Dar es Salaam.

We fly over islands and the coast of the mainland comes into view. 

I can't help but think the capital of my country looks dirty. 

Oh, well.

The billowy clouds begin to rush past and as the wheels touch down, 

the only thought in my head is, "I'm home". 

The blue sign of Julius Nyerere International Airport welcomes us back. 

As we shuffle off our Qatar Airways plane, my excitement grows. 

Stepping into the jetway, the warmth of the outside air envelopes us. 

I breathe in deeply and Africa fills my senses. 

A wide smile stretches across my face. 

The giraffes on the Vodacom posters greet us on our way to immigration. 

~

As I step out of the air conditioned arctic accommodation which is our room, 

I am met with a blast of humidity. 

I hear the sweeping of a grass broom on the hardened earth. 

The birds singing and the cawing of the angry crow. 

I pour myself a cup of tea, the best tea: Chai Bora; 

Stir in some powdered milk and brown sugar and sip the sweetness that is the taste of home.

The birds are still singing as I sit at one of the short tables and 

take a deep whiff of the strong black tea. 

The sun's rays play across the varnished table and warm my back. 

A vervet monkey moves from his perch in the trees. 

He watches me with fascination and a bobbing of the head.

Soon he loses interest and climbs higher into the leafed branches.

The sound of chickens crowing and people conversing carries over into my little corner of quiet. 

The annoying bite of the mosquitoes keeps me slapping my legs. 

The cook strolls by waiting for her lodgers to partake of the morning meal. 

We smile and she leaves. 

I take another sip of my tea and revel in the African taste.