Siku Huru

Lots of things going on these days - been busy with 5 hours of Swahili a day on top of regular lectures, homestays, and just trying to have a little personal time. I think we would all agree that we are finally starting to feel completely comfortable in our homestays, RIGHT in time for us to travel to Pemba Island and live with new families. Definitely will be missing my kiddos (and my neighbors! - this is me and my buddy Ahmed) but I'm really excited about living with a family in a more rural area.



On another note, we finished up Swahili class and have an exam on Monday morning. No one is thrilled about taking the exam but at least it will mean we are (somewhat) proficient enough in Swahili to concentrate on what we are all here for - coastal ecology and natural resource management.

We've been studying so much that we jumped at the opportunity to spend our first free day in quite some time relaxing on the beach. About half ot the SITers took a boti out to a coral reef about a 45 minute boat ride out of Stone Town to snorkel, and then went on to a sand bar to have a picnic, swim, and hang out. It was the most wonderful day!





We probably looked like freaks to everyone else there, but we had a lot of fun acting like 12 year olds building sand castles, playing games, jumping around (or trying to...see picture fail), and digging Becky's host brother into a big hole.







Now - time to study! Ninatumaini exami ni rahisi!

Kwaherini sasa!