Karibu Bukoba

01/08/2011
August!
I can't believe it's August.

Where has the year disappeared to?

Arriving into Bukoba came as such a surprise after the exhaustive journey. We also wondered if our taxxi would be available to pick us up as the ferry had both left early and arrived early (Africa is full of surprises!)

As we pushed our way through everyone we saw a taxi driver holding a sign for Read International.
He was one of William's assistants and really welcoming and friendly.
We waited as he tried to cram all our bags into his minibus, before heading off to our guesthouse.

Along the way we got a minitour, although all of us were far too tired to ta
ke in much of Bukoba.

The guesthouse was set just out of the town and up a hill. Our first impressions were how on earth were we ever going to remember the way again!
It was so perfectly situated overlooking Bukoba with a glimpse of Lake Victoria in the distance.
So beautiful. As we enetered the house, we felt so lucky. It was like a little country cottage with all the amenities we could ask for (the kitchen could have been better equipped but this is Africa!).
William's wife was in the house cooking the most delicious breakfast. It was all so welcoming.

After breakfast sleep seemed to be a priority + unpacking before the plan for the day commenced.
Our first priority was to contact the Regional Education Officer to arrange a meeting so we could start work, we also needed to visit immigration, as well as contact the librarian.

As we had a number of mobile numbers, texting seemed the simplest method (this is a common method of communication here) and very efficient way to secure appointments).
We then headed into town to explore for internet, supermarket shopping and to visit immigration.

It turned out we couldn't visit immigration without a letter from the REO so had to go back on a later date. But all in all a very productive day.

We also discovered that the guidebooks' idea of a Western supermarket was either really overpriced or random rubbish, so we compiled our shopping from the main market and had a spicy concoction pilau rice and tomato vegetable sauce.
We then made plans for the following day.