Alright...we're at a new hotel tonight. Actually, we're at an apartment! We woke up this morning after last night's adventure and ate a delicious big breakfast at the hotel. It turns out we were actually smuggled into the hotel last night...the manager didn't even know we were ever there. MacMillan picked us up again and drove us around Arusha looking for a new hotel, and we stumbled upon the Arusha Resort Center (not actually a resort), which is where we are now. I'm writing from a small internet cafe right next to the reception desk where the internet is less than desirable. At least I get to use my laptop. We're starting to get used to things. Once you get over the stereotype that everyone wants to rob/kill you, it gets to be kind of fun. We dropped off our luggage and headed out to walk around town. The first thing we noticed when we hit the main drag was the hawkers. They follow you everywhere, all trying to sell you the same "paintings" that they "created." While they won't follow you into stores, they do wait outside. And we've learned from some other tourists that they will remember your name for later days. Great. We found a little deli-type internet cafe that was full of white people, and it became sort of the American Embassy, as we would retreat there every so often to get rid of the hawkers following us. On our way to the market, we joined up with a group of young adults from California who were volunteering around town and headed to the market as we were. They walked around with us, and one of the guys (Tyler) helped my mom do a bit of dealing. Every vendor begs you to come inside and look at their things, which look just like the other vendors' things. Ah well...it's all cheap ($1=1300 shillings...my meal tonight was 7000 shillings...you do the math). We got back to our aparment around 2, and sat around reading and studying Swahili (I'm getting decent!) until we all took naps until 6:30. Dinner was at the hotel, and the waiter remembered me from earlier when I had a conversation with him about different Swahili words. The food was delicious (and cheap). Now it's night time and we're struggling to get an internet connection. Tomorrow we begin at the orphanage, and Ali, the lady who is our liason, will be arriving to help us around. My mom is putting a lot of faith in her, so hopefully she doesn't screw up. Until then!
Usiku mwema (Goodnight)
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Hello all. Hope your day goes well at the orphanage. I heard you had an O.J. Simpson run through the airport to catch a flight. Don't know if these young folks know the significance of that commercial reference. Tell Drew I missed him at the Y this morning. Stay open with plans and schedules to reduce stress factor. You will always end up in the right place for the day. Will continue to pray for you. Alison
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