As of now, I have been living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on the East Coast of Africa for just over four months. In less than two weeks, I get to return for Canada for three weeks to visit all of my friends, catch up and, of course, snowboard. The average temperature over here is about 35 C, all year, and that doesn't really change all year. However, December, January and February, the breeze dissipates and the humidity intensifies. I've been told that no matter how long you've lived in Dar, you'll never get used to the scorn of February. Now, does this sound, at all, like Christmas? I must say, I'm grateful that I get a white Christmas in Regina, and I've aquired a newfound love for my hometown. I miss my friends, of course, but I do have many great friends, here.
I go to an International school, in which the majority of the population is East Indian. For the first time in my life, I'm not apart of the majority, ethnically speaking. I'll admit, it feels odd, but I've grown used to it. The culture here is much different--Hakuna Matata (No worries/No problems) is the common lifestyle you'll find. Petty crime happens fairly often, but violent crime is quite opposed to by the locals.
There's really two things to do, here: Get drunk and smoke sheesha. Both of which are fun enough, but I'm sure after two years of that, it can get boring. Unfortunately, I've been taken back to grade 11, due to the IB program, and how hard it would be to go from regular grade 11 to IB grade 12. This means I'll be spending two years here. Two hard working years, at that.
Now, I'll be honest, I do like it here, but I really do miss my friends.
Thirteen more days.
