Kwa heri dar es salaam

How time flies.
It's time to say good bye to dar.. in fact, I already have.

Now I'm sat in the lounge of dubai international airport.
Rather amazed by the level of civilisation here lol

But it was really hard to leave Dar es Salaam.
Reflecting on my 3 and a half months, it was like a roller coaster..
At the beginning, I was full of hope, so happy to be in Sub-Sahara Africa, the place I had been longing to visit. Then after that I was so frustrated - I couldn't "get" the town, culture or people. I think it was about half way through, in my 2nd month, I got through that frustration.

After that, time just flew past. I love Tanzania and dar es salaam, though I do get frustrated every now and then seeing problems that can be overcome.

Also job-wise, it was a valuable experience. I wouldn't say I know everything, but I can say I know more, a lot more than I did before. And although my work at the headquarter (dev partnership div) might be quite "far" from the field projects, I shall try to remember how I felt, things people said, and always relate my work to it. Tanzania will be at the core of my work, whatever level I will be working.

It's(was) sad to leave, but I hope I will come back.

Kwa heri Dar es Salaam, lakini tutaonana tena.

Collecting the ordinary sceneries

Oh dear. Almost 3 weeks without a post.
or more like, "has it already been 3 weeks since I sent to zanzibar??!"

This is scary, cuz I've only got 2 weeks left before going back to Tokyo!

My life started rolling properly about a month ago. Now I know what I'm doing, I know what is where in Dar, where to have fun, and I have a good company too. I suddenly found myself really enjoying my life.. when I've only got 3 weeks to go before relocation.

I'm gonna miss this place. what to do??

I started collecting photos of the favourite ordinary places around Dar.. normal scenery I've been seeing, but not necessarily having a record of. The bunch of photos below are from a casual walk around the town on saturday, but I will try to continue doing this till the day I leave...