My flight to Dar was without a hitch. for the first time in many years I was able to sleep on the plane and the visions I had for myself of reading and watching movies went straight out the window. I was feeling excited about the next steps. Arrived in Dar late on a Sunday night with orientation impending Monday morning. Hot and humid. Hotel was beautiful. Had a few friends waiting to greet me but I was anticipating that being all too familiar with the heat of the Southern US! We were wined and dined like celebs with all types of food and accommodations. Orientation was very long but informative. First week all day each day of presentations that outlined what was expected of us as fellows, what we should expect of the program, what the program was about in detail, and listening to the outgoing group of 16 fellows present on the research projects they had been working on for the past year. It was impressive and I remember feeling like I had some big shoes to fill. The following 3 weeks included full day (including Saturday) modules on leadership, communication, and monitoring and evaluation. We were at the local government university. Accommodations were much different. This is where my real introduction to Dar began. We were moved from the "luxury" hotel to a brand new high rise. Which I found out was about $3500.00 USD per month for a 3 bedroom flat. I wondered how anyone could afford this since the average Tanzanian in Dar lived on less than the equivalent of $200 USD per month. I spent most of my first month shell shocked by the poverty, the chaos in the city, public transportation, the sheer lack of road rules or signs, or street lights, and the lack of sanitation. I was eaten alive by the mosquitos!! I even had red bites on my forehead:-( My colleagues felt sorry for me as we all dispersed at the end of our orientation since most of them went home to family and I was left alone in Dar to begin work. With sketchy internet and learning how to work a Tanzanian phone, I muddled my way through, feeling a little lonely. I refused to give up. I wanted to but I didn't. If it were not for the love of one of my colleagues Sister Alphoncina, I may have. She just made sure I had people checking on me. I think I have been introduced to at least 10 different nuns in different hostiles around the city. They were loving and caring and always let me know the door was open. Alphoncina has a story that I hope to share with you before this journey is over as her story is provacative. I leave you with a few slide shows of my humble beginnings in Dar.