First Impressions

I have arrived in Tanzania!

I was hoping to have a sunset view of Mt. Kilimanjaro on the KLM flight stop-over en route to Dar, but the flight leaving Amsterdam was delayed, so no such luck. Stepping off the plane was much like landing in Houston, where that nice wave of humidity hits you in the face. That said, the temperature here is comfortable; not too warm.

The visa entry process is possibly an indication of similar challenges that I anticipate facing while in Tanzania. You enter into the process duped at its initial organization, only to find that you hand your passport, visa form (white paper), unexplainably duplicative visa form (except its on a smaller sheet of blue paper), and US$$ cash to a single Tanzanian visa entry person serving the entire area. You have about 40+ foreigners around you and the Tanzanian visa official disappears, handing your paper identity to someone behind a glass wall. Then, you get pushed to the back and hope to hear your name. The person who first received your paperwork for processing is not necessarily the one who puts it back on the ledge w/ a yellow receipt for proof of payment. Pretty sneaky. Also, you don’t always get what you want. I lucked out to get a multiple entry visa for longer than I will be in Tanzania (i.e., not the way I filled out my form). The person next to me was puzzled to find his visa valid for a shorter time than his 10-day trip. Same price.

I am currently in a hotel of sorts but I will be moving in to an apartment with two other TechnoServe consultants today. Chris, a Brit, has been here about a month, and Alistair, who I met beforehand from Harvard Law, has been here about a week. It will be nice to get settled.

Yesterday was a great start to my project and by that I mean I am already at work! After meeting everyone in the office, I joined the country manager in a meeting discussing a related agriculture project with two people from an Oxfam / Accenture / Unilever collaboration. As I will be part of the inaugural horticulture project for TechnoServe Tanzania – this was a great way to get an introduction to contacts and content. Tomorrow, I will be working to outline my project and check in with the country manager to finalize the scope and expectations for these 3 months. I was happy to learn that my project will include travel to the three target rural towns/villages where TechnoServe hopes to make a significant change to benefit farmer livelihood.

Here are some random first impressions and non-sequitur musings about my first 24 hours:

- Best t-shirt I’ve seen thus far: Tanzania for Obama
- Tanzanians join that anachronistic minority that drive on the “opposite” side of the road. Freaks me out.
- I need to learn some basic Swahili ASAP.
- Martin, who sits at reception in the office, has promised to teach me basic Swahili. I am up to 7 words after day 1.
- Maasi men from Kenya, wearing the typical garb and carrying a tall stick, either stand as security outside shops or sit to “watch” your car while you are in a restaurant.
- Most cars for muzungus (white folks) are huge white-ish SUVs – this is because most roads are dirt and pock-marked – and the cars are paid for by funding agencies. So, driving is all-terrain and rather chaotic because I’m not entirely sure of the legitimacy of driving permits.
- Maura Sullivan: apparently tons of places serve only Pepsi.
- I joined some of the other consultants last night for thai food before we went to a beach bar for a jazz concert. It sorta felt like I was at a Disney waterfront resort or in Kemah, Texas, except I realized I was sitting on the eastern coast of Africa.

On my way

I'm heading out! Nothing very exciting to share, as I will travel from Boston to Amsterdam, with a quick lay-over in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, before arriving to Dar.

I have probably packed too much of something and not enough of whatever I really need, but I will find out soon enough. I'll write next from Tanzania!

Introduction

In about a week, I will venture to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania to begin a three-month internship with TechnoServe. My project is to study the value chain of the fresh and processed fruit industries of Tanzania. I will be learning a lot about the mango, tomato, pineapple, passion fruit and orange across the towns of Morogoro, Iringa and Tanga. I am excited to travel around the country to learn more and to meet with the many people involved in this sector.

I have never kept a blog and not quite sure how often I'll update, but I will try to post some photos once I get settled.

In the meantime, if you have any suggestions or ideas for Tanzania or otherwise, please email me at kathryn.laidlaw@gmail.com.