It was about one in the afternoon when we disembarked at Kilimanjaro International Airport. As we walked onto the tarmac, there in our faces was Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was amazing. We entered the airport, filled out the immigration paperwork and made our way toward baggage claim. Don't worry, it wasn't a long walk because its all in the same room, though it is a nice place. Of course, we stand there forever as the bags roll in. We get 3 of our four bags off the first cart, but one of mine was still missing. I have had my bag lost before, first after my trip to Greece and then again in Uganda, so I am well versed in what to do when a bag is lost. I was able to spare my skills as my bag was unloaded off the last cart about 25 minutes. Thank goodness. We gathered our things, met up with the Ana and Ulrika, and made our way to find our ride.
After a pleasant ride around the base of the mountain, we arrived in Moshi and the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC). Our driver dropped off Thelma and I at our house and we lugged our bags to our room. When we arrived, we were pleasantly greeted by Siri, 1 of 6 Norwegian nursing students with whom we share the house. Anyways, the house is better than we had expected. We have a kitchen, dining room, living area with couch and chairs, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, but one shower. Malinda and I share the largest room. We each have our own bed with foam mattress, desk, and vanity. So in African terms, this place is nice. Then, the adventure began.
Thelma and I somewhat settled in and decided we should go to town to help get ourselves situated. Our awesome new friend Siri loaned us 100,000 Shilling (~$75) and went to Moshi with us to meet another one of our housemates, Ingrid. Our mission was to get a SIM card, exchange some money, and get some food and water to hold us over for the night. Siri gave us some direction and away we went. First, we exchanged some money at the Bureau de Exchange. Then, we went to the phone store and there was nothing inside. Interesting. Then, a man stopped us and told us that we needed to go to his stand for a SIM card. All of the dialogue is in broken African english and being exhausted, we were just ready to get it and go. So we followed him to this stand. There are all kinds of SIM cards and this guy setting them up. It looked legit. Now, here's the thing. in Tanzania, you have to register your passport to get phone service. Weird. So the guy takes our phone and my passport and starts talking in Swahili to someone on the line. Next thing we know, we have a working phone from a stand on a street corner. Then, the guy said $30,000 Shilling for the card and setup. Did we get swindled...of course, but we didn't know it at the time. We are white. That's the way it is here. Awesome. Next. we found a "supermarket" and bought some bread, jam, Nutella, OJ, water, and of course Thelma had to have the $11,000 shilling Kellogg's cornflakes. Just be warned, there are whole frozen fish just laying in the freezer right next to ice cream. We left both for other shoppers. We then walked back where we left Siri and called one of the cab numbers she gave us. We stood there on the street side for 45 minutes until we gave up on him and flagged our own. Awesome. Thankfully, Siri told us how much to pay so that we wouldn't get ripped off.
For Thelma and I, it is just one thing after another. We arrived back at the house, put up our very few groceries, and went to our bedroom to organize things. That's when we realized we don't have any mosquito nets over our beds. Well, Thelma had brought two, but they are rectangular and designed to go over a four post bed. Neither of us had a 4 post bed. Awesome. We tried to rig one up, but it was not working. Then, the Norwegian's said there were extras in the closet. Perfect. We found two and went to hang them up. Easier said than done. I got mine up first, but it was missing the metal ring at the top that hold it open. Thelma found one with the ring already in it, so we put hers up. Guess what? After getting it up and set to the right height, it turned our to be designed for a crib and wouldn't cover even half her bed. Awesome. All the work for nothing. I found a metal ring and fixed mine. Thelma found her another net without a ring or a drawstring. For those not aware, apparently mosquito nets can be quite complicated. So, we finally get Thelma's together when we find it has a big brown stain on it. Awesome. Is is poop, or is it rust? In this house and in that closet, either are quite possible.
Exhausted from travel, our trip to town, and the net fiasco, I had a couple pieces of toast with jam. Thelma didn't feel like eating. We showered and passed out for the night at 7:30 with plans to start at the hospital the next day.
After a pleasant ride around the base of the mountain, we arrived in Moshi and the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC). Our driver dropped off Thelma and I at our house and we lugged our bags to our room. When we arrived, we were pleasantly greeted by Siri, 1 of 6 Norwegian nursing students with whom we share the house. Anyways, the house is better than we had expected. We have a kitchen, dining room, living area with couch and chairs, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, but one shower. Malinda and I share the largest room. We each have our own bed with foam mattress, desk, and vanity. So in African terms, this place is nice. Then, the adventure began.
Thelma and I somewhat settled in and decided we should go to town to help get ourselves situated. Our awesome new friend Siri loaned us 100,000 Shilling (~$75) and went to Moshi with us to meet another one of our housemates, Ingrid. Our mission was to get a SIM card, exchange some money, and get some food and water to hold us over for the night. Siri gave us some direction and away we went. First, we exchanged some money at the Bureau de Exchange. Then, we went to the phone store and there was nothing inside. Interesting. Then, a man stopped us and told us that we needed to go to his stand for a SIM card. All of the dialogue is in broken African english and being exhausted, we were just ready to get it and go. So we followed him to this stand. There are all kinds of SIM cards and this guy setting them up. It looked legit. Now, here's the thing. in Tanzania, you have to register your passport to get phone service. Weird. So the guy takes our phone and my passport and starts talking in Swahili to someone on the line. Next thing we know, we have a working phone from a stand on a street corner. Then, the guy said $30,000 Shilling for the card and setup. Did we get swindled...of course, but we didn't know it at the time. We are white. That's the way it is here. Awesome. Next. we found a "supermarket" and bought some bread, jam, Nutella, OJ, water, and of course Thelma had to have the $11,000 shilling Kellogg's cornflakes. Just be warned, there are whole frozen fish just laying in the freezer right next to ice cream. We left both for other shoppers. We then walked back where we left Siri and called one of the cab numbers she gave us. We stood there on the street side for 45 minutes until we gave up on him and flagged our own. Awesome. Thankfully, Siri told us how much to pay so that we wouldn't get ripped off.
For Thelma and I, it is just one thing after another. We arrived back at the house, put up our very few groceries, and went to our bedroom to organize things. That's when we realized we don't have any mosquito nets over our beds. Well, Thelma had brought two, but they are rectangular and designed to go over a four post bed. Neither of us had a 4 post bed. Awesome. We tried to rig one up, but it was not working. Then, the Norwegian's said there were extras in the closet. Perfect. We found two and went to hang them up. Easier said than done. I got mine up first, but it was missing the metal ring at the top that hold it open. Thelma found one with the ring already in it, so we put hers up. Guess what? After getting it up and set to the right height, it turned our to be designed for a crib and wouldn't cover even half her bed. Awesome. All the work for nothing. I found a metal ring and fixed mine. Thelma found her another net without a ring or a drawstring. For those not aware, apparently mosquito nets can be quite complicated. So, we finally get Thelma's together when we find it has a big brown stain on it. Awesome. Is is poop, or is it rust? In this house and in that closet, either are quite possible.
Exhausted from travel, our trip to town, and the net fiasco, I had a couple pieces of toast with jam. Thelma didn't feel like eating. We showered and passed out for the night at 7:30 with plans to start at the hospital the next day.
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