You Are In the Army Now

We completed our Peace Crops training about eight days ago after two days of meetings with our local counterparts most of whom travelled to Dodoma from our future sites for the sessions. Language training wound down and it was time to be sworn in to the Peace Corps in a low key ceremony at our hotel/retreat.

Training session

Swearing In Ceremony

Cutting the cake for our reception!

The group split up the next day and Laurel and I were off to Dar with the other four volunteers who posted in Dar with us. It was another bus trip through Morogoro to Dar. 

Cloud covered mountains outside Morogoro

Laurel has already posted pictures of our apartment in the blog post before this one. We have sent most of the last week getting settled in both here and at Muhimbili University and the adjacent Muhimbili National Hospital. The campuses are large and about a mile away so we are walking to work daily. 

Clinical Ward building at Muhimbili

We have observed that Tanzanians keep things quite tidy and neat. They even sweep the dirt daily. Everyone is friendly and responds when greeted. Although we see few foreigners on our daily trips we feel pretty comfortable in this warm and welcoming society. That said, Dar is still a big city with significant petty crime necessitating caution and situational awareness when one is out and about.

Harbor view from the steps of the St Joseph's Cathedral downtown

We are delighted to be settled in our own place following our own schedules and cooking our own meals. We have much to learn about our environment, but are becoming more comfortable and savvy at shopping as we learn more about our locale.

Bill cooking fried okra. Mississippians unite!

Looming sunset seen from our apartment balcony facing west