After a few action-packed days on safari, we awoke following our final night at the Lutheran Center in Iringa. The bus was loaded and ready to go by 6:05 a.m., a mere five minutes after our intended departure time, which had to be a record. Everybody said goodbye to Iringa and packed onto the "coaster" bus, for the approximately 12-hour ride.
The first few hours were mostly nap time, as everyone tried to catch a few precious zzz’s. All that sleep makes for hungry students, so the packed breakfasts provided by the Lutheran Center were handed out, consisting of a croissant and a hard-boiled egg. The next unfulfilled need was what the locals call a "chimbadawa" or a potty break. After spending some time searching for a restroom up to Godluck’s lofty standards, we trampled out of the "coaster" to stretch our legs. Ken led the guys in some yoga to get limber.
Then it was back to the bus for the next stretch of our journey. Some highlights included passing through Mahenge with a little tour by the group that worked there, the animals we saw passing through Mikumi National Park, and waving at all the friendly faces along the highway.
In a poetic fashion, the location of our first meal in Tanzania was also our last: Karambezi Cafe. We enjoyed a few last moments of relaxation as we listened to the waves crashing on the shore before heading off to the airport.
It was finally time to say goodbye to our valiant guide, Godluck. The Mukuta Travels company brought us a delicious lemon cake. Three of the crew picked up some of Godluck’s merchandise, including some warm sweatshirts. Farewells were said, and we headed in to check in for our first flight.
After only a few pat-downs, we passed through security and had plenty of time to hang out. An impromptu game of “sock-er” was started to pass the time, which led to a few good wipe outs, holey socks, and four new airport T-shirt purchases to prevent subjecting other passengers to the players’ stench.
The flight was relatively uneventful. The gourmet meal options were either chicken and rice or rice with tofu and lentils. Only one person had to be interrogated by Amsterdam Schiphol security, with Liam being the lucky subject. However, we all made it through for our three-hour layover.
Standing in the Amsterdam airport, the group was now only separated by one flight from their life prior to Tanzania. It was amazing how close we have all gotten in the past three weeks, experiencing life in Africa. Upon reflecting on this, the group embraced in one big, final hug. This was our appreciation to the trip of a lifetime, and a group that persevered through and learned from every challenge that had presented itself. With life lessons learned, the group feels refreshed and ready to tackle another school semester with a newfound gratitude and appreciation for everything we have around us.
—Blog post by Kristy, Sophie, Klara, and Josh
