Arusha National Park is amazing. Arusha national park is approximately 212 sq miles and is located right outside of Arusha. It was an overcast day but the sights were still beautiful. We rode our Safari Jeep through the park and as soon as we entered the park we immediately saw zebras! The zebras were eating grass and enjoying the overcast day. After driving for a little while we began to see giraffes, wilder beast, monkeys, baboons, flamingos, warthog, antelope and various birds. There was a lake filled with flamingos, they flapped their wings, flew around and enjoyed the water. We drove to the top of the creator and had a picnic. After our picnic we were saw a giraffe crossing. The giraffes were walking across the road and we had to wait until they were done to continue. It was absolutely breathtaking.

Our first class, East African Culture, was held today for 5 hours. We learned about diversity, poverty, size and the effects of colonization. We also discussed the novel The River Between by Nguigi, which is about colonization in Kenya and its effects on religion. It was very informative and we are all excited to learn more. To put the size of Africa in perspective to the United States please view this map http://static02.mediaite.com/geekosystem/uploads/2010/10/true-size-of-africa.jpg

We explored the primary and secondary School of St. Jude and was amazed at what we saw. The campus was beautiful and the students are brilliant and amazing. We partook in home visits as well and we saw extreme poverty. It was an interesting experience.

Today we were enlightened and inspired by many people while we visited the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, which was established by the United Nations in 1994. The Tribunal was made in Arusha to keep the distance, witnesses safe and to keep things separated. We talked to many people, most are lawyers but there was also a social scientist. The people included Douglas Hansen, a Legal Officer, Thembile Segoete from the Appeals Counsel, Samuel Akorimo the Officer in Charge of Registry and Sera Attika the Head of the Witness Support and Protection Unit.  We learned a lot and was ecstatic to be sitting in the seats of important people. We also had our first experience at a Masai market.

We walked though the village outside of the UAACC and visited another snake farm. We saw the University of Arusha but there were no students because they are on break. We also made beautiful pieces of art out of dye and wax today. Everything has been exciting and beautiful.

We arrived at approximately 7:45 and left the airport around 8:30. Although we arrived at night we can already see many differences between our homes and Tanzania. There are not many street lights but there is a beautiful moon that illuminates the sky. We all sit with different emotions: excited, nervous, anticipatory, amazed.

We are excited and can not wait to be in Tanzania. We began our voyage yesterday at 10:00 EST and still have one more eight hour flight until we are in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania!

Welcome to the OWU in Tanzania Study Abroad Blog. 8 students have been granted the opportunity to travel, learn, and explore Tanzania Africa for 90 days. The student will be taking classes and will have an internship that is catered to their interest. Dr. Quaye will be with the students for the duration of the trip and everyone is excited for the months to come! As the Students and Dr. Quaye prepare for the trip, passports are being bought and goals are being made. In the upcoming weeks their will be post about the preparations that are being made for the journey. Stay Tuned!