Emma & Andrew: March 2012

So I have yet to mention my impending trip to Africa this summer on my blog. At first I was a bit hesitant, but as the days pass I am getting more and more excited. I will be living in Arusha, Tanzania and I will be working for the United Nations, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to be exact :). I arrive in Dar Es Salaam on May 25th, and I am hoping to meet my friend Taima (who is my best Rwandese friend who I will be living with). I plan to spend a few days in Zanzibar, what a dream, and then embark on the 9 hour bus ride from Dar Es Salaam to Arusha. I will start my internship on June 1st and it will last until the beginning of August, at which point I will travel on a bus across East Africa from Arusha to Nairobi, Kenya (a 5-6 hour bus ride). In Nairobi I will meet up with my Kenyan friend Caz who lives in a small town called Eldoret in Kenya. I will try to visit with her for a day or two, at which point I will then head to Kampala (an 11ish hour bus ride) and spend a short amount of time with my Rwandese friend Benon, who currently lives in Kampala. I will then embark on my last bus trip to Kigali, Rwanda (a 11-13 hour bus ride). It is there that I plan to spend the rest of my time. I'll be flying out of Kigali on August 13th. It is a pretty bold and adventurous agenda I am taking on, but I think I can handle it. I've also been in tune with the fact that there is a train that travels in Kenya and Tanzania... so that might be an option as well.

I could not be more excited to see my best friends. It has been 2 years since I stepped foot in Africa, and to be honest, I've missed it tremendously. For a long time I had an issue adjusting to being back in the US and my husband knows how much I wanted to move over there. Unfortunately it was not in the cards for us. I am grateful that I did not, because I have had the opportunity, since returning from Africa, to pursue my Masters in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. This internship experience, which I am applying to my Masters program, is a perfect addition to my experience and will teach me a lot. 2 months is nothing in the grand scheme of things... but I hope that I learn a lot. I am also excited to be surrounded by Rwandans and, in particular, my best friend Taima. She is a genuine and trustworthy friend.. something I have been lacking in my life for a long time. I know that I can count on her for anything, and I am grateful to be able to live with her for two months. She has been such a blessing in my life.

As for my living arrangements, she lives with a roommate in a 3 bedroom apartment in Arusha town. I will have my own room... and apparently they have a cook/maid/laundry lady. I am super stoked on that... I hated spending 2-3 hours every weekend washing my clothes just for them to get rained on! It will be nice too that I do not have to spend money on breakfast, dinner, rent, or daily transportation when I am there. She is letting me stay for free, and even just purchased a car and is going to drop me at work everyday. That will leave me lots of money for fun trips... like possibly the Serengeti (one of the best safaris in Africa featuring the top 5 animals) and hiking Mount Kilimanjaro (the tallest mountain in Africa). I am looking into relatively inexpensive options to do those expensive "mzungu" activities.We shall see...

Well, that's all the info I have for now. Here are a few pictures and links to the place I'll be living/what I'll be doing while there.

INFO ABOUT THE UNICTR

ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA

MOUNT KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA

THE SERENGETI, TANZANIA

MOUNT KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA

This past weekend Andrew and I went with some friends to Harper's Ferry. We started our day off early in the morning on Saturday, and made the hour and a half drive to Harper's Ferry. We had reserved a campsite at the KOA (because it's off season, no other campsites were open- bummer). We set up our tent, a huge 8 man tent, and then set out for Gathland State Park, a short 15 minute drive away. We then hiked the 6.5 miles from Gathland SP to Weverton Cliffs. It was a beautiful view, and a perfect day. We then made the grueling mostly uphill hike back, another 6.5 miles. After we got done, we were tired and beat. But the hike was well worth it. We then went back to our campsite for some burgers, hot dogs, and smores. A few mishaps... but overall a wonderful trip. We are grateful for the chance to live close to one of our favorite towns, Harper's Ferry. Andrew and I have gone there at least once every year that we have been married.

Here is a link to the hike that we did: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/22/AR2009012200946.html