Kipilefti

Back in Tanzania since Sunday, I have a week in Dar es Salaam for my class’s Mid-Service Conference (which is exactly what it sounds like) before I head back to Makete.

So tonight we all had dinner together at the Badminton Institute, an Indian restaurant downtown. We’d planned to arrive at 6 but did so to find that the restaurant didn’t open until 7 (we sipped passionfruit juice at the side of the road, waiting). What with the complexity of paying both a food and a drinks tab for 30 people, I didn’t get back to where I was staying until 10.30, late for me in any country even when I’m not jet-lagged.

Thanking my lucky stars that I’m staying with friends of the family rather than at a hostel (and feeling a bit guilty at leaving so early and staying out so late), I walked into the house, said goodnight to my gracious hosts, and stepped into the shower to wash off the grime of the city.

Dar is a very grimy city. All day I kept looking at my feet, disbelieving that they were so filthy, and rubbing a patch clean, marveling at the grossness. There’s clove soap in the shower, and I emerge feeling clean and smelling wonderful, like Christmas potpourri.

And then, to bed. Despite some jet lag, I managed to stay awake all day today (unlike yesterday, which featured two naps of two and three hours, as well as an early bedtime).