From Dar

(This is J.R. posting an email that was sent to her blog. Please don't feel bad if Elizabeth doesn't get a chance to respond to your comments.)

I love you very much!

I'm here safe in Dar. I'm actually at a weird Catholic Convent thingy right now, but they're being nice and letting us use the Internet. It has been a really rough trip for me, but it has been fun. We are traveling with all 8 of the Americans, and they are all so nice! We get along great, so that is good.

I haven't been able to really sleep at all on the planes, so I think I've slept 4 hours in the last 80. I'm beyond exhaustion. They also lost our luggage in Nairobi, so I don't have it yet. They hope to find it all tonight, and deliver it to us. We are staying at a really nice guest house right now that has electricity and fans and running water.

During our 10 hour layover in London, we did a lot of fun sight seeing. I rode a double decker bus, saw Big Ben, and went to the national gallery and saw some DaVinci, Picasso, Monet, and Van Gogh. It was fun. The weather here is hot, but not very humid. It is better than Texas weather for sure. Even though I'm delirious from exhaustion, and I don't have my luggage, I'm still staying positive. I really like it here, and I have a good feeling about all of this! The Tanzanians are so nice to us, and the group I'm with is so loyal and wonderful to each other. I am having a great time. Tonight we had fish for dinner and the head was still attached. The Tanzanian girl next to me ate the whole head. Gross.

I love you guys all so much! I'm not sure when I'll be able to get online next (maybe in a few months) but I want you to know that I am happy and safe. I can't wait to see my students and get settled in my hut! Pray for me!

Love,
Liz