I am a student of swahili.

Swahili classes are going well - and we are going at an extremely quick pace. I already know all of the numbers, all sorts of verb conjugations, and about 25 verbs. Today Mama J, our teacher, said that we were ripening. I have a really wonderful group of fellow students that include 4 from Canada, so it's nice to have some white and red spirit!

Our classes are held at a rich point of the coast that is only used by tourists called slipway - google it! It is beeeeautiful!

Today I got extremely lost trying to take a dala dala home (minibus) (again - google) because I've always taken bijaji's. After about 2 hours and 5 transfers, I was extremely happy to make it home.

Tomorrow I am planning to go into the city centre, which I've been itching to do, and then Friday I will be going to a conservation site just north of Dar, at morogoro, which I am also extremely excited for.

Although we have barely met, I think the city of Dar Es Salaam and I will get along well.

I have also become slightly obsessed with two of the animals that live on our property. At night and at dusk, you can see these gigantic fruit bats in all of the trees! I will definitely figure out a way to take a picture before I go! And Jane's son Grub has two turkeys that wander the premis (a male and female). They kind of scare me, but I love to watch them, and the male gobble gobble gobble. In fact, he is watching me right now through the dining room window - I'll take a picture on my webcam and post.

Jane will be in Tanzania from July 8th until the 24th - which is really long for her, and exciting for me! I can't wait to get to know her while living under her roof.

Thank you to all for your comments - I'm thinking about all of you too.

Love love.