3/18/18 This is a pretty important week for the volunteers here in Tanzania. It is the week where we get to learn where our  assigned site is located. We will be a this site for the next two years, so it is important to get something close to what you are looking for.  The Peace Corps has tried very hard to assign us to a place we want through numerous interviews and observations of our classroom performance.  Many volunteers have very important criteria such as climate and geography, I personally have requested a location with an active zahanati (dispensary), and a secondary school. It is important to me to go to a place where I can have the most impact.  So we will learn where it is on Thursday and leave for a week long visit on Saturday so I am not sure when I will be able to make my next post, but hopefully I will bring back plenty of pictures.

My post today is about my trip to the butcher shop. I promised Rehema that I would buy some pork (nguruwe) to celebrate the visit of Pascal's brother.  He is on a break from university where he is studying electrical engineering.  We have had some interesting conversations on a wide variety of topics, and he shared with me some local music that is called Bongo Flava.  Many young people are listening to it now.  I will try to upload the little video that shows the inside of our house, at the very end there are two five gallon jugs that are the filtering system that the Peace Corps gives every volunteer.

What can I say about the butcher shop, a very different experience here in Tanzania.  The first place is beef, the second is the pork.  The meat is out in the open air for an unknown amount of time, but the locals (and visitors) eat it without too much of a problem.  The meat is cut with an axe or a machete.  Pascal says that the meat is refrigerated each night, so with that promise, I'll let you know how the pork is.

The last photo is of a little guy who joined me in my bedroom.  I know they are friendly, but I didnt like how he was looking at me.

Sorry, not sure if the video made it or not.  Between this site being not too user friendly and the poor internet connection, this is pretty frustrating.  I don't think it will be getting better at the new site either.  I am learning though.

Talk to you in a while.
Brian