1st Day in Tanzania

Heritage Cultural Center shops

After eventless flights, arriving in the small Kilimanjaro airport at 1:30a, I finally arrived at my Arusha hotel.  Four hours later I was up to meet my colleague and others who I will be working with at the meetings which will start tomorrow.  They are from African non-profits and UK research universities.  We are in the midst of a long start up process for this project and I am coming on board part way through it so have a lot of catching up to do.



Shanga River House glass blowers

Because the official meeting hasn't started yet, we had the afternoon off - my only time off for the next seven days.  My supervisor who is here, did her trip advisor homework and found some craft centers and a driver so away we went.  Unfortunately I didn't see anything that called to me, but she found some tchotchkes for friends and talked another place (where crafts are made by people with disabilities) into removing and selling her four blue glass pieces from a chandelier.  She can barter like no other. 

This evening will be dinner with a couple ladies from our meeting and then hopefully I will catch up on some sleep in preparation for tomorrow.