An update . . . on the future

I have arrived safely in Arusha and have found a decent internet connection to be able to upload some pictures. I guess I should be reflecting on my time here so far, considering I only have 4 weeks left . . . but I don’t think I will. It’s hard to always remember the small little things, like the man that shared his homemade chiapati with me on the bus yesterday, or the way Rose’s face is so beautiful when she smiles, or the way Yona would laugh when I shuffled a deck of cards. This has been a really crazy and amazing experience for me so far. Today someone asked me why I don’t just go home early after Tim leaves. I was kind of bewildered . . . ‘For what?’ was my reply. So yes, I am enjoying it here a lot. Sometimes I need to be reminded to smile or take a deep breath, but generally and typically it’s so great. Tim arrived last night and it was nice to have someone from home visiting, someone that I can show around a little bit and impress with my small Swahili vocabulary. Plus in the hotel last night I sat down on a toilet for the first time in a LONG time and it was amazing. I also found that I have not lost my tendency to take long hot showers . . . some things never change. I have no idea what kind of connection I have for the next 10 days OR what I will be doing after that, but here is my general itinerary:

Feb 25 – I arrive via bus from Dar es Salaam and Tim arrives to Kilimanjaro Airport. We meet at the African Tulip hotel.
Feb 26 – free day to walk around Arusha and let Tim get used to the time change
Feb 27 –Tarangire National Park
Feb 28 – Lake Manyara
Feb 29 – Mar 2 Serengeti National Park
Mar 3 – Ndutu Area
Mar 4 – Ngorogoro Crater
Mar 5 – descend Crater and return to Arusha
Mar 6 – rest
Mar 7 – Tim leaves and for me?????

I hope everyone is doing well. And Maddy, no, I have NOT forgotten about you. Is that even possible? I miss everyone and hope you are all doing well. Please don't miss the 10 pictures I just posted in previous entries.
Love,
Ann