Tanzania vs Canada Transportation

A bodaboda/pikipiki (motorcycle)

Men on bodabodas (motorcycles) can be seen idling on roadsides and, on the edges of the town. These men provide a transportation “taxi” service, where one can sit on the back of a bodaboda and be driven to a destination for a fee. If I took a bodaboda to town, it would cost me around 1,500 Shillings (70 cents in CAD).

Cars (sedans) are also used for transportation services. Some drivers own the vehicles, whereas some work for the vehicle’s owners. Daladalas (busses) run on well travelled paths and in between towns.

In contrast to the image above, many streets do not have street signs. Drivers seem to have a good spatial understanding of where buildings and neighborhoods are situated.

-Yuuki

Tanzania vs Canada Living Conditions

Living Conditions

Evening view from the front porch

Our place of dwelling is a 45-minute walk up the mountain/hillside from the town. There are: three bedrooms, two washrooms/showers, two office spaces, a dining space, a small kitchen, and, a storage space.

Although we sleep under bed nets, I do not see many flying insects in our rooms, period. As of May 21, it is considered the “wet” season. It rains during the early mornings. During the day, the temperature is around 23°C, and at night, around 18°C. The heat is projected to increase for the summer months. The air is humid. The type of air is more comparable to that of Japan versus Canada.

Water runs from the mountaintop through pipes. It is not heated. On our roof, we have a 1000L water tank. For the first several days, we did not have running water, so we used water stored in large barrels
(in the washrooms). People from the global north should sterilize water by at least one of the following: UV (Steripen), Chlorine tablets, or, by boiling the water.

Besides our kettle, and, our electronic devices (laptops/phones), we do not have any other electrical appliances. Laundry is done by hand, and hung outside.

-Yuuki

The one with our favourite moments

Mambo y'all!

Meet the 2018 International Team of SIHA. It has been exactly 6 days since we got to Tanzania and we all absolutely love it! Why, you ask? Well, here is why:

(from left to right) Stephanie, Sarah, Ryan K.,
Amandine, Poshika, Ryan G. and Gillian and Yuuki (not in the photo)

Stephanie, Project Manager: 
"Seeing the Tanzanian SIHA members upon arrival at the Dar es Salaam airport."

Ryan G. , Project Manager:
"Meeting the founder of My Health Foundation, Harriet and eating Ugali at her house."

Poshika, Volunteer: 
"Chapatis for breakfast. And the rice and beans. And the Ugali. All the food actually."

Sarah, Volunteer:
"Hiking to the Choma waterfall and walking under it! "

Gillian, Volunteer:
"Reaching the Choma waterfall after that VERRRYYY long hike up, it was a feeling of accomplishment!"

Amandine, Volunteer:
" How friendly everyone is to each other and the extent to which they seem to enjoy life and prioritize each other over meaningless things such as tasks." 

Ryan K. , Volunteer:
"I love Tanzania because everyday is an adventure in its own right. It takes "going out of your comfort zone" to a whole new level. It takes your mind out of the stressful schedule of being a student at the U of A; its so tranquil here in Morogoro."

Yuuki, Volunteer:
"Sounds heard in Tanzania: the roosters, birds, cows and goats are within earshot."

And this is what makes being in Tanzania with SIHA such an amazing experience! Oh and just in case these were not enough reasons, you should check out the view of the sunset from our house. 😳


Stay tuned to learn more about Tanzania!








                                           -Poshika