While in the States, lots of people asked what life is like in Dar es Salaam. I often find it so hard to describe, since it’s so unlike anything in the States, yet not nearly as primitive as some people expect. So I plan to make a few posts of pictures that will show little pieces of life here, starting with….
Our house. This picture is looking through the gate into our driveway. Our house is on the right. Most houses in Dar es Salaam are completely surrounded by a wall. You can also see our car in this picture–a Suzuki Escudo. A four wheel drive vehicle is practically a necessity here!
Here you can see our driveway, with a little guest house to the left. Guest houses on property are also very common here. Often a guard or houseworker will live there. Our good friend Janelle is living there this year. Janelle is also with ReachGlobal (EFCA) and teaches 3rd grade at HOPAC. I love having her so close by!
Our back yard
Our side yard and patio. We love all this space, and it’s fantastic on Friday nights when we have 30 kids here for youth group!
Our front room. I especially love the doors that open up onto the patio. We would eat on the patio all the time, except the mosquitoes drive us away.
Our bedroom. The mosquito net is not just for show!
Our guest room. Karibu! (Welcome!)
I don’t have a picture of Grace’s room, so I’ll add that later. Our house is pretty typical of other houses in this area, though a majority of our students (esp. the Tanzanians, since they are upper class) live in houses that are a lot nicer than ours. I absolutely love this house–I love all the plants, the windows, the “openness” and because it is “normal” looking. Many houses in this area have some rather odd architecture–triangular rooms, cone shaped ceilings, things like that. Or metallic gold painted cabinets, pink floor tiles….we’ve seen some interesting things!
Brent Kompelien
I really like your house. The backyard looks like a great place to hang out and bbq. We are really looking forward to coming out there next summer! I wish I could come sooner, but we definitely need the time to prepare for the camp and VBS. We’re praying for you!
Unknown
Great idea to show photos of your home! It makes me feel like I understand life there better! Just found out you had a blog through the Pelczars site – I’m so glad I did!
Grace is so beautiful! Such a delight!(: I hope we get to meet her someday(: Maybe in Delhi when you come for a visit?! (:
Well, press on friends, you are doing great!!
Anonymous
your house looks soo nice!
Megan @ SimplyThrifty
Thanks for the little picture into your African life. I enjoyed it and will forward to the future posts.
da halls
What a great idea to share your world in pictures. Thank you.
Mary Beth
sarah eden
thanks for sharing all the pictures….it totally replaced the “imagined” images I have held in my head for the last few years–which I don;t know if that is good or bad….:) Your house looks and feels like a tropical paradise–but I literally almost start itching thinking of the mosquitos!!!
Amy Medina
It does often feel like a paradise…it’s incredibly beautiful here. But then the power goes off for 21 hours and everything in my freezer starts to melt…or water stops coming in…stuff like that…and it doesn’t feel quite so much like a paradise anymore…