Its Wednesday now.  The last few days have been absolutely amazing. The sights, the smells, the colours.  Although living conditions are basic, we have all come round to the idea and its no sad. Initial fears about getting on with the others have been lifted.  I certainly feel the eldest, but at times it feels like we are all the same age. We each an unspoken respect for each other because we are all doing this together.  The Salvation Army Compound is, as you might expect, full of Salvation Army workers/volunteers.  The KIU language school operates out of here, as well as other places around Tanzania, as an introduction and education to the country and its lanaguage.  I'm a currently writing this update from their basic office.  There is a specialist Disabled School, in the shadow of the newly built National Football Stadium.   It shocked Tom and myself on Sunday evening, jet legged, and stumbling across them all.  I wondered where the hell i was.  I soon realised what was going on.  Some of the fitter, able bodies children played football with us yesterday, which was great - you will have to wait til February 07 for the video.  Indeed photos continue to a problem to upload, but i am taking lots nonetheless.  Loudmouth, ginger Tom, my roommate, shocked me when he told me of his motivations for coming.  After flirting and being suggestive at every opportunity he disclosed a new found (Christian) faith!  Mum - remember what you said to me before i left? What have you been praying about, i wonder?  His revelation knocked me out, because I had thought he been a bit of a wild kid, and indeed it seems, he was for a while. Swahili lessons have been conducted in a classroom and in the more picturesque surroundings of the compounds, in the sunshine, under a timber hut.  Class is relvatively easy and you can pick it up, but I forget it just as quickly.  It is relatively simple to learn Swahili, but remembering how to construct sentences proves challenging for me. Numbers and tenses are easy, but thinking quickly when having to speak to Swahili-only speakers is more difficult - maybe its my age, im just not as quick as the younger ones - Jacky (Canadian, 18), Michelle (UK, 21), Tom (UK, 21), Adrienne (Aus, 25), Jenny (US, 26).

WE have twice been into Dar - along the dusty, poverty-riddled streets, in a Daladala, brightly coloured Toyota Hi-Aces, which resemble my Camper Van money box.  We get a lot of attention as we are all white and walk around in a pack.  There are lots of pickpockets, although i've experienced no problems so far. Just lots of attention.  Just have to greet them in Swahili whenever you get stared at.   Today, after class, we went to the port and beach at Dar, taking a stroll past the fish markets and families taking the last day of the holidays.  Ramadan (for the Muslims) has just finished so life will be back to normal tomorrow and we can go into town in the evening to hear some live music. 

Louise, if you are reading this, i bought a present for the Corner House today, an extremely large and complete black oyster shell !    And please tell Johnathon that the soap is working a treat. I am using it for just about everything to do with cleaning!!

 So much more is happening, but it is hard to squeeze it all in right now.  Just to say, for those that care about these things, I havent been bitten once yet - a combination of plug-ins, sprays and tablets working a treat - the girls are not so lucky - and no i haven't been visiting them at night. In fact, they come and visit us quite a lot in our makeshift home.

Anyway, someone wants to use this computer, so baada, kwa heri...