Journey to Bagamoyo - Take 2

I was not surprised to reach Muhimbili on Monday only to find out that we were not in fact setting out for Bagamoyo as planned. On the bright side I was reassured that I would be well taken care of once I arrived because although Professor Premji wouldn't be accompanying me he was sending someone and arranging for a car.

Tuesday morning I arrived in Bagamoyo temporarily homeless but excited about the change in my surroundings! I wasn't a huge fan of Dar. It's a big city, congested and dirty. On the ride to Bagamoyo I saw dirt roads (there's only one tar road in the "city"), cows and goats wandering to and fro and a smaller, more community oriented atmosphere. This is much more what I had envisioned for my African experience. I found lodging for the night in a very nice, but very expensive long-term housing complex. Tomorrow night I'll be moving "temporarily" to a doctor's house until furniture can me found for my actual residence in an adjoining apartment.

I got a tour of IFAKARA Health Institute located within Bagamoyo District Hospital where I'll be conducting my research project for the next few months. I arrived to find out I had missed Will Smith by minutes (literally). Apparently he and his wife were in town and wanted to see the research institute and help out. I think... one thing I've learned since I've been here is you never really get the whole story and as a result you're often left filling in details in order for the story makes sense in your head.