4/19

4/19tues

We went on a spice tour this morning. It was pouring rain all day and it just doesn't seem to bother the locals. It really didn't bother is either. They say alot of the Europeans come here because they love the spices grown here. It's located in the middle of the island, the highest point. It is like a Forrest of trees and bushes of every imaginable spice you can find. 

My cousin tina brought a box of school supply to donate to primary students. (she is a teacher in dc) so our tour guide tool us to one of the schools with very little. It was so wonderful. To see the shyness and curiosity of these kids. There are over 900 students and the girls edge out the boys by just 10. Zanzibar is not kidding about their schools. The government donates uniforms so every children on the island is the same. They break up sessions of teaching to get all the kids in. The classroom really isnt that over populated. They don't go by age of children in classroom,they go by levels of learning. 

I think Americans can really learn from this concept. And it is a must for these children to attend school! Go figure. 

When we came back to our hotel, we called our friend sallim to take us to the sandbar for some snorkeling. The weather was, of course raining, but we just wanted to get away from the city.  It was a rocky boat ride but we made it. When we arrived, there was this island of sand. We snorkel and swam until the sand bar began to disappear. Some more memorable times with sallim. 

We were invited to watch the sunset at emersons home, the owner of the inn. Spectacular view and had a couple glasses of Tanzania cognac (whatever that means). I didn't ask. It was lovely and we were hungry so we went down to foradanhi park to grab something to eat with the other inn owner, Lynn and her son Koon. They are she is Swedish and her father is danish, and Koon speaks 5 different languages. He is 14 years old. 
So they recommended this local soup and I thought it couldn't be all that bad since they like it. Well, this is the beginning of my zanzibar madness. I thought I malaria. My symptoms of diarrhea, shivering, fever, aches in my body, headache, I was sure it was malaria, but my brother what has a phd. in infections disease convinced me there is malaria mosquitoes in Zanzibar. And so my diagnosis is the soup.