Tanzania reflection

I am back at work (already!!) reflecting on the past two weeks in Tanzania.

Firstly, it is amazing the difference between Arusha and Dar es Salaam!  Dar was definitely the big city, where Arusha was slower and more relaxed.  The close, muggy heat in Dar was not pleasant for us Brits, but I could get use to it and air conditioning made a huge difference.

I was grateful I was given the opportunity to visit Ngorongoro Crater and experience the countryside and wildlife up close.  Most impressive.  Hopefully, in the future I might be able to visit Olduvai Gorge, the fountain of the human race!!  I would have liked to explore Dar es Salaam more, but we did not really have the time.

Culturally this trip was wonderful to experience Africa and everyone made us especially welcome. Thank you. The students were great and I hope they enjoyed my lectures.  (They seemed to!!)  It is great to go to countries where many of our student originate and experience their lifestyle.  This helps us understand them more and will definitely influence my future teaching.

I look forward to further visits in the future. 

Final day in Dar - Fri 4 April

Just finished final lecture. Julie and I are now at the airport waiting to board our flight to Amsterdam, then on to Birmingham.

Am back in the UK.  No problems gettting back in!! Managed to sleep most of flight back.  Will update with a reflection of the trip later.  Now to rest!!

2nd day in Dar - Tues 1 April 2014

Its  1st April, and I'm missing my lovely Michelle's birthday. Happy Birthday Princess.

Just had breakfast and an back in room 113, and am about to start exam writing. Dumb ass thing of the day for me was i could not open the hotel room safe! Must have entered the door lock code wrong. Manager came and fixed easily enough, then i did it again!  All before breakfast.  So mister smarty pants felt pretty stoopid...Now i need to do some real work.

1st day in Dar - Mon 31st March 2014

Spent the day preparing lectures and dealing with work related emails. 

We were collected at 4pm to arrive well before our lecture start time of 5pm, except we were delayed!!! A 15 minute journey took just over an hour.   I have never seen such delays!! Cause of traffic jams unknown. Loads of street hawkers and beggars trying to sell all sorts of cheap tack and food/drink.  They have a sitting target with nowhere to go.

IAA Dar es Salaam Campus

The IAA building in Dar is unusual in that it is in two parts. Its also based in a shopping mall with a cinema nearby!!  The Quality Plaza as it's known.  Julie is teaching in one section, me in the other.  I had more students than in Arusha, almost thirty I estimated.

My Dar student cohort, all busy working on my workshop activities

We had a good session and I over ran, so they must have liked it.  Same again tomorrow.