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Amy in Africa
For a couple of weeks while we are doing Clara's research in Bagamoyo we are staying at her parents' house in Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam has an estimated population of about 4 million people with over 70% of the urban dwellers living in slums. Although not the political capital of Tanzania (that honor goes to Dodoma) it is the commercial capital and one of the largest cities in Africa. Walking around Dar es Salaam you would forget that it isn't actually the capital. All the embassies and UN offices as well as various NGO country headquarters are located here. It is common to see vehicles of UNICEF, World Hunger Programme, and even overland trucks filled with gap year students. The most common vehicle filling the crowded streets is the daladalas, or communal minibuses. These buses seam to be the most popular option for public transportation and cost about 1500 shillings or 15 cents. Clara and I rode one home today from the center of the city and I made her sit up from with me because the back was so stuffed people were sitting on top of each other. She laughed, as I quickly secured my seat belt, and informed me that the front is usually reserved for babus (Swahili for old men).
Dar es Salaam, the first East African city I have visited, is like no other city I have been to. A walk through the streets, even after all my travels through Latin America, is visual testament to how poor Sub-Saharan Africa is. This is the center of the city, too. I haven't visited the unplanned informal settlements and I have yet to visit a rural village. The city itself is less modern than I expected and there are people everywhere, shouting and walking. Apart from the gated houses of expats and government officials, as far as I can see there isn't a nice, modern part of the city. I was very overwhelmed by my first visit and hence only have a couple photos. Oh, and it is definitely the hottest place I've ever been!
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