Instant pleasure

Again, I'm at a loss. The words will not capture the moments, the seconds, the instants of pleasure that I have encountered over the last week. Alas, I must try to attempt to recreate them. The people (my loyal readers) deserve to know. 

Last week I did something very out of character. I wouldn't say that I'm generally a planner (impromptu trips to Nicaragua and Minnesota happened last year) because I love living in the moment. But usually I embark on adventures in a responsible manner. 

What does Kirsten do when she has just three weeks left at her internship? Oh, she spontaneously packs her bags and heads for the hills! Grateful for: awesome work culture and last minute boss approvals, time-consuming yet hassle-free travel, the most hospitable hosts and interim "assignments" that challenged my Excel skills.

So, what happened exactly? Where has Kirsten been and how can she be this grateful? I'll try to present this in an orderly fashion.

Setting: The weekend before was pretty typical Dar es Salaam: Jackie's, mishkaki (yup, I've indulged), dance parties and feasting. We said goodbye to most of the interns; I'm the last woman standing in the office. We went through a serious review of our business plan by some investors, which means that everyone has been feeling the pressure at work. Monday was the memorial hash for our friend that passed and over 100 people attended, very moving display of support.

Background/Purpose: I have been hoping to get up to see my MEM/MBA classmate/colleague/friend, Jen (you can read her incredible blog here) and two other Duke MEMs at their summer posting outside Arusha. They are working with a conservation organization and really experiencing the wild side of Africa. They taking sleeping on the floor (ahem, tents), electricity (huge solar array, 5 kW by my rudimentary calculations), running water (pumped from the valley, it is so dry up here) and cooking (family style!) to a whole new level!

Inspiration: The idea, initially, was that I would try to meet them for a safari. Although that didn't quite work out, "safari"  literally translates to trip, so in a way, I was still on safari and saw enough of the natural world to count as my African summer safari (when I was in Zambia in January our crew did a walking safari, so I got to see most of the critters through that adventure).

What actually happened is this:

• Monday mid-day: Jen and Kirsten chat about the potential for her to get up there
• Monday evening: Kirsten goes on the hash
• Monday night: Jen and Kirsten "hash" out more logistics, Kirsten calls boss, boss oks trip, Kirsten packs a bag and sets her alarm for 4:30.
• Tuesday morning: Kirsten doesn't even remember getting to Ubungo, but she thinks that she took a bus. She buys a ticket for a bus about to depart for Arusha and the trip is underway!
• Tuesday evening: Kirsten arrives in Arusha without phone credit or TZS so she resolves her communications and money situation and tracks down her colleague, Jodie, who has her own start-up in Arusha and has been working with Kirsten on some projects. They get African-style burritos and chill.
• Wednesday morning: Kirsten meets up with staff taking a load of diesel, cabbage, mattresses, etc to camp. The trio grabs chai and hits the road.
• Wednesday afternoon: Arrive in Noloholo. Settle into lovely dorm. Make no-bake cookies. Read in the sun on the patio. 
• Wednesday night: Watch a spectacular sunset. Enjoy a home-cooked meal. Exhaustion doesn't allow Kirsten to stay up to welcome Jen back from the Tarangire safari.
• Thursday morning: Early to rise, reunion breakfast, meet and greet. Turns out Kirsten has Giardiasis, which is quickly treated. Disaster averted!
• Thursday: Time in the office, Kirsten picks up some fun excel and program development projects.
• Thursday night: Kirsten realizes that she's probably not leaving tomorrow... or anytime soon. Kirsten runs loops of the grounds. Zen moments.
• Friday: Kirsten dives headfirst into Excel, creates some fun new tools. Clearly is not back in Dar as she told her boss when initially planning the trip. Earliest she could be back is Sunday, but is convinced to leave on Sunday. Phones are down all day, but gets the okay from the boss when the network is back up that evening.
• Saturday: Rewarded for sticking around with a trip to the local Masai "boma" for a coming of age ceremony (Wikipedia sums it up nicely). "Training" pays off when cow is sliced in chunks off of the slab, stuck in hand, inserted in mouth, chew chew chew, swallow, repeat frantically more than a dozen times. Also involves inserting a spoon in a congealed mixture and stomaching "tender parts and blood" delicacy. True carnivore test!
• Saturday night: Apple crisp, ice cream, bonfire. So many comforts!
• Sunday: Leave the bush. On the drive we see a giraffe, zebra, gazelle, ostrich and more! Jodie hosts again.
• Monday: 4:45 AM pikipiki pick up, bus ticket secured, back to Dar in time for the hash and to receive a Dar hash name!

Conclusion: I am basking in the bliss of this transformational experience. Instant pleasures all around. This is why I came to Africa.

Now to instantly check back into work and get things done. Making moves!!