is where we started a week ago (though it feels like a moth ago!). We were on Safari in Manyara and Terengire National Parks before now, which was totally bad ass. We saw tembo (elephants...which are very large when they are hanging out right next to your land rover), twigga (giraffe), impala, dik diks!, a lioness with her cubs, baboons (one tried to steal my sunglasses that tricky trickster), wildebeeste, ostriches, water buffalo, hippos!, and ...

... sleep.<br><br>There is always something happening and I am slowly realizing how nothing runs smoothly in Africa&#8230; everything just is always that bit more of an effort! <br><br>For the past 2 weekends we (Peter, Melissa and I who are fast becoming my family) have visited the Tanzanian Game Trackers Society (TGTS) which is like this country club which has a gym, tennis courts, swimming pool, rugby fields etc. It is kind of strange to arrive at this place where men ...

... is the center of town), and Joyce and Vanessa. Joyce is their 9-year old daughter, Vanessa is 6-years old, and I am in love with them. Everyday when I get home from work around 6, all I do is play with them. They are so expressive and dramatic and hilarious and I never get sick of them. Joyce wants to be a scientist, so she drags me around the house and has me look at things through her "special microscope" (which is a pair of sunglasses) and ...

... kind of funny at first, but after getting no sleep for the past 3 weeks, not so funny anymore. There is never silence until she goes to sleep, which anywhere from 9PM - 11PM, and even after she goes to sleep, up until three nights ago, she would keep the radio on until 2 in the morning, so I would never be able to fall asleep. Now, I know 11PM doesn't sound so late, but keep in mind, everyone in my house gets up and starts cooking, cleaning, and blasting music at 5AM, so I can ...

... into the city, where Stiven caught up with us and directed us where we needed to go. I asked him where I could find flowers (&#8220;Naomba maua&#8221; &#8211; &#8220;Can-I-get flowers&#8221;). Once picking out a bouquet, we headed back home while Stiven taught us how to say Happy Birthday (&#8220;Kusherezea Siku Ya Kuzaliwa&#8221;). As we left, I told Stiven I would see him tomorrow and that was translated into Swahili for me by him (&#8220;Tutaonana ...

... YOU HURT YOURSELF!" She saw a cut on my finger and panicked. I love her. Another great thing about Nama: since I'm a big baby, I always get scared when I have to walk outside at night to go pee and brush my teeth (I think either the dogs will attack me and I'll get rabies or a crazy African man will come steal the muzungu in the middle of the night). Even though I tell Nama not to come, she always walks with me anyway. She is my favorite.<br><br>This week has been slightly ...

... things in Swahili. After talking for a while I agreed to come back for dinner some other day, and Maureen, Grita, and Judy (the adorable 4 year old) walked me home with Judy holding my hand the entire way. Tanzanian's friendliness is both great and frustrating. Great because of people like Maureen and Judy and the student that felt like she could talk to me, frustrating because there are days when I just want to walk and not have to speak to anybody, and that's ...