Nimerudi

Scott's Amazing Race has begun! I have had quite the adventure returning to Tanzania but I have arrived safetly. On Thursday I was supposed to depart Luther College for Chicago and fly to London and then Nairobi...unfortunately, the Tanzanian Embassy was a bit slow with my passport and visa and I didn't get my passport in the mail in time for my flight on Thursday. So, I changed my flight to Sunday and prayed that my passport would arrive....and sure enough, Friday morning there it was in the Luther Post Office (not exactly the easiest place to send a letter.) I blasted out of Decorah at 10am bound to Chicago with a girl from Luther named Mary Ann who was kind enough to drop me off at O'hare on her way home. I went to O'hare Friday afternoon, bags in hand, with a ticket for Sunday night. I went to the British Airways counter and explained my story to the kind ticketing agent named Susanne. She punched in keys for what seemed like hours and soon she was able to work a miracle. She moved my entire itinerary up to that night! I flew out of O-hare two hours later (after an hour wait to get through security) and after a brief stop in London, arrived in Nairobi, Kenya last night, Saturday the 18th of December, at about 10pm. I stayed at a great place called the Methodist Guest House which is a bed and breakfast that hosts Christian groups and conferences. They had an amazing breakfast with fresh fruits and hot breakfast items, including french fries, and even hot water and a TV in the room. I got on a bus from Nairobi to Arusha at 8am (well, it was supposed to be 8, it was actually 9) and after a long ride and a long wait at the border, I made it to Arusha at 2pm.

Sharon Bangsund, a friend from Luther who lives in Tanzania, came to pick me up with her mom, and Peter who I was supposed to arrive with a day earlier. We were all pumped to see each other and to be in the beautiful Tanzania setting. We didn't waste any time and headed to a swimming pool at a hotel about 10km from Sharon's house. It was an idyllic setting with banana trees surrounding us and Mt. Meru looming in the distance. The refreshing swim and warm temps and sun (around 80 degrees) quickly woke me up from the long journey. We're now settling in for dinner and tomorrow are headed to Mount Kilimanjaro where we are going to stay at a resort called Marangu on the base of the mountain. Should be relaxing and visually stunning!

It feels great to be back in Tanzania...less than a year from when I left. 364 days ago I left Tanzania so I feel fortunate that I was able to return in less than a year from when I left! There are so many little things I forgot about like people walking on the side of the road with buckets on their heads, the color of the purple flowers that line almost all the house, from shacks to mansions, and the lush green-ness of Northern Tanzania. It is sad to miss Christmas at home and hard to be in a family setting without my family, but if I had to be anywhere else, this is where I would want to be. I feel comfortable, excited, and giddy to be back. I'll be updating this site as much as possible with pictures and stories so check back and hear the latest from the Return of the Mzungu (Return of the White Guy). Happy Holidays and enjoy December ;) I'll swim a lap for ya.