Leaving Dar es Salaam – Tunasafiri!
The following blog post is brought to you by Madelynn.
Our final week in Dar es Salaam was marked by a bittersweet series of “lasts.” The last Kiswahili class, the last lunch at Nyambani Goshen, and the last day spent with our host families, who we had come to know and love. It felt as though we had only just reached a point where we were comfortable navigating the city, enjoying new foods, and truly connecting with our hosts. It was hard to believe we were already bidding farewell to this chapter.
KISWAHILI GRADUATION
It was a bittersweet morning of celebration and excitement for new beginnings. We were welcomed to Kiswahili na Utamaduni, the organization which has provided our Swahili language and culture courses. Over the past five weeks, we have learned so much from our amazing walimu (teachers) Israel, Martin, and Nancy. We shared laughs and many changamoto (challenges) during our learning of Swahili, and were so thankful to share our support for our teachers during graduation. It was sad to say goodbye, but we knew they had prepared us well!
HOST FAMILY GOODBYE CELEBRATION
To express our gratitude to the families who had opened their homes and hearts to us, we organized a farewell celebration at the local YWCA. It was a joyful afternoon of food, laughter, and heartfelt speeches, where we shared memories and gave gifts as tokens of our appreciation. One of the highlights of the event according to my host mom was when we performed a few simple children’s songs we had learned in our Swahili class. The smiles and laughter that followed were priceless, and it was clear that the bond we had formed with our families would not be easily forgotten.
TRAIN TO ARUSHA
The time had come to leave Dar es Salaam and continue our Tanzanian adventure. We gathered at Upanga Mennonite Church in the early morning to prepare for the long journey ahead. As expected, the train was several hours late—something we had grown accustomed to during our time in Tanzania. This delay gave us plenty of time to reflect on our experiences and spend some relaxing time together. “Time is here” had become one of our favorite expressions, coined by our Mwalimu Israel, reminding us to let go of the rush and embrace the present moment. It perfectly encapsulated the “T.I.T.” (This Is Tanzania) attitude we have learned to adopt and cherish.
When the train finally arrived, we discovered a surprise: our sleeping car didn’t actually exist! While cars 2032 and 2034 were present, there was no 2033. After a bit of confusion and some minor adjustments, we were finally on board. The sleeping cars were set up with six bunk beds, stacked three high on each side—a cramped, but cozy arrangement. As we settled in, we couldn’t help but laugh at how much the experience felt like a ride on the Hogwarts Express—if only Hogwarts had been much bumpier and squeakier! The train clattered along with unpredictable jolts, and there were moments when we feared the whole thing might fall off the tracks. But despite the bumps, the views of the Tanzanian countryside, with its rolling hills and wide-open spaces, were spectacular, and we made sure to stay close to the windows to catch glimpses of the ever-changing landscape.
Sixteen hours later we arrived in Arusha, tired but grateful for the adventure and eager for the next chapter.
JANE GOODALL AT THE ART MUSEUM
After a restful night in a hotel and a much-needed shower, we set off to explore an art gallery. The space was a treasure trove of creativity, showcasing every kind of artwork imaginable—vibrant paintings, sculptures, and especially intricate traditional wood carvings. It was here that the most amazing thing happened…
As I was browsing the crafts to purchase, I received a call from Jake. He said he was with the rest of the group and, quite seriously, told me that THE Jane Goodall was in the parking lot! He urged me to hurry over. My first instinct was disbelief. After all, I’d joked countless times during this trip, “What if we just ran into Jane Goodall here?” And knowing Jake’s mischievous nature, I assumed this was just another one of his pranks. But then he handed the phone over to Beka, who, with no trace of humor, assured me that Jake wasn’t kidding and that I needed to get to the parking lot—immediately!
Without a second thought, I sprinted across the building towards the parking lot. Just as I arrived, I saw her—Jane Goodall—stepping into her car. I had missed her by mere seconds. For a split second, my heart sank. But there was no way I was going to let my childhood hero slip away so easily. I kept running, straight past my friends, and straight up to her car. Jane’s son, clearly caught off guard by this enthusiastic, out-of-breath stranger, tried to gently let me down, explaining that Jane was done for the day. But Jane herself looked past him, saw the tears in my eyes, and with a kind smile, said, “Just come in, darling.”
It was an absolute blur, and I will always remember the day we met Jane Goodall!
ONE WORLD SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD – AG FARM
While in Arusha, we also visited a sustainable agriculture farm, a partner with Mennonite Central Committee. We learned a lot of interesting things about intercropping, non-chemical pest control, and even got to watch them harvest honey from stingless bees. It was inspiring to see their work, teaching sustainable practices for farming to Tanzanian across the country. To end our day in Arusha some of the group went for a quick hike at a nearby volcanic crater.
After two nights in Arusha, it was time for us to continue our journey on safari!