My New Home

Hello all! Sorry for the lack of contact lately. It’s difficult to use a laptop when there isn’t  any electricity haha. I’m going to keep this short, but life is great here. It’s a beautiful landscape, and the people have all been extremely friendly, especially when they discover that I am not a tourist, and that I can hold my own in terms of Swahili. My days are spent playing soccer, walking around town (which is a half hour away), hanging out with other teachers, cooking, and reading. Cooking usually takes a couple of hours using a charcoal stove, but I have an abundance of free time so it isn’t really an issue. I’m a little disappointed because I’ve only been proposed to by three or four Tanzanian women since arriving in Karatu. School is on a break right now, so I’m not teaching at this point. I have helped do a few practicals in the laboratory though, and I’ve really enjoyed it. I should start teaching around September 10^th. As for now, I am settling into my new home. It’s a small house, but more than enough for one person. Since I am not replacing a volunteer, I have had to purchase everything for my home. So far, I have bought a lot of cooking equipment. I hope to have a couch made, as well as a bookshelf. It is surprisingly cold here, which makes bucket baths kind of a pain, but I am getting used to it. I better go before my computer dies, but know that I am loving life right now. There are certainly some challenges, such as not having electricity or running water, but I have no complaints. I miss you all, and hopefully my next entry will be a little more descriptive. One more thing, I am now using the school’s P.O. Box. The address is as follows:

Kainam Rhotia Secondary School

P.O. Box 400

Karatu, Arusha

Just write my name somewhere in there and hopefully I will get it. Peace.

Matthew Wilbanks