Arriving in Tanzania

I have safely arrived in Tanzania and I don't even know where to begin. I got on the plane leaving the US and I was shaking due to the fear of uncertainty. I had no idea what I should expect or what I had gotten myself into. The flights were long but I made it eventually. When we arrived in Kilimanjaro we walked across the tarmac from the airplane because it was so small it didn't even have gates. One of my bags, containing all of my toiletries and medicines didn't arrive so hopefully it will come in today. The drivers were there at the airport waiting to pick us up and the drive to the house was full of interesting events. First of all they drive on the other side of the street as us, who knew. There were people all along the sides of the street walking or hanging out in little huts. But if you looked up in the sky you could just see a blanket of stars. (To the bears: Don't worry there is no big dipper spilling food since I am on the other side of the equator) But the most interesting part of the drive came when we were stopped in the middle of the road by a man with a machine gun, I think it was that moment that I realized just want I had gotten myself into. I think he just wanted to know where we were going and where we were coming from, but he was much scarier than the border patrol people in Texas. The two women in the car with me at the moment are a little older and they noticed I was a little shocked, to try to calm to moment the offered my chocolate but that didn't even work. The home that we are staying in is quite nice. I have two roommates, both about 30, but our room is big enough for four people. Once we got here we all pretty much just went to sleep we were tired after all of our travels. Are first day, today, was an adventure for sure. We went into town today to exchange money, get a small tour and just walk around with the directors. Then after lunch we had free time and decided to head back into town, but this time we were going to walk. The walk ended up taking over an hour and by the time that we arrived in town we were literally covered in dirt, but we did make it. Then we just went to a cafe and had a drink. But on the way back we decided to take public transportation, a dalla dalla, which is a bus. There were probably 15 people on the bus and it was so crowded. We assumed that the bus was full and that there was no way more people could fit the next thing you knew there was a man sitting on lap and so many people around me I could hardly move. (You cav guys think you can fit a lot of people in a vehicle but the dalla dallas have you beat!) We got off the bus a little distance from the home because we were going to stop at the supermarket. As we got off we noticed the CCS van in the parking lot. The directors were sitting in the cafe next door so we sat and had a beer with them. I had a beer named Kilimanjaro and it was pretty good. Overall the day was a HUGE adventure and I think I can say that I have truly lived now that I have had the awkward and uncomfortable experience of a dalla dalla. Tomorrow is another busy day of orientation and then on Tuesday we begin our placement. Wish me luck because I don't know how I can teach a whole classroom of 26 children for 5 hours a day. Miss you all!
Laura