Kuuliza si ujinga

I'm at a computer at a coffee shop in the historic district of Philadelphia. We've just finished a day and a half of staging--the Peace Corps equivalent of orientation that feels like a cross between a true orientation to the policies of the Peace Corps and a pep rally to increase our excitement about going to Tanzania. Actually, it feels a lot like a college orientation week. Put together a group of forty mostly young, energetic people, add lack of sleep and the excitement of going to Africa, and see what you get.
A few statistics:
-there are 40 people in my group. About 30 are right out of college. We also have some people who left mid-career for the Peace Corps, an older couple, and a few single people
-the entire yearly Peace Corps budget equals half a day in Iraq.

Today we're off to the airport. Tomorrow night at 10 pm, we'll be in Tanzania