Tanzania Partnership

It's almost time for departure.  You'd think the itinerary for the trip would be set. But we are open to surprises and changes.  We are waiting to hear from our partners, to see what they want us to see and do when we arrive in Tanzania. From our perspective, here are some the highlights we hope to hit on this journey. Kirsten is departing about 8 days before the rest of the group, in part to do some of the detail work of the partnership, in Iringa and around Tungamalenga. We will assist in the process of applying for visas for the three guests we hope to bring to Minnesota in October/November.  This involves a complicated online application form, with many questions that can only be answered by the hosting entity (SOTV). We hope to be in country when our guests have interviews scheduled with the US embassy for approval of their visas, in case we can be of assistance. We hope for a day trip to the parish of Usolanga.  SOTV has stepped in as an interim par...

This is my ninth trip to Tanzania.  I know I will be welcomed by friends who love me like family, and who will care for me like family. I know that my itinerary is set, my reservations have been made, my bus and lodging arrangements are settled. From the time I get through customs and collect my checked luggage, I will not be alone.  I will have friends who meet me, usher me into cabs, check me into hotels, help me find the bus station, and accompany me on my way to Iringa, and eventually to Tungamalenga. I am not worried.  I am looking forward to my time in Tanzania. And yet. There are the pre-travel jitters.  Have I checked off every item on my to-do list? Med-evac insurance? Are my US dollars newer than 2006 bills? Have I provided my family in Minnesota with all the TZ contact information they may need? Am I carrying enough cash to deal with emergencies and unexpected needs? Do I have enough of the right kinds of clothing to cover the situations we...

  We've started packing for our July/August journey to Tanzania, at home and at church.  It's a little messy right now, but things are getting organized.     Our travelers have become really good at packing lightly for themselves, so that we can pack more gifts for our friends in Tanzania.  For a two week trip, we take three bottoms (skirts for women, pants for men) and 6-7 short sleeve tops.  Toss in a long sleeve tee for cool evenings, and a lightweight jacket just in case, some sleepwear and personal items, an extra pair of shoes, toiletries, medications, cameras, a journal, and duct tape, and we're good to go. It all fits in our rolling carry on bag.   For international travel to Africa, the airlines still allow us to check two bags, limit 50 pounds, at no extra charge.  With twelve travelers, that's 24 bags -- a lot of gifts! And a lot to organize.     This year, the challenge is books.  We are car...

  Our American president visited Tanzania this week, the last stop on his African trip. He is widely admired there and his image appears on clothing and traditional kitangas.   I received a number of excited email messages from Tanzanian friends.  "Your Obama is coming to Tanzania!"   Crowds lined the roadways. The name of the oceanfront road leading to Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete's residence was permanently changed to Barack Obama Drive.   The major US news networks covering this trip commented on the coincidence of President Obama and former President Bush being in the country at the same time.  The images I saw on TV news showed the memorial ceremony that honored those who died at the 1998 US Embassy bombing, and there were some clips of Michelle Obama and Laura Bush speaking about life in the White House, for a forum of African first ladies.   But the big news reported in African sources was the announcemen...