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While in Arusha I am staying at the Outpost Lodge. It’s small compound of guesthouses with a swimming pool, decent restaurant, and a well-stocked bar. Most importantly, it’s got wifi covering the public grounds. Three days in I’ve established a nice routine where I’ll return from work at IAA, unload my pack in my room, and grab a beer by the pool. Suddenly Tanzania doesn’t seem so foreign and rough after all.

The room itself is decently appointed. The bed is soft, but smells incredibly musty, a byproduct of hot, humid days in the rainy season. The water is hot when it has to be, and the toilet works with minimal fuss. There’s a nice porch out front, incidentally that is where I sit typing this, which makes for a nice place to sit out the afternoon rainstorms.

The restaurant and café are unremarkable, but reliable. I’ve sample all varieties of nyama choma they offer: goat, lamb, and beef. I was hoping for more local fare, but it’s solidly Western in its focus. Tonight we’re heading out as a team to dinner for the first time. It is certain to be an interesting experience.

Happy St Patrick’s Day from Arusha, Tanzania. No green beer or rivers dyed here, but the spirit lives on.

Greetings from Arusha, Tanzania. The trip so far is going wonderfully. My time in Mombasa with Mary was much, much too short. The sights, sounds, and smells were simply overwhelming. Above you can see the view from the beach outside her apartment.

I’m in Arusha, Tanzania now with the rest of the IBM team. Everything so far is going great, and I’m really happy with the other folks. Today is the first day of work, so we’ve all got a bit of first-day-of-school jitters.

Hard to believe that it’s already departure time. Two months ago I couldn’t tell Tanzania from Ghana from South Africa. I’ve so much time reading and learning about Africa, a place I never fathomed I would ever visit on my own, let alone for work.

This afternoon I embark on 25 hours of travel, flying overnight from O’Hare to London Heathrow (9 hours), then to Nairobi (9 hours), then to Mombasa (1 hour). Last time I headed overseas I traveled in style. This time, I’m with the cattle in economy.

A friend passed this along as a going-away present. I leave you to bask in its awesomeness.

T minus 2 days and counting.