April 19, 2013

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#DispatchesDNLee: Ninafika Morogoro, Tanzania!

By DNLee

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This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

I safely arrived to Mororgoro Tanzania on Wednesday afternoon, April 17. While most of my friends in the States and Canada were rising from their sleep, I was happy to see the cloud-covered Uluhuru mountains high in the sky. I swear it felt like I was just here! As I was coming up the main university road I peered out of the window trying to catch a glance at The Pest Management Center and saw Shabani – The Rat Whisperer - in the drive and he warmly waved and greeted me. I was so pleasantly surprised that he recognized me – and everyone else for that matter. I went to town and the Vodacom sales people remembered me. I got a hello and we haven’t seen you in so long from everyone I bumped into at APOPO and SUA.

Was I that much of a handful? (Don't answer that, LOL!) It does feel great to be

back. It’s the rainy season here and it looks and feels different this time.

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Everything is greener and lusher and thicker. It’s more humid and warmer. And

there are more bugs. (I could do without that last part.)

I made the quick rounds and touched base with my contact people, including Professor Makundi. There is some paperwork to handle before I can start research proper, but fingers crossed that I’ll have all of that sorted out by early next week.

In the meantime, check out the Storify of my Preparation adventures: #DispatchesDNLee: Getting ready, Getting There. Tanzania or Bust

[View the story "#DispatchesDNLee: Getting ready, Getting there. Tanzania or Bust." on Storify]

DNLee is a biologist and she studies animal behavior, mammalogy, and ecology . She uses social media, informal experiential science experiences, and draws from hip hop culture to share science with general audiences, particularly under-served groups.

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