Take Me To Post Comment Form Our title, 'Una Jua?', Is Kiswahili for, 'Did you know that?...'.We are having an incredible time in Zanzibar-(more about in a future message).I wanted to share some great facts and interesting tidbits with you.

Kiswahili is the native language of the African Eastern Coast. It is spoken from Somalia to Mozambique and in the Comoros, Madagascar and Sechelles. The people of Zanzibar claim that it originated on their island and they speak it in the purest form.

There is no possible way for me to convey the sensory overload we are all experiencing.Sights, smells, sounds, information and new experiences-literally EVERY day that exhausts us all by evening.

Dar es Salaam is a huge, very crowded, bustling city. One can certainly see evidence of China's support of Tanzania. They have funded (completely or in part) major projects such as the National Stadium, business complex, road construction, etc.

Let me share a bit of info about our Kiswahili teacher, Mama Gaudy (Gaudentia Lwakatare), a delightful, larger than life person who enjoys every single minute of every single day. She played on the Tanzanian National Women's Basketball team. After graduating from college, she worked with the Peace Corps helping to teach volunteers Kiswahili and assisting them in different villages.

She has five children, all very successful. One of her daughters, Karen, works with the Jane Goodall Institute (she is the coordinator of their Environmental Education program). Karen, along with some of her staff, met with us at a school in Bagamoyo. We witnessed first hand the effects of their wonderful, 'Roots and Shoots' environmental program.

Soccer is Tanzania's PASSION. As you know, the FIFA Cup is happening and USA is playing for the championship tonight. In fact, every one in the Tembo hotel is watching the game-hence, my typing the blog since the computer is finally available. Whoo hoo-just got an update-USA 2 Brazil 0.

Our trip to Bagamoyo was very moving-in fact, down right disturbing. Bagamoyo means, "lay down my heart" since this was the site where thousands of African slaves were shipped to Zanzibar to be shipped to Europe, Arabia and America. This coastal community (the first capital of Tanzania) was the site of the first Catholic Church in Africa as well as the terminus of the trade caravan route linking Lake Tanganyika with the sea. Slaves, ivory, salt and copra were unloaded before being shipped to Zanzibar and elsewhere. The Persians built a port city (about 2000 years ago). We saw ancient ruins, a mosque, graves, etc. of the Shirazi. in the 1860's the Spiritans (French Catholic missionary group) came to Bagamoyo and discovered the horrors of the slave trade. They started buying slaves (one slave at a time) and eventually created the freedom village. Bagamoyo is the village of President Kikwete. It also served as the capital of German East Africa and the center of the Abushiri revolt. We visited the community museum and saw unbelieve artifacts. I was shocked to learn that slavery was not abolished in Tanzania until 1922.

As we travelled home, Dr. Moshi and I had a very indepth conversation about Tanzania's past-colonialism, etc. I wanted to know more about Tanzania during WWII. She shared that her grandfather was drafted to fight in the KAR (King's Armed Rifles)-native Tanzanians were drafted to fight the Germans in Africa and in Europe.

The group travelled to Kilwa on Wednesday via the Kilwa Road. Let me tell you, that was one heck of a trip. It is a 313 KM drive taking 5 hours. The major highway from Dar es Salaam to Kilwa (aka Corduroy Road due to the bumps, etc) is under construction (for the past three years). We hit a dirt road that was 58 KM long that took us 1 hour and 45 minutes of teeth rattling, bone jarring, dusty and hot travel-We were so happy to reach the Kilwa Seaview Resort, our charming, rustic home for the next few days. We were all starving, hot and about exhausted. The manager asked for our lunch order and said it would be at least an hour before it was ready. Too tired to argue or complain, we dumped our luggage in our bungalows. Several of us went swimming in the Indian Ocean. You can not believe the delicious lunch-fresh prawns, Kingfish and lobsters, grilled-it was the best meal I have ever had.

The staff was more than gracious and accomodating-they even hired two security guards to protect us while we were there. The next day was something out of a travel magazine-we boarded a dhow (traditional triangular shaped sailing vessel) and visited the islands with the Arabian ruins. The islands of the Kilwa area are considered to be some of the most important Swahili historical sites in Eastern Africa. We were accompanied by two Kilwa policemen-and we all enjoyed trekking around the islands.

Well, need to sign off now, people are wanting to use the computer. Can't wait to share what all we have seen in Zanzibar-

Kathy