UAACC, Arusha

I woke up this morning to birds chirping and a rooster crowing. It is so peaceful and I feel so comfortable here. Mama Charlotte (the woman that runs the Center) is such a wonderful host – a warm and inviting woman who I feel immediately at ease with. We had a brief conversation as I came back from my morning walk, and discussed HIV/AIDS in Tanzania versus the U.S. We both marveled at the irony that in the U.S., where sexuality is openly displayed in popular culture, the reality of sex is a taboo topic. Here in Tanzania, there is a more modest culture, but HIV/AIDS is an issue discussed with relative freedom and ease.

RECAP: I survived the long series of flights to get here. I was concerned at my anxiety after only the first four-hour flight to Detroit, but six hours into the second flight to Amsterdam, it didn’t seem so bad. As we flew over Europe, we cross an area of clear sky and lights of the city centers clustered like constellations. It was really quite beautiful. Disembarking after the final flight was like something out of a movie. It seemed to fulfill all of my romantic fantasies of world travel. We arrived at Kilimanjaro Airport and walked down the stairs as warm winds gusted, pushing us off the runway and into the airport building. It had almost a colonial feel with its open space, covered in beautiful hardwood floors with fans overhead.

We were collected by our drivers and made the forty-minute drive to the United African Alliance Community Center. As the vans traveled down first a smooth paved road and then a rough dirt road (which we equated to the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland), our group discussed our dreams of and experiences with world travel and the challenges in garnering support from family as we pursue travel and careers abroad. At dinner we met a group of people with (AIDS Africa?), including a fellow Bay Area native (Devon, from Walnut Creek).

Today we’re off to visit a couple clinics. I can’t wait to see what the day brings.