Well, we have made it to Dar. We have been here for almost a month now and we have learned so much. From day 1 it has been nonstop. Everything from learning to drive on the wrong side of the road while simultaneously driving on the wrong side of the car, while at the same time shifting gears with the wrong hand, using the wiper control as a blinker (it's on the wrong side of the steering column), and not to forget that there are people EVERYWHERE. In Dar there are plenty of traffic lights, but to our surprise they are mere suggestions. The right of way issues here are very simple: The biggest vehicle gets the right of way. People have no right of way. If you get run over it is your problem. Oh, and did I mention that if traffic is backed up too far, feel free to use the lane for oncoming traffic to help speed up your commute and if that is not working to well then use the sidewalk. We have truly entered Bizarro World. I had a wise older M give me a good thing to remember. He said "Remember the acronym LFS", which stands for Logic Free Society. It is the gospel truth. We live in a logic free society. The people here are quite friendly. I just tell them I am new and I do not yet speak Swahili. They seem to be very understanding of my plight and want to help.
We have had the opportunity to visit some very beautiful places while here in Dar. 
The first place we have been is a place called White Sands. It is a beautiful beach, although right now there is a lot of sea weed that seems to wash in this time of year. Last weekend we went to a place that I would call paradise. It is a place called South Beach. You take the ferry across the peninsula and drive for about 15 minutes and there you are. Total cost: about 3.15 for the whole day, ferry ride included. It is a nice area that many people do not go to. Now, mind you, there is no bathroom, but it is worth the sacrifice to go here.
The first place we have been is a place called White Sands. It is a beautiful beach, although right now there is a lot of sea weed that seems to wash in this time of year. Last weekend we went to a place that I would call paradise. It is a place called South Beach. You take the ferry across the peninsula and drive for about 15 minutes and there you are. Total cost: about 3.15 for the whole day, ferry ride included. It is a nice area that many people do not go to. Now, mind you, there is no bathroom, but it is worth the sacrifice to go here. I have had the opportunity to meet some very nice people here. Most of them are Asian (india). They are the ones who run the business side of Dar. They are very nice people. One family we know owns a small tea shop in town. Every evening they set up grills on the sidewalk and cook Sekela chicken. It is unbelievable. We eat there at least once a week. We are trying to make inroads to a relationship and get to eat some good chicken in the process. It is amazing how most of the people here (indian) who run Dar are related. If you get to know one of the business owners it will open doors to know many of them because they are family.
Islam is very prevalent here. We read before coming that only about 40% were Muslim, but I would say it is more like 80%. They are looking for the path to the "kingdom". Every day, 5 times a day, we can hear the call to prayer. You see the women dressed in all black with only their eyes showing. You know what they are going to do. Please think of these people often. They are wonderful, but lost, people.
The heat here is not like heat at home. In Georgia it is like August. Very hot and humid. We are getting used to it. We have air conditioning in all of the bedrooms that we use at night. We are getting used to the heat slowly but surely. All in all, Dar is a wonderful place with wonderful people. We look forward to hearing back from some of you who keep up with us. Oh, and by the way, I have officially been hazed as an M. I am getting over my first case of Giardia. I will not divulge on the blog, but if you are curious what it is and what it is like, I have a new found respect for the pain Paige endured in giving birth to our children.
